My Birthday Wish

Blow out the candles, have a piece of cake, open your presents. Close your eyes and make a wish.

Today is my birthday.

When I close my eyes, there is one thing on my mind; my wish is simple. All I ask is that good health be granted to my loved ones.

I am lucky to have these two wonderful kids who look up to and need me.

But one day, my hope is that they will be autonomous and will not demand my attention in the way they do now.

As much as they need me, I need them too. They give me purpose, direction, and mostly, they give me an unconditional, unparalleled love.

But when I close my eyes and make a wish, I see both of my children thriving with their own beautiful lives independent of mine.

I see Noah, continuing to be his charismatic self- following his dreams. I imagine him still making others laugh, learning, and growing into the most incredible man that I know he will be one day. I picture him still lighting up our lives with his smile, his laugh, and his genuine spirit that shines through in every aspect of his very being.

I see Hailey- running, playing, jumping- I envision that she has been cured. I see her writing her college essay talking about the obstacles that stood in her way when she was a child. She is writing about how she persevered and learned what it means to work hard for everything. She is so grateful for science and what they have done for her. But she is mostly proud of herself for pushing through and becoming the strongest girl that we know.

This has been a trying year on so many levels. Illness scares, MRIS, ultrasounds, hospital stays, unforeseen obstacles, and to add an extra complicated layer- dealing with the ongoing Covid Pandemic.

But as I orbit around the sun yet another year, I am reminded of how blessed we are. So many wishes of mine have come true- a beautiful family consisting of my husband, children, both sets of our parents, and our siblings, friends who I can call and know that they are there with a bottle of wine and box of tissues should I need both, and jobs that both Andrew and I are secure and content with.

But, I do still have that impending hope and wish- good health for those I love.

As I blow out my metaphorical candle, and my actual one, I will put the flames into the universe. I hope that my wishes are granted. As the smoke rises into the abyss, please wish-maker, wish-granter, on my birthday, help this wish come to fruition. Make this wish come true.