Everyone join me! It’s safe, we are all behind our monitors, no one can hear you, and sing Happy Birthday to my beautiful, 19-year-old, Cole! Sing as loud as you can, with as much love as you can, today he deserves all our voices and all our love. Today is not just his birthday, today is Jacks funeral (Cole & Jack).
All Cole wanted for his birthday was to get to Florida, to be there for Jack, Joey and the entire family. Together with my dad, I moved mountains to get him there. Our first obstacle was finding his passport. Cole had misplaced after returning from his summer vacation. Thankfully it turned up in Veronica (What a week!), after she finally returned home after almost two weeks in the shop.
I quickly got his paperwork signed, and found a SpaceA (Flying Space Available) flight on Tuesday. We signed up. My dad bought a Southwest ticket to Raleigh. We were good to go. Sadly, it didn’t have enough seats. Wednesday was out, so Thursday was our last ditch effort. It was meant to be. There were 100+ seats available, we drove to Ramstein, signed him in, hugged, I cried, and he waited for his flight alone as I raced home to pick up Dane & Tess.
My dad changed the Southwest ticket to Thursday night (Southwest rocks! No change fee!) and off he went. With delays. My Dad and I manned our computers, he found a flight Friday morning to Jacksonville (not Raleigh), through Nashville, and again changed Cole’s ticket (Southwest really, really rocks!). I messaged our friends stationed at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, and they happily went to the airport to find a very confused & bewildered Cole. They loved him, fed him, gave him a bed and drove him back to BWI bright & early yesterday morning.
I also messaged my friends at Ft. Bragg, they had volunteered to squeeze Cole into their van of six for the drive to Florida. Now, instead, they swung by Jacksonville airport to pick him up. Cole again had delays in Nashville, big storms are hitting all over the East Coast with flooding in NC and FL. And yet, when he needed to travel, the skies and roads cleared enough to make a path.
Last night he made it to Florida just in time for Jack’s wake thanks to my dad, my friends in Baltimore, and my friends in Raleigh. This morning, on his 19th birthday, he will be at Jack’s memorial mass. Splendid in his new shirt, tie and suit. I am heart-broken to be sitting here, and not standing there. Not holding him up.
Instead he is there. Holding up Jacks brother, his parents, being strong. My beautiful baby is all grown-up. I am beyond proud of the young man he has become.
Baby Cole. Always a messy eater. Always doing it himself.
First steps at the beach on Lake Tahoe… my favorite spot on earth ❤
Begging for a cookie in Minnesota
Roadtrip to Chicago with Christian (and the rest)!
My GQ model in Michigan for a wedding
First communion.
First lost tooth in North Carolina
Out front in North Carolina.
First trip to Holland… not that you can see Holland
First Fall in Germany
Another trip to Holland… for the boat parade
Holland. Again.
California! For Sorens college graduation.
Cooperating for the camera!
Fall 2013… my favorite picture.
You can never, ever be too old for Lego. Ever.
My football loving GIANT!
Senior Photo 2015… where did the time go?
Last concert. High school is over.
Toiny, another marvelous tribute.. I always look forward to Wednesday. & Saturdays. Cole’s face in the “First Fall in Germany” with Tess & Dane? cracked me up! I’m so glad that he made it to his destination in time.
Thank you for sharing this. I love the collage of his growing years.
My heart goes out to him for the loss of his friend.
Hugs,
Joyce
Bravo to your family and the extended family all over the world. He’s an exemplary young man.
You have some well-traveled kids! I’m glad Cole made it to his destination safely and in time to honor his friend. Travel can be interesting at times.
He is such a handsome young man and to see this collage is terrific. Great photos too! So happy with all the stress, that he made it in time. Happy Birthday Cole…may things look brighter for you soon!
Toiny,
You, Cole and your family are all in my prayers. You have so much to be proud of and Cole has a wonderful Mother who can move mountains for her boy. Thank you for sharing with us. The pictures as always are great. I’m looking forward to Cole’s Happy Birthday pictures next.
Hugs,
Pam
You did indeed move mountains for Cole and in memory of his friend Jack. I love reading your personal posts and admire your beautiful way you express your feelings. Cole is lucky to have such a caring mother who has given him so much love. Thank you for sharing your life with us and Happy Birthday Cole! Though it may not be “Happy” due to loss of your friend, it will for sure be memorable.
Our God sure can move a mountain…and He did! So pleased that Cole has made it to Florida and that he will be the awesome support you have raised him up to be. He will no doubt need much consoling when he gets back. Happy Birthday, Cole. Be happy because of the blessings that surround you, mingled with deep sadness today – that’s allowed – on this birthday. Love and prayers are with you all.
My thoughts are with you all today. The mountains moved to get Cole where he was supposed to be today – a sad day for everyone.
What a lovely post, even if its catalyst was partly tragic. Thank you for letting us watch your family grow up and you writing about them. Sweet!
Thank you all! It means the world to us that you took the time to write today.