Dear Ace,
Today is your birthday. Thirty four years ago today you literally popped into the world and our lives. You were a game changer!
Who knew that a six pound, silver haired little guy would have changed our lives so much? Yes, there were the usual changes that one would expect when adding a third boy to a household that already contained a four year and a two year old, but did we ever think that you would still be such a driving force nine years after you were taken from this earth?
You were a typical little kid except for the penchant to make up your own words ("veritable" was your word for awesome!) and the unbridled exuberance you had for life in general, your family and friends in particular. That joy was a constant for you even in the midst of harsh circumstances. You found the laughter and a way to uplift yourself and your friends despite 100+ temperatures, no running water, scorpion bites, MRE's, being shot at and no real bed to sleep in.
As your Marine brothers gathered to celebrate your life a few weeks back, it was apparent that you were still with us in that room, making us laugh, recalling what you meant to us all. One would expect that your mom and dad would still mourn you, still feel the stabs of pain, but how unexpected that so many would feel as we do after nine years, post Marine duty, leading lives as husbands and fathers.
Your blood brothers often called you the glue that held us all together. One of your Marine brothers referred to you as the "crazy glue" that held them all together! How perfect a description that is for you: when the Marines were down in the dumps, you would show up wearing thong underwear to make them laugh, make a video of installing chem lights in port-a-potties or start one fingering your key board to bring music and cheer. To this day, they all have a memory of you doing something to keep them from sinking into a dark depression by making them laugh.
You, my wonderful son, have influenced more people than I could hope to impact in five lifetimes and I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am to be your mom. You, Ace, have more power and riches in your ability to make people happy than all the CEOs and millionaires in this world. It takes an uncommon person to inspire nine years after death.
What an extraordinary birthright!
Despite the on going anguish of missing you each and every day, I try to find the joy in the little things, something that you taught all of us, because, after all, "there is nothing to be unhappy about"!
I love you, Android. Today is a veritable day because it is the day you were born!
xoxo
Ace's Mom
Remember: it is the dash that tells the story....
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