Happy Father's Day to all. Dan is relatively recovered from a recent bout with COVID (his first!) and this edition of Father's Day includes playing golf, watching golf, and packing for another week away from home. His job still requires weekly travel, and that is less appealing in his very late 50's!
While Erin is not home on this Father's Day, we did get to spend 4 days with her last week as she graduated from Drexel. We had gorgeous weather and got to drop into her world for a few days. It's amazing to see how she's grown after four years of living away from home. She's surrounded by a great group of people and they are ready to close the book on this chapter and look to what's next. What more could a father (or mother) want than to see their child happy and progressing forward with their dreams.
As is true with all of life's occasions, our trio celebrated and shared the joy that is always buffered with a bit of sadness. The past month - Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduation - have given us many moments to reflect on the what if...
We all recognize that part of who we are now is because Shannon isn't here. Our lives surely would have taken a different path if Shannon hadn't gotten cancer. Erin felt this so acutely as she finished her time at Drexel... would she have gone to Philadelphia if Shannon had gone to college before her? Would Dan and I have been willing to let her go so far away? Would she be pursuing medicine if she hadn't been exposed to it when Shannon got sick?
The what ifs are hard, so our job is to view it through a different lens. Dan, Erin and I each carry Shannon with us and incorporate the loss into what our lives look like now. It's a complicated feeling to know that we are better people in some ways because Shannon is gone. That loss focused us on what's really important and allows us to give ourselves grace when we need it.
We couldn't be prouder of Erin and the hard work she's put in to succeeding in school... and life. She's expanded her world, and more growth is ahead as she heads to PA school this fall, staying in her adopted city.
Dan and I are now busy prepping for the SOF golf tournament and also excited for a trip to cabin for some fun with friends.
Lake Hubert will always be linked with happy times with Shannon and Erin. Those girls loved spending time with their silly dad making up silly games and spending hours in the water with them.
Happy Father's Day, Dan. Shannon and Erin got lucky...
