life lessons.

July 1, 2009
erin potty
tonight my mom phoned with news that one of my uncles is feeling very much under the weather. on the brink of my own 25th birthday, i suddenly feel remarkably old. it feels like only a few short years ago that up in a family cottage in maine, this very same uncle was insisting that if i was old enough to catch a fish, i was old enough to take it off the hook. it was twenty years ago.
 
yes, tonight is one of those nights when i feel very sad to be so far from my family. but wallowing won’t do anyone any good, and so tomorrow i’m going to go jump off a dock, and swim in a freshwater lake, and eat too much chocolate, just like uncle ralphie would want me to. sending heaps of love and prayers his way.
 
{photo of me taken in maine, circa 1993. lesson: life is short, find the beauty all around you…}

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21 Comments

  • Reply simplesong July 1, 2009 at 4:10 am

    love the photo. sending you good wishes for you + your family.

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  • Reply melanie July 1, 2009 at 4:31 am

    don't feel sad =[

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  • Reply Stacey July 1, 2009 at 4:44 am

    beautiful post in every way…

    hope your birthday is happy and your uncle is feeling much better

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  • Reply Darrah July 1, 2009 at 4:47 am

    I send my best wishes! Sorry to hear you're so under the weather… :0/

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  • Reply Little Dickens Designs July 1, 2009 at 5:02 am

    That's a great picture! Happy Birthday, eat some extra cake for your uncle.

    It's not Maine, but I posted some pics on my blog from this past weekend in New Hampshire. Stop by if you have a moment.

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  • Reply Lisa-Marie July 1, 2009 at 9:25 am

    I am sending good vibes your way, for you and for your uncle. I hope he gets well.

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  • Reply cindy : quaint July 1, 2009 at 10:58 am

    sending good wishes to you on your birthday & uncle ralphie! xo, c

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  • Reply maria July 1, 2009 at 11:14 am

    i'm sending a warm hug your way… i hope your uncle will get better and that you will indeed live life to its fullest, on your birthday and always.

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  • Reply mb July 1, 2009 at 12:53 pm

    Erin,
    I enjoyed the priceless photo of you in the outhouse.
    Happy birthday.
    Feel better Uncle Ralphie.

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  • Reply Erin July 1, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    thanks to you all for the well wishes for my uncle. we're praying hard!

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  • Reply Laura Trevey July 1, 2009 at 1:27 pm

    hope he is on the way to feeling better 🙂

    xo Laura

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  • Reply The Yellow Door Paperie July 1, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    Hope you're doing better.

    Being far away is so hard, feeling helpless and being far away is harder.

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  • Reply our little love nest July 1, 2009 at 2:22 pm

    I hope you are doing better. I so relate with the distance from family being hard. I hope your birthday is perfect. I would agree to eating a lot of chocolate!! It always makes me smile. (then again so does jumping off a dock into fresh water) xo

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  • Reply Amanda Nicole July 1, 2009 at 4:33 pm

    My thoughts are with you. It's hard to watch the people you grew up thinking were invincible fall away one by one.

    I had a good year being 25, I hope you do too!

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  • Reply Ali July 1, 2009 at 5:29 pm

    Wonderful idea. And gorgeous picture!

    Thinking about your uncle.

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  • Reply conversationpieces July 1, 2009 at 6:02 pm

    Oh that is sad… I discovered my Nana first had cancer on my 24th birthday. It was really hard to enjoy the day – but then I went to see my Nana and she was laughing, eating cake, telling stories and I realised if she could enjoy the day, so could I.

    Really hope you're able to enjoy your day… that is what your Uncle would want. Big blog hug x

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  • Reply D&D July 2, 2009 at 12:20 am

    25 is a good year my love!
    your uncle is in my thoughts.
    love the maine cottage. 😉

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  • Reply knack July 2, 2009 at 12:23 pm

    I hope your uncle is doing better……I love how you always focus on the positive….seeing beauty…..xo

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  • Reply Bonbon Oiseau July 3, 2009 at 12:00 am

    awww…i hope everything goes well for him and your family…

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  • Reply The Lil Bee July 3, 2009 at 1:20 am

    It looks like you had a wonderful birthday:) I am sending lots of love your way for your uncle.

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  • Reply denise July 3, 2009 at 10:41 pm

    wonderful photograph. happy belated birthday!

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