Jewells of Thought

In December I got a reminder to renew my license. Fortunately it’s not something I forget, but it has been put on the back-burner a few times. The reminder was more for the Real-ID which you have to have several documents with you to get done.

My license was good until the end of the day on my birthday Saturday. So come Sunday I would have been driving illegally. Now I don’t have to worry about that due to getting it done this morning. Thank goodness I got rid of my old photo which literally was from my 21st birthday. Yet it looked better than today’s took. I know they say not to smile, but I look anything but happy more like I have an attitude.

That couldn’t be further from the truth, I was actually nervous. I didn’t have to wait as soon as I got my ticket she called for my number at the other end of the room. Normally I go to Greene County or I have done my license online recently. This was the first time in a long time I decided to try Sullivan County BMV where I originally took my driving test forever ago.

The last photo I had taken was from my 21st birthday because I had to do it on the day of my birthday so I was told. Otherwise I would have to take another test. This was the week my younger cousin died.

For as long as I live Ic will not forget that day. I left Dr. Cutchin’s class earlier in order to get to Linton on my way to the viewing on my birthday. A second death happened the day he died on the 17th. My Mom lost her Great-Aunt Tish who did have her funeral on my birthday that year. Then Neil’s viewing on my Dad’s side was the Bishop side. Both sides of my family lost a precious soul. Unlike Neil, Aunt Tish had had a long life and had a lot of health issues… still both were big losses.

So think about this I had to leave class early and yes I cried on my way home before going to Linton. I had to fix my hair and head on to Linton to renew my license then. Still raining not one but two deaths that week had been on my mind, but yet it was my 21st birthday. How do you not feel guilty about wanting to celebrate when death is literally all around you that week?

My picture from that day has been my constant reminder of that day and everything I had to go through to get to Switz City, my aunt and uncle’s church. Today though, I was able to swipe away that slate with a new photo. Although now I will see a face that looks totally unhappy and who seems to have an attitude as I said.

Do you have birthday stories you wont soon forget? Birthdays that are marked by rare events that follow you throughout your life? Even routine events like going to renew your license?

Aunt Tish and Neil’s death were still unexpected the week they happened, my renewal was something I knew was coming. God gives us obstacles for character building and to show others how we live contrasting others. Yet that birthday was definitely a rough one for me. My Grandma Rosie and my Mom’s brothers took me out to eat that night. I left the viewing early behind them since I drove it was wet and a mess to park in I thought if I left and they did early it would help with parking since parking was muddy and just kind of chaotic as I remember.

Still it was a bittersweet decision to leave. I felt guilty and yet I wanted to celebrate a little bit after days of crying and trying to make sense of everything by myself since I was down at campus without my family to talk to. It was a lot to take in that week and this was my chance to finally have some carefree family time. It was something I needed in order to be ready for the funeral the next day.