You would have loved today. The temperature has dropped; it’s a lovely sunny, crisp day. As the sun set, I sat on our porch, as we had so many times before, rocking and watching the sky turn from a light blue to a medium blue to a dark blue to night. A bat circled overhead. Crickets sang their songs.

The dahlias are blooming. Bright oranges, yellows, pinks, and creams. The zinnias are hanging on, their pinks and oranges fading, just a few more days of beauty. The cornflowers are black, and soon they will drop their seeds, ensuring that we’ll have even more brilliant pink blooms next summer.

I miss you. I wish we could have had one more year with cupcakes and ice cream. Oh, who am I kidding? I wish we could have had many more years.

We gathered last weekend in Winston-Salem to celebrate you. So many friends were there. We shared stories about you. Your stubbornness. Your steadfastness. Your love of your community. Your love of ice cream.

Happy birthday, wherever you are. May all your wishes come true.