HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELISSA (FORT)!!!

Dear Melissa,
Every year on your birthday you had to listen to me tell you the story of "THE DAY YOU WERE BORN"...my mom did it to me, and I have to do it to MY kids....I don't remember my due date, but you came close to arriving on time. Although we tried really hard to get you here on Dec 31 (thought a "little tax deduction" would be nice) we were at a New Year's Eve Party at the Ryan's and I walked around the block, hoping to go into labor, to no avail. You were stubborn and knew when you were going to get here. The morning of January 5 - around 5 a.m., you woke me up.
When we left for St. Elizabeth Hospital it was a balmy 40 degrees...dad and I played cards for a few hours, until you decided it was time...exactly 1:19 p.m. You were BEAUTIFUL. HEALTHY. And we were ecstatic. We got to stay at the hospital for a couple of days, and when it was time to come home, there was a lot of snow on the ground and our car wouldn't start...so "Uncle" George came and picked us up and took us home. About a week later, the Blizzard of '78 hit - and we all survived it.
THERE. I had to tell it, because it's what I do on January 5. Only now other
people have to listen to it (and roll there eyes...just like you did!)
I love you so much Melissa, and hope the balloons arrived in time for your
celebration today.
Love you pretty girl.....
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When we got home from the balloon release on Sunday, I decided that we
did it that day so they would get to her in heaven in time for her
birthday....balloons were released at David Cemetery in Kettering,
in Orlando & Melbourne Fl, Hilton Head, Santa Barbara CA (Butterfly Beach),
Murphy NC, Boston, Stockholm Sweden & Japan. Below are some of the
pictures I took and received from friends and relatives...THANK you everyone who celebrated with us - whether here or your hometown. I KNOW Melissa would be writing thank you's (and you'd get them eventually...)and a SPECIAL THANK YOU to Carol, Ski & Cari for organizing & bringing all theballoons - what a beautiful way to celebrate Melissa's birthday - I love you!



Balloon release at David's Cemetery....







From Hilton Head (pink heart shaped balloon w/ note TO MELISSA in heaven) from
Mary, a former co-worker of mine...


Shannon(Melissa's OU friend and 3day walk teammate)& Evan from BOSTON....