Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Tuesday, September 9, 2014 -- Mattie died 261 weeks ago today.

Tonight's picture was a precursor to last night's final picture. This was the block of clay that Mattie received. Inside this clay was buried toy dinosaur plastic bone pieces. He had to dig them out and then assemble them into a three dimensional dinosaur. This project kept him busy for hours. It was the perfect thing for Mattie to do because it kept his hands and mind busy while it did not cause him to physically tax himself out. Mattie loved these archaeological adventures and there were times we would transform the room. We would put a big bed sheet on the floor, help him to sit down on it, and he would dig away on all sorts of clay blocks and projects.  

Quote of the day: Something still exists as long as there's someone still around to remember it. ~ Jodi Picoult


As is typically true for me, days after an anniversary are usually very challenging for me. I spent the day at home with a terrible headache. Of course the typical DC grayness did not help one bit. Peter traveled to Kentucky today on business. 

On Peter's flight was a lovely big dog. Not unlike the Golden Labrador that was on my flight back from Los Angeles. Except on my flight the dog was actually sitting in the passenger's lap! At least on Peter's flight this cutie was actually on the floor! Seems to me dogs are becoming more common place on flights which is no surprise since the stress and anxiety associated with travel seems to be increasing exponentially. 



Meanwhile back at home all sorts of odd things are happening. One of Mattie's pieces of art that we put up on the wall this weekend literally just jumped off the wall and came crashing to the kitchen floor. The glass broke in hundreds of pieces. The art work wasn't damaged but it caught my attention and I now have to buy a new frame. Ironically the item that came crashing down had a backdrop of spider collage paper (I feel like Mattie is sending me a message)! Then while I was in the shower, and mind you I have lived in our home for years and this has NEVER happened to me, I felt as if there was a cold breeze passing over me. As if someone was in the bathroom with me..... blowing in my face. It was an absolutely eerie feeling! I honestly have no logical explanation for this. No doors or windows were open. The bathroom door was closed and no one was around me. When I can't explain things anymore, my natural inclination is to think of Mattie and view them as signs. Before Mattie died, I would have been much more pragmatic. Now, I welcome not knowing and being more open to such possibilities.