Two for One day

Today I am posting two blog entries- the previous one that is more about me and then this one as a remembrance.

Fall is my favorite season I think it is such a beautiful time of year. It is also a reminder that change can be beautiful.

But why does it always seem to be that as soon as the leaves are perfect in our area- we get a day of rain to knock half of them to the ground before we have been able to truly marvel in their splendor!

As the days get shorter and the nights get cooler and I see pumpkins and mums nearly at everyone's door- it is a reminder that this is the season we lost Shane in. We are coming to the one year mark. I am not quite sure what to do with that or what the next 47 days will be like but I will share what our Fall seasons used to be like.

Fall was a time that Shane loved- the kid loved to rake leaves. Had to use a full size adult rake that nearly took people eyes out if near him- but he loved it. He might have loved the jumping in the pile after a little more than the actual raking part but he always wanted to help. He always had creative ideas for his and Colin's Halloween costumes and elaborate plans for pumpkins that Chelsea could help him carve. I will share some Halloween pictures in a near future post.

Fall was also soccer season- I think Shane was 5 when he first started playing with the town recreation department league down at the swimming pool park just down the road from our home. He would move on to play with the Y in the Connecticut River Valley Soccer League where games were held over at the fields on the campus of Northfield Mount Hermon. Colin always a faithful fan- there to loudly cheer for his brother. Often we would be joined by other family members too to form the cheering section for Shane that he did NOT always love to have.

Shane went on to play at Eaglebrook and also at Deerfield Academy. Many hours were spent wrapped in blankets trying to keep warm.

While at Eaglebrook Fall was also a time for the festival during family weekend. Games that the kids would run , traditional fall snacks like cider pressed right there, caramel apples, fried dough and the always favorite teriyaki noodle bowls. The silent auction, the book fair, lots of memories from up on that hill! Always a beautiful place to be and enjoy colorful views of the valley.

October 1st was the day of my parents wedding anniversary- which often brought the family together for celebrating. This is one of my favorite photos - authentic smiles on all three of them.

And this one was taken at a anniversary celebration as well-

Our Sunday nights in the Fall of 2021 all looked like this. Shane spent the Fall term of his Freshmen year at Northeastern at their campus- the College of Humanities in London.

We would facetime every Sunday night while his laundry was going. It is hard to tell in the photo- but Colin so looked forward to those times when he could hear his brothers voice- he would look all over the room trying to find him. Faces and voices from a computer screen is just not something that Colin comprehends- but his brothers voice, that he knew. Shane would always get so pleased with himself when he could get Colin to break out in laughter even from across the pond.

Oh what this Momma wouldn't give to hear Shane's voice , to see that smile in person or to see Colin light up in only a way that his brother could get him to do. Such a very special relationship truly a gift- the gift of a brothers bond.

Enjoy these beautiful fall days everybody - rake some leaves to jump in, pick some apples, choose a pumpkin, make some memories with your families. And above all else- remember my boy- say his name often, keep his memory alive with us.

We love you Shaney!