I love a good story. The kind where you literally cannot put a book down. Your arm just won’t let you.

Where you’re so excited to find out what’s going to happen that you can barely wait to turn that page.

And then you get to that last page, oh, the dreaded last page.

You’re almost in a state of mourning when that story comes to an end.

And you’ve been changed in ways you never saw coming.

Now, that’s a good story.

***

Life is like reading a book without the ability to turn back the page.

(or rip the bad ones out.)

We don’t control how our story begins, but we do have influence over the main chapters of our lives.

And our own ending? Well, that will remain a mystery to us all.

But as each chapter of our life ends, a new one begins. And we can make of it whatever we want. We have that power.

And although there will undoubtedly be chapters we won’t want to revisit, they are a crucial part of telling our story… and eventually, our ending.

***

Per Google: Storytelling began as a survival tool over 30,000 years ago. Early humans used cave paintings, firelight chats and myths to explain natural phenomena and pass down moral codes. As societies evolved, oral traditions transitioned to written epics.

***

There’s a saying, “Write what you know”. It’s mostly how I write, as you can tell.

I mean, some of the best fiction comes from the tiniest ounce of truth. So finding a good jumping off point is not too challenging for me.

One of my dreams has always been to write a fiction novel (it’s partially started) whenever I please. In a cabin. A cup of coffee nearby. Woods all around me, and a fire going.

Oh, and something yummy baking in the oven.

Wearing cozy sweatpants and sitting in one of those basket type chairs with my laptop.

(You probably think I use my steno machine to write my stories because it would be faster, but I type them out. I need to feel the words, letter by letter..)

Well, with Mike, I now have the cabin part, so I just need the “whenever I please” part. LOL.

Ah, that magic word of someday…

So much promise and hope in that simple word.

***

Writing has always been a tool in my proverbial survival kit.

Right now, telling Mike’s story has been not only an honor and a privilege but also extremely therapeutic for me.

What happened to Mike was probably one of the biggest plot twists someone could have in their story.

I mean, obviously, none of us could possibly imagine such a thing happening.

It was a put-the-book-down and take-a-break-from-the-story kind of plot disturbance. The type of shocking moment where you can’t quite face it. You’re hesitant to turn the page and keep going for fear of what else will happen. You need to hold on to the not-knowing part just a little longer.

But then…

something beautiful happens.

After you’ve made it through that hard read, and the dark chapter comes to an end, you soon realize that the story continues on, it’s just been rewritten.

***

Mike and I have officially been married 4 months today. It still at times feels so surreal. Did we really just go through such life-changing events over the past year? Did we really survive all of that and then celebrate by having a horror movie-themed wedding?

Did I really wear a bloody dress with slashes across the front because my husband wanted to be Freddy Krueger?

Yes. Yes, I did.

(hehe)

We are proudly wearing our happiness for all to see.

And still pinching ourselves in the moments that seemingly come out of nowhere and remind us how truly blessed we are to have found each other in this big crazy world.

Mike has his third Botox injection today. We are asking for prayers. His left hand has really not responded much to the last two administrations. We continue to pray and hope beyond all hope that he will get some function back. As much as he’s been able to get back into the shop, having his left hand is really crucial to him resuming autobody work independently and efficiently.

Another great update: The wheelchair ramp is now gone! The side porch is back in place with steps like before the stroke. With it, a nice feeling of normalcy returning.

***

When I started 9th grade, I went to Shaker High School in Latham. There, I met Dina Aquino. She sat next to me in homeroom. We became fast friends. She had long brown hair, and such a gentle nature. Great smile and a lovely laugh. She always wore the latest Benetton shirt. She was friends with the preps, as we called them, but she wasn’t rich or entitled like they were.

We both agreed we’d go to Skidmore College together (although I had no idea what they taught there at the time). I just liked the sound of it. We decided we would be roommates and live in downtown Saratoga. And drink coffee at a fun coffee shop/bookstore every day.

Of course, as we continued on in high school, both of our career choices led us to different schools. Then, I moved to Virginia to start my career. We stayed in touch over that time. Dina was one of my bridesmaids when I got married the first time. Then, she met Pete Borelli and also got married.

We both had our firstborn child in the late ’90s and then I moved back to New York in 2000. Dina and I were able to get together again and now my Sam and her Matthew joined us. We both lived in Rexford and enjoyed being in close proximity.

When I had my Roman in 2002, Dina and Pete were trying to get pregnant and, soon, she announced she was due in July of 2003.

She was having another boy and we knew our babies would grow up together. We started to plan future playdates with excited anticipation!

I remember visiting with Dina a week before she was due. I was delivering Pampered Chef products to her from a party my sister Vicki had a few weeks prior. Roman was 16 months old and Dina enjoyed holding him.

She confided in me that she felt very nervous about having this baby. She just felt like something bad was going to happen. The doctors’ appointments were all indicating a healthy pregnancy, and she was feeling good physically, but she couldn’t shake this feeling of dread.

Dina was anemic throughout her life, but she had a successful pregnancy and birth with Matthew, her now 3-year-old. She had no other risk factors. Still, she felt very anxious and scared.

I reassured her that it’s normal to be worried that something may go wrong. I think every mother just gets to the point where you want to see this person you’ve been carrying for 9 months already. You want to know they’re okay. She agreed that’s probably all it was.

It was July 8th, 2003.

A Tuesday.

I was playing with my babies in the living room when I got the call.

The words coming through the phone line weren’t making sense to me. Things were moving very slowly.

Time just sort of…

stopped.

Dina was at Albany Med. She’d gone into labor overnight.

The baby was stillborn…

Then, a short time later, Dina passed away…

Complications from childbirth…

None of it made sense. She was full term. I just saw her last week. She was fine. The baby was fine.

EVERYTHING WAS FINE.

Some stories, they just…

End.

(Years later, I learned that it was a very rare blood infection that they don’t test pregnant mothers for.)

***

In my last blog post, I spoke of Jackie and Shadow, the two bald eagles that captured the hearts and curiosity of thousands around the country.

I mentioned that Jackie was injured after being in a fight with some other eagles over food and territory. She was defending the nest, protecting her babies and her partner.

Unfortunately, Jackie’s medical condition continued to decline and things have taken a devastating turn. Despite the amazing efforts of the medical team caring for her, Jackie passed away yesterday.

Her condition was complicated by so many factors. She had anemia and they couldn’t figure out why. Treatments weren’t helping. She kept losing weight…

***

A good story is one where we become invested in the main characters. We truly feel affected by what happens to them.

And when the story is over, we feel that loss. But even when there is no happy ending, we are better for having known them.

For they are now a part of our story.

And the pain we feel for having lost them is proof of the love we carry that no longer has a place to go.

***

Shadow’s story is not over. He will live new chapters with a new mate someday. And probably with new babies.

Luna and Sandy are flying high and living their eagle lives… because of Jackie.

With the end of something always comes

a new beginning.

***

Pete’s story continues on as well. A year after Dina passed, Pete met Katie.

(To this day, Pete credits Dina for bringing Katie to him and Matthew.)

They married and God blessed them with twin boys.

One to give back the baby he lost.

And one to make up for it. ❤️