Sherryl continues to push through chemo-fatigue and is getting a bit stronger every day. January 10, we won't say which year, is Sherryl's birthday, and we always celebrate this event on Super Bowl Sunday when our whole family is together. But since Sherryl's birthday is today, this is the perfect time to re-post "Sherryl, Mom, and Dad," which appeared here on May 3, 2007, as it speaks to the relationship Sherryl had with each of our parents.
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Dad …
¨ Chose Sherryl’s first and middle names, and often called her “Shell-Ann”
¨ Saved a pot in which Sherryl burned something she was cooking as a young teen, named it her “wedding pot,” and intended to give it to her when she was married.
¨ Used to always say, “Time flies when you’re having fun,” an expression Sherryl has used many, many times over the years.
¨ Found a very creative way to reinforce with Sherryl the importance of keeping her room clean.
¨ Always, always, always arrived home from a trip at sea on the same day report cards arrived home from school, which caused “a bit” of stress for Sherryl.
¨ Laughed harder than any other time we’d heard him laugh when Sherryl, perched upon Dad’s lap at age 6, wanted to see Dad’s teeth and asked him to open his mouth. Dad playfully refused and acted as though his mouth was glued shut. The game continued for several minutes. Following numerous unsuccessful attempts to get Dad to open his mouth, Sherryl finally said, “Arleen, go get me a screw driver.” Dad roared laughing affording Sherryl the perfect opportunity to study his pearly whites.
¨ Laughed hard, too, when playing a game of Simon Says with us as little girls. When he said, “Simon Says stand on your head,” his oldest and youngest daughters obediently attempted acrobats involving heads on the carpet and feet in the air. Not Sherryl. Standing on one’s head involved sitting on the carpet and raising one’s foot to the top of one’s head. Literal interpretation, you see. No wonder Sherryl loves Amelia Bedelia
books so much!
Mom …
¨ Panicked within moments of delivering Sherryl because it took the doctor two attempts, not one, to get her newborn baby girl to breathe, leaving a bruise on her tiny hiny that was visible for years.
¨ Fostered Sherryl’s individuality by decorating her bedroom in an outdoor theme: variegated carpet in earth tones, rattan furniture, two interior shingled walls, and a window treatment that involved an awning coming into the bedroom. Tres rustique and very Sherryl.
¨ Always thought Sherryl looked exactly like Dad, the love of her life.
¨ Always knew Sherryl would be the peacemaker in the family.
¨ Hosted many field trips to “Grannie Annie’s house” for Sherryl’s day care, circa 1987.
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Happy Birthday, RaRa!!!
~xoxo~
RaRa, An unsolicited request from sweet McKenna...I miss RaRa. I want to go back to RaRa's. God Bless her and you. And then today I saw Sarah at Target (God Bless Target, a great store), who will have a sibling for Emily in March ! and we just want to all see you again. I can organize, plan, cater, whatever. Feel better and let's get you with the kids. They love you and so do we!
Posted by: Kathy Slane | January 24, 2010 at 08:50 PM