I’m still not quite sure how I arrived at this place in time but I am here! I am a Nona and I am absolutely loving it. I have been given the most amazing grandchildren and words cannot even begin to express how lucky I feel to have them. Of course, it makes us miss Jeff since he undoubtedly would have made THE best Grandpa EVER! Lucas would have heard him cheering at all of his baseball games. The tears would have been flowing from his eyes as he held the two new babies. He was so proud of our children that I can only imagine the pride he would have experienced with this new generation. The kids will know him. Lucas already talks about his Grandpa in Heaven. He asks Jeffrey about him and he already knows Jeff is watching over him. My three grandchildren have the best guardian angel they could possibly have.

The past few months have been tough at times but for the most part, they have been absolutely amazing. I drove back “home” on September 28th because Molly was in a wedding and I was fortunate enough to be given “Quinn Duty”. I spent a few days with Molly, Craig, and Quinn before heading to Jeffrey’s to patiently await the arrival of Nora on October 4th. Sadly, the joy of new life also had a great loss. My cousin Jamie lost her longterm boyfriend/soulmate and we gathered to say goodbye to an amazing man who left this world far too soon. Bryan had a smile that could light up any room. He will be missed but I am so thankful that I knew him! I hope he knows that he did something that is difficult to do. He brought a bunch of cousins together in one room and while that used to happen often when I was younger, it does not happen often at all. It reminded me of all the great people I can call FAMILY and even though we don’t see each other nearly often enough, we have a love for each other that never fades.

Coming back to Pittsburgh was tough after having a blast with the babies and reconnecting with people that I have not seen in a while. October 14th would have been my 34th Wedding Anniversary. It’s a tough day because it’s like playing Russian Roulette. One year, it comes and goes very quietly and then another year it paralyzes me. There is no rhyme or reason as to why some years are more difficult than others but I tend to start holding my breath a couple days in advance and try to psych myself up to get through the day. This year wasn’t too awful. The morning was a bit tough so I made it a lazy one. That night, Mark took me out to dinner and made it known to the restaurant that we were celebrating an anniversary. The one thing I gotta hand him is that he is so respectful of Jeff and my ongoing relationship with him even though he is not physically here. It makes it easier to have a meltdown!!

Well anyway, it’s official….the next generation is in full force and as I told my kids, I love them but I REALLY love the grands!!!! Somedays it is tough to be thankful but then I look at those kids and it becomes one of the easiest things for me to do!