Birthday Party for Christian DECEMBER 9. 2010

NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

Artist:  Jessica Andrews

I'll always see your face

The corner of your smile

And all the little things that no one will ever know

Like it was yesterday, won't ever fade away

Goodbye is just a word that I will never say

You will never be forgotten

A million days could pass us by

But what is time but just a dream

Oh I still feel you here with me

You're more than a memory

Oh you will never be forgotten

I can't hold your hand

Or look into your eyes

And when I talk to you

It just echoes in my mind

But if hearts are made of dust

And if we fell from the stars

I look up tonight and know just where you are

You will never be forgotten

A million days could pass us by

But what is time but just a dream

Oh I still feel you here with me

You're more than a memory

Oh you will never be forgotten

And the world just keeps on going

It has no way of knowing

That you're gone

You will never be forgotten

A million days could pass us by

But what is time but just a dream

Oh I still feel you here with me

You're more than a memory

Oh you will never be forgotten.

DECEMBER 9, 1977

DECEMBER 9, 2010

Christian would have been 33 years old

December 9th fell on a Thursday.  With work and school, a party is usually not held on a week night.  There had even been conversation about maybe waiting and doing the party on the weekend.  But when it came right down to it, we all knew the party to celebrate Christian's birthday had to be on December 9th.  Especially this birthday.  The first birthday after his passing.

We had dinner together - a must in this family; reminisced,  cried, looked at pictures, and sang "happy birthday".  Rhiannon suggested that we make it a tradition to send a balloon aloft each year on Christian's birthday with messages of love and birthday greetings attached.  We had done something very similar at Christian's Memorial Service.  The rest of us thought it was a great idea so off to the store went Bobby and Rhiannon.  Beacon Hill is an interesting place - very diverse but maybe not so big on birthdays because they only had one helium balloon.  And the man was reluctant to sell it.  But Rhiannon used her beauty and charm to change his mind.

So they return with their treasure.  A red balloon showing a cute little teddy bear with out stretched arms.  It made us all laugh.  It was just so cute and so much NOT Christian.  It had started to pour down rain and the wind was really, really blowing.  We gathered on Tiffany and Matt's front porch.  We all held on to the ribbon and released it together.  The wind caught the balloon and it screamed away so fast we couldn't even see it but for a second.  Someone said "That balloon knows exactly where to go .... straight to heaven."  That made Persephone erupt into giggles.  Which in turn made the rest of us laugh.

It was a great evening but lasted way past everyone's bedtime.  Tiffany finally threw us all out so they could go to bed.  Bobby and I drove Rhiannon and the boys home and then drove back to West Seattle to catch the ferry.  I think we got home around 3 a.m.  But it was a wonderful, memorable evening.

When Christian was 7 or 8 years old, he wrote a paper in class that went like this:

"I think we should have a holiday every year to celebrate me.  We would wear clothes and eat cake.  It would be on December 9th every year."

THIS ONE WAS ALL YOURS BABY!

Rhiannon, Brandon, Tiffany in back; Tre' and Persephone

Back row:  Linda, Stephanie, Tiffany, and Matt
Front Row:  Tre', Brandon, Persephone, and Bobby

Matt, Tiffany, and Persephone

Stephanie

Tre'

Persephone writes a note to Uncle Christian:
Dear Uncle Christian, I am happy it is your birthday.  We had a great time.  Love, Persephone

Dear Bro,  We all miss you dearly and I loved you with all my heart.  You were the corner stone to this family.  The house isn't as strong without you.  Your loving Brother, Bobby

Tiffany and Rhiannon - a loving embrace

Tiffany attaches the notes

Tiffany reads the notes

Brandon.  We all hold the balloon ribbon before releasing it into the heavens.


Christian would have been 33 years old but he was and always will be my baby.