Mattie's Blog and his Fight Against Osteosarcoma

Thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive!

Dear Mattie Blog Readers,

It means a great deal to me that you take the time to write and to share your thoughts, feelings, and reflections on Mattie's battle and death. Your messages are very meaningful and help support me through very challenging times. I am forever grateful. As my readers know, I promised to write the blog for a year after Mattie's death, which would mean that I could technically have stopped writing on September 9, 2010. However, like my journey with grief there is so much that still needs to be processed and fortunately I have a willing support network still committed to reading. Therefore, the blog continues on. If I should find the need to stop writing, I assure you I will give you advanced notice. In the mean time, thank you for reading, thank you for having the courage to share this journey with me, and most importantly thank you for keeping Mattie's memory alive.

As Mattie would say, Ooga Booga (meaning, I LOVE YOU)! Vicki

September 19, 2022

Monday, September 19, 2022

Monday, September 19, 2022

Tonight's picture was taken in September of 2008. Mattie was in the hospital and that day was visited by Jude, one of the music volunteers. Mattie loved all the music folks and Jude made learning about music fascinating. Why? He came with props! Meaning he would come to a hospital room with a little red wagon filled with all sorts of instruments. Mattie could pick an instrument, learn about it and even play it. That day he selected the rain stick!

Quote of the day: Happiness is beneficial for the body, but it is grief that develops the powers of the mind. ~ Marcel Proust

My mom had a physical therapy session today. While in therapy, she hit her hand on the parallel bars and started bleeding. I don't go anywhere without Band-Aids and have a first aid kit in my car. I cleaned her up and back to therapy she went.

After her session, we went out to lunch at the mall. I honestly couldn't believe what was on display! Well this photo was seasonally appropriate, as it was Halloween and fall themed. But look below!

It is September!!! You couldn't tell this inside this department store. To them it was Christmas time. Christmas in September! I noticed one shopper came in and was literally screaming when she saw these trees! She felt it was too early.

Though I absolutely agree with the woman screaming, I felt strangely attracted to the ornaments and trees. Maybe because of the feeling holidays evoke! I just don't know. But I do believe that we live in a society that can't appreciate living in the moment, so instead, we are going to blend it holidays all together or speed it up the entire process.