Saturday, January 31, 2015

Thinking of My Son on His Birthday

Blogging moms probably really annoy their children when they write blog posts about them,
but,
today is my son Jonathan's birthday so he gets to be featured on a blog post.

This photo was taken by my son's wife a few years ago.
She perfectly captured a facet of my son's personality that has endeared him to so many.


Recently, I found a card that Jon and his sister Julie made for me for my birthday when they were teenagers.
The backstory:
The initials JAC were shared by Jon and Julie.
That is why one, non-gender specific person on the front of the card represents them both.
At the time the card was written, Sally Jessy Raphael's talk show was very popular.
They used to call me Sally Jessy.
The card was a bit of a satire aimed at those Sally Jessy might interview on her talk show.
Sometimes, when I blog, I fear my children still might think of me as Sally Jessy Raphael.


My fears are grounded in what Julie and Jon wrote inside the card:
Julie And Jonathan 
always hated when
Mrs. Wessely
did the talk-show circuit.

For that reason, I try to not bring too much attention to my children in my blogs,
but
today
is Jon's birthday,
so he gets some attention.

I can not even imagine how small and limited my life would be without Jon in it.
He has so many facets to his personality that he has enriched my life beyond anything I could have imagined before he was born.

His intelligence stuns me.
Just try having a debate with him.
He will keep you on your toes.
We've had many debates, all of them heated, mostly friendly, but always passionate about our own beliefs over the years.
The topic of religion is an ongoing debate topic we've had running for a very long time.

He is 
smart,
funny,
creative,
daring,
adventurous,
non-traditional and very traditional all in one
good at conversation,
a thinker,
a writer,
a poet,
an artist,
a reader,
a college professor,
student,
activist,
hard worker,
slacker,
passionate about his beliefs,
the pied piper,
a husband and father,
a good son,
a much loved brother,
and always interesting.

As many of you know, Jon has been walking through a great adventure that has unknown outcomes since September when he injured his right brachial plexus in an accident.
The brachial plexus is the area that conducts signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm and hand.


On February 6, Jon is scheduled to have surgery to repair damage done by the injury.
The surgery will be take place in Pennsylvania and will be done by a surgeon specializing in injuries of this type.
Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers during this time.

In the meantime,

Happy birthday, son!
I miss you.
I love you.
XO
MOM





23 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday to Jon and much luck on his upcoming surgery. I love that photo of him!

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  2. Happy Birthday to your wonderful Jonathan! My Jonathan doesn't like it when I write anything about him on my blog either.

    However, I know your Jon can't help but love the post you wrote here. I do love that photo of him. I'd want it framed and on my wall.

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  3. That's a great photo. He does sound like a person I would like to know. Happy Birthday to Jon.

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  4. A wonderful tribute to your lovely son! I hope his surgery goes well! Valerie

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  5. It is always efficient to be away from our kids regardless of their age and life challenges! ...:)JP

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  6. I join what I know will be a long list of bloggers wishing Jon a wonderful birthday (and successful surgery). Definitely a talent with that creative card! And that "jumping" photo fills me with almost unbearable joy!

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  7. I think you managed to "keep it reined in" quite well, and Jon shouldn't be too upset with you for this tribute! Love the photo of him, love your words about him, and love the SallyJessy card!

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  8. Hello Sally,

    That is a most joyful photograph of your son and, clearly from all you write, this captures an essence of him.

    He sounds to be a most interesting, charming and intelligent young man. You have clearly given him the wings to fly and he is soaring!

    It must be difficult for you to be at a distance whilst he undergoes the surgery, but, all will be well.

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  9. Ahh, such a sweet tribute. He cannot possibly object.
    But if he does, after that card to you, payback is deserved anyway. That was hilarious.

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  10. You have a lot to be proud of in your son. Happy birthday to him. I hope we will hear good news about the success of his surgery soon.

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  11. Blessings on him in his surgery. Niice tribute to him, Sally.

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  12. A wonderful prose poem to a lovely man. Good luck to him in the surgery ahead. Thanks for sharing him with me, Sally. :-)

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  13. sons are special, i know I have 4 of them. three with sons of their own.

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  14. Agree, great photo ... and a very nice birthday card you've written!

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  15. Hi Sally, I love that card! Yes, I will keep him in prayer. Praying the surgery is a success and that his recovery is quick.
    Blessings, Joanne

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  16. Wonderful portrait and best wishes for a successful operation for him....

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  17. Happy Birthday, Jon.
    Your mum thinks you’re very special but I think your mum is very special too.

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  18. Very sweet post and Happy Birthday to Jon and I am praying that his surgery goes well.
    I have been AWOL from blogging a lot and so I missed reading about Jon's accident. I will keep you both in my prayers.
    Hope you are taking care of you and staying warm.
    Love
    Maggie

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  19. That photo of your son is outstanding! I hope he had a great birthday and I’m sending belated wishes. I send all my best wishes for a smooth operation and a quick recovery. I also envy your facility with talking about your family – it is so hard for me. I cannot write on my blog, for example, that I have been taking my husband to so many doctor visits lately, about 3 to 4 a week, that his bladder cancer is back and he is having surgery in a few weeks and I can’t even think about talking on my blog about his Alzheimer. I can write it as a comment on your blog but just cannot do it on my blog, so I wish I had your ability to write so beautifully about your children and family. Your poem is so loving. Thank you for sharing, I sincerely mean it. Take care, VB

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  20. Love that photo. It shows his abounding joy of life!
    Who wouldn't be proud of him!
    Best wishes for his forthcoming operation and I really hope that will be the end of his discomfort.
    Maggie x

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  21. As I catch up I realize 8 days have passed since this surgery was to happen. I can only hope it did and that he is now healing well. Please do give and update Sally.
    hugs

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  22. Catching up with your blog today. Two lovely tributes in a row, to children who have clearly grown into wonderful adults. I love the pictures. I hope the surgery went well.

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  23. So sorry I'm late to this, Sally. A beautiful birthday tribute to your lovely son. I do hope and pray his surgery was successful and that he will regain the use of his arm. I know from my own recent broken wrist how incapacitating it is to lose even partial use of hand and arm, let alone more.

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