Yesterday was my nephew Andrew's 4th birthday. Unfortunately we missed his birthday party because they live in Orange County. I remember when he was just a little baby and now he is 4 years old, running around like a crazy little boy. I only get to see him every few months but he is all boy! He loves the dirt, dinosaurs and anything scary. He can sometimes be shy too. It takes him about 30 minutes to warm up to Kevin and I when we are in town.
My mom told me today that our old neighbor, Ann, passed away yesterday. She was in her 80's. She has always lived next door to my parents. When my parents moved into their house over 35 years ago, Ann and her husband, Ben, lived next door. They were in their 50's when my parents moved in. Ben passed away about 20 years ago and Ann live next door by herself after her husband passed way. She didn't have much family, so we always invited her over for holidays and birthdays. She would come over for a little bit to visit, then go back home. I don't think she felt comfortable being around everyone. She was always so sweet and just enjoyed the company. When my parents tried selling their home a few years ago and they thought they were going to be moving, they had to keep it a secret from Ann. They knew she would worry too much. My dad was like Ann's son. He use to go over to her house once a week to visit her and just sit there and talk to her. When my dad worked graveyard shift he use to take her out to lunch too. They would go to Giovanni's or chinese food. She thought of my brother and I as her grandkids. She always gave us $10 or $20 for our birthday. She only had one son, but he passed away when he was in his 30's. For the past 2 years she has been living in a nursing home. When Kevin and I were in town, we would go visit her. She loved seeing us and seeing Deegan. She will be dearly missed. Love you Ann!
The weird thing about Ann passing away yesterday and yesterday being Andrew's birthday, is that Andrew now lives in Ann's house. When Ann went into a nursing home 2 years ago, her family came into her house and cleaned it up and got it ready to rent out. My brother and his girlfriend where looking for a place to live. They ended up renting out Ann's house, which is right next door to my parents. So yesterday they had a birthday party celebrating Andrew's 4th birthday in the old home of Ann's. Maybe Ann was there at the party in spirit. She never had little grandkids running around her home. I am sure she is happy to know that her home now is full of family, laughter and birthday parties.
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| I can't believe I had this picture! This is Ann meeting Andrew for the first time. It was Easter 2008. |
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| Baby Andrew, just a few weeks old. |
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| Ryan, Ann and Andrew |
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| Andrew and I at Deegan's birthday party this year in January. He loved helping me open all the gifts. |
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| Andrew reading to Deegan during one of our visits in Orange County. Andrew's favorite book - Dinosaurs with scary teeth! |
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| A picture from Andrew's 3rd birthday party at Ann's old house |
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