It is easy to define these moments as special from all else. You know that you have been in the right place at the right time, that this specific situation will never come again. In my own life, a short list of these moments would include: sitting at Grandpa Morgan's Kitchen Table completing crossword puzzles with him when I was five, walking to school on my first day of Kindergarten by myself, cutting down our own Christmas tree in 1977 with my Dad, Mom and Amber, seeing The Grand Tetons for the first time, camping in Jackson Hole, visiting Custer National Park, Hiking at Mt. St. Helen's, the first time I saw Erick, my Wedding Day, the birth of Corey, Chris and Ashley, Graduating from College, spending one last day with Grandpa Morgan before he died, visiting Grandma Rasmussen, Grandpa Pietan and Grandpa Rasmussen shortly before their deaths, The births of Shaley, Lucas and Tavian. Watching Erick get his first treatment of his first Clinical Trial at Mayo Clinic.
In this last year, I have been lucky enough or intelligent enough to finally figure out that I need days off from work. In turn, I have had many extraordinary moments. Standing on the Lake Michigan Pier in Wisconsin during a Volleyball Camp for Ashley, with Christopher and Ashley. Attending Ashley's Anacrusis at St. Olaf College, sitting in our driveway last summer on a warm evening listening to music with the kids and their friends, who all broke out into synchronized song, realizing that my children are aging and these nights are few and far between. Taking a photo of Erick taking a photo of the Minneopa Waterfall, in Mankato. Realizing that at any time we could be told his cancer is back and we may not be able to do even this simple hobby together any longer. Traveling to Winona with Chris and Erick taking pictures of beavers on a Wildlife preserve. Snuggling Corey, if I can catch him. The day Andrew turned 18 and we did not have to worry about his family playing games with us any longer.
On Memorial Day, Erick had a spontaneous idea to go to Lakewood Cemetery to take pictures. We spent the better part of five hours wandering the Chapels, Mausoleums and grounds when we decided to go by the main Chapel on last time and heard a beautiful brass quintet playing inside. As we entered the chapel we were flooded with the sound of The National Anthem. After standing at attention, we found an empty pew. The Chapel was constructed in the early 1900's. It is made of 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch tile, Mosaic Style. The walls are adorned with Angels, covered in real, shiny gold. The pews are seated under a large dome, where all the sound reverberates back down to your entire body. As we sat together listening with our eyes closed, we felt as though we were the only people in the room. I knew instinctively I had to soak up every Angel, every tile, every stain glassed window, every vibration, every sound, every beat of mine and Erick's heart to preserve this perfect extraordinary moment in time we were lucky enough to be a part of. I was absolutely elated to be sharing this moment with my Husband!
