What is a bond?

According to Webster's dictionary " a bond between people is a strong feeling of friendship, love, or shared beliefs and experiences that unites them" . I have been thinking about this word - bond- ever since we "went live" on Wednesday. Mike and I celebrated our bond over dinner at The Farm Table in Bernardston. We were married in Bernardston and sadly the restaurant; I think it was Bella Notte, or it may have been Andiomos at the time where we had our reception is no longer open. The Falltown Inn where we spent our wedding night- also is no longer there. So the Farm Table it was. Upon entering we soon saw a table of our neighbors- most definitely a family that we are bonded to by friendship. One of many families that provided a delicious meal to us shortly after Shane had passed. After a brief visit with them we returned to our table where Mike and I reflected over a celebratory cocktail on how lucky we were to be so supported by our community. We have spent so much time reeling in how UNLUCKY we were to lose one of our sons at such an early age that we perhaps have not been seeing all of those bonds that we have. Our family bond of McCarthys and Shaws are strong, the roots are deep - we are very blessed by each and every one of them that continues to hold us up. After finishing our meal- which had some how already been paid for - was it these neighbors, was it perhaps family, a coworker, our business partners- who knows- Thank you if you happen to read this and you are the one! Another reminder of just how fortunate and loved we are. As we were getting ready to leave- a young man who's name I will not say as I did not ask his permission to put him on "the Blog" - rose from his seat at the bar and came to deliver much needed hugs and kind words. This young man shared a bond with both of our boys - he was in Colin's preschool class and invited Colin to his very first birthday party. He was one of those classmates that wanted to push his stroller, had no issues wiping drool off of a little boys chin- he simply was being a friend. When Colin had hip surgery in Boston this boy, his older brother and their parents visited us in the hospital and brought Colin this star. It has been in Colin's room ever since. Years later this young man would provide a tour to Shane of Eaglebrook- and enthusiastically told Shane how great and fun it was to go there. Another bond beautifully represented in that of friendship in shared experiences. In those moments as Mike and I were missing Shane deeply this young man reminded us just how blessed we are and that there are many bonds around us.