Comments on: 11:19 AM

By: Tonya

Tonya — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:30:33 +0000

Thanks for sharing that amazing and miraculous time with us. G has great steps to follow!

By: melissa pacetti

melissa pacetti — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:41:28 +0000

jake, just hold onto that, those times, you remember them by detail, that’s amazing. this blog will be so important to you and your boys one day. keep on keepin’ on. much love to you. fish

By: yankee,transferred

yankee,transferred — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:41:53 +0000

Happy Birthday to Gabriel. You are a wonderful father. BJ is a wonderful mother. He will be a fine young man. Thinking of all of you.

By: Beth

Beth — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:43:21 +0000

That’s a wonderful story! I hope MastaG has the happiest of birthday’s!

By: Knarf

Knarf — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:43:49 +0000

Happy 10th birthday MasterG.

Great post AT, great reading.

By: ambular

ambular — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:48:46 +0000

thank you for sharing that story.

your bit about mastaG grumbling about picking up toys made me giggle. my dad always had hunting dogs, loads of them and did a bit of breeding, but cleaning the kennels somehow got delegated as a KID’S chore. no matter how much i hated doing it i still had to do kennel cleaning duty on my bday :P

By: califdudes

califdudes — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:48:50 +0000

Seriously dude, you can write. That was lovely. Thanks for sharing.
Vickie

By: Beth

Beth — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:48:51 +0000

Happy Birthday G. Another great post AT.

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:49:08 +0000

Happy Birthday G. You have a beautiful life ahead and beautiful memories of your mom that I hope last a lifetime. She will always be with you.

Thanks for sharing, AT.

By: Netmom

Netmom — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:55:56 +0000

(more tears, mixed happy and sad)

By: jenncurran

jenncurran — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:58:42 +0000

The greatest parents are chosen whether we want to be chosen or not! Thanks AT for sharing your story. I think we all see ourselves in you and BJ and that’s why so many of us keep coming back to the ‘tumor. You love your wife the way every woman wants her husband/partner to love her. She was a lucky, lucky lady.

BTW - Memnoch was a great read. Ever read Cry to Heaven? Wonderful book, her best.

By: Dana

Dana — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:56:22 +0000

That is the most beautiful story.
Thank you for sharing.

By: Robbin

Robbin — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:01:58 +0000

What a beautiful story! My son’s middle name is Gabriel - Hieronymus Gabriel.

So you can see why I would think Anastasia Plum is perfectly fine girl’s name.

By: beastarzmom

beastarzmom — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:04:36 +0000

Happy Birthday, G.
This is another great story. I hope you grow the rest of the way up realizing just how wonderful your beginnings were. I also hope you get your dad’s (and your mom’s too, by some of the archives I’ve read) writing skills! Your journey is far from over, but you’ve had a great start and you’ve got some damn fine support around you. We’re still praying, and now, doing a little smiling for you all.

By: kaleigh

kaleigh — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:11:15 +0000

Happy birthday, G! And my best thoughts to your family as you embark on a very different chapter of your lives than any of you imagined. Please all be gentle to yourselves for as long as you can and don’t get too upset by the things that you can’t remember. A dear friend of mine died a few years ago and her children were almost exactly the ages of your children at the time. You’ll all find your way. And all the writing is definitely going to help.

By: sumgurl

sumgurl — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:14:13 +0000

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GABRIEL! you are a blessing fo sho!

By: edsone

edsone — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:19:30 +0000

What a beautiful story and a beautiful way to share your feelings one day with your boys. Your story brought back that simple happiness from the early days of being an “adult” and on your own for the first time. Happy birthday to Masta G!

By: Ericka

Ericka — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:28:49 +0000

Oh dear Jesus, I have had mine stretched and damn near knocked the nurse out. She didn’t tell me she was gonna do it. So I have felt BJ’s pain. Sorry for the experience, but you got a beautiful son out it.

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 21:05:09 +0000

That. was…..amazing. This will be a marvelous birthday present for Gabiel some day.
The two of you (AT and BJ) are incredible people.
What wonderful memories. No wonder you slept well last night!!
Happy Birthday to Gabriel. (also my nephew’s name)

By: daco

daco — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 21:16:05 +0000

I realize that you just shared this story with the world via the internet, but I feel special that I was allowed to read it.
Thanks AT and GAC.

By: daco

daco — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 21:16:43 +0000

BTW,
Happy Gabe’sGiving Day, G-man.

By: marladusa

marladusa — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 21:51:47 +0000

Your kids are really really lucky to have someone so gifted at setting down the memories of your family’s life. That will be the best present one day when they’re ready. Thanks for continuing to share. Happy Thanksgiving y’all.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 21:57:41 +0000

Happy Birthday G! Ten-year-olds are awesome. They remember the punchline to jokes. They can sit through a movie without a trip to the bathroom. They are finally old enough to get the cool toys.

By: RLGelber

RLGelber — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 22:04:29 +0000

Happy Birthday Gabriel. I’m learning your Mom was an amazing woman and so is your Dad.

By: Jem

Jem — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 07:16:18 +0000

aw, great story. Happy Birthday to Gabriel! (great name.)

By: genderist

genderist — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 13:04:12 +0000

Happy Birthday, Gabriel!! Ten is a great year.

By: Em

Em — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 17:51:37 +0000

That’s a wonderful story! My hubbie and I are in the same boat, I was a senior in High School when I got pregnant. Our oldest will be 9 on Wednesday.
It’s nice to be the exception and not the rule. Not many couples faced with being parents at such an early age turn out as happy as we did! For most they don’t make it as a couple for long. I am so saddened by your loss but inspired by your stories! Happy Birthday to your son!