Monday, September 9, 2013

Monday, September 9, 2013

Tonight's picture was taken in September of 2008. Mattie was sitting on the floor of his hospital room with Bob Weiman, Mattie's head of the lower school. My faithful readers may remember Bob better as the "magic man." Bob came to visit Mattie often both in the hospital and at home and taught Mattie a very unique skill, magic. Mattie gravitated to magic because it did not require gross motor movement, instead it required him to use his fine motor skills, agility, and cognitive abilities. Mattie quickly realized that not everyone can do magic and performing these tricks in the hospital made him special. Not to mention that it also caused people to take notice and interest in what he was doing. There were some days where Mattie did not want to talk to ANYONE. Yet if you pulled out his magic bag, he would consider doing a trick to two. In this photo, Bob was teaching Mattie the infamous engagement ring trick. Honestly this is a very challenging trick, but Mattie caught onto it right away! They were a good pair together and the spirit of their union lives on each year at our Foundation Walk, when Bob and several of his fifth graders perform a wonderful magic show. A show that always features a trick Bob taught Mattie, entitled, Peanut Butter Booger. In some ways the peanut butter booger trick has unofficially been named the Mattie Brown trick.


Quote of the day: In a futile attempt to erase our past, we deprive the community of our healing gift. If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a light for others. ~ Brennan Manning

When I woke up this morning the first thing I saw in my email inbox was a message from Joan Holden, Mattie's head of school, and Bob Weiman, Mattie's head of the lower school. Both emails expressed their sadness over the current state of Mattie's tree and they both felt particularly upset that we saw this yesterday on Mattie's fourth anniversary. They both clearly understand that Mattie's tree is more than just a tree to us. Seeing a dead memorial tree is like seeing a headstone at a cemetery desecrated in a way. Three tree experts examined Mattie's tree today and they all concluded that it died most likely from a fungus infection. Such an infection would explain the sudden conspicuous wilting and dying of affected leaves. As I said to Bob, I may not be a tree expert, but just like a mom and dad know when something isn't right with their child, we knew something wasn't right with our red oak.

This is a photo of Mattie's tree from September 8, 2012! This was a glorious tree and you should know it survived terrible storms, a near by electrical fire, and not once did it ever waver. But what has happened to Mattie's tree as well as his life remind me that nothing is guaranteed and a lot can transpire in ONE year's time. When I think back to 2008, we thought we were going to fight cancer and give Mattie a second chance on life. A year later, in 2009, we knew that wasn't going to be possible. Certainly a tree can be replaced unlike human life, but both Mattie and his tree tell us a very important lesson. You only get one shot at it on this earth, therefore we really should pause and evaluate how we are spending this time.



I am happy to report that Mattie's school is replacing Mattie's memorial tree for us. However, before the tree comes down Peter and I need to take all the items that have adorned the tree for the last three years off so that we can eventually re-establish their home on the next Mattie tree. I am very happy that a new tree will be planted because for us this tree is our only tangible memorial to Mattie, and it is a memorial that helps ground us on birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. It gives us an activity to do which helps us remember and honor Mattie directly. I suppose it is like putting flowers on someone's grave. But instead of flowers we decorate Mattie's tree with items he would have loved, and items that I know capture the attention and hearts of the little ones who play near and around Mattie's tree.

I would like to end tonight's posting with the orange tie campaign. You know about the gold campaign, well our friend Tim has his own campaign in Mattie's honor. The week after September 8, Tim always wears an orange tie. This is the photo Tim sent me this morning! I assure you Tim has a great orange tie collection! Tim never got to meet Mattie, but Mattie would have gotten a BIG kick out of Tim's orange tie week in Mattie's honor!