Alec would always stop John as he walked by with his dog Fable, and he would say Hi to John. We didn't know John, but thanks to Alec we got to meet him and it became a ritual with them. Alec would spot John coming by our house and say hi to him and ask to walk Fable and John would give Alec her leash and he would hold on and follow her around a bit. She is such a good and gentle dog and Alec loved her. Alec didn't like many dogs but he liked Fable. John was always so kind and friendly to Alec and Cassidy, he'd say to Al, Hey Buddy and chit chat and Alec always had him laughing.
We never knew John's son went to heaven, it was 33 years ago he would be our age. But after I knew, I now think that Alec met John for us.
Alec met John when he was 7 the same age as John's son was. I feel Alec lined it up knowing we would so desperately need him and Barbara.
Barbara welcomed me into her home with open arms that day even though they had her daughter and son in law visiting. Even though she never met me. She had me come in and sit and talk while her heart ached for me for us for Alec and for her and her son. John came out and saw me, he was so broken for us and Alec and for him and his son, the tears in his eyes showed me that the pain never goes away ever, the missing of our beautiful boys will forever hurt. Yet they also showed me that it was possible to smile and laugh again. They shared their son John with me and I shared Alec with them. They shared how they got through and still get through -which there is no manual , you just wake up and live another day , you don't know how you do but you do.
Barbara emailed me today to tell me that she remembers this day 2 years ago, the day I showed up at her door. I will always remember, but I didn't think she would. I did not know what to do, it was Keith's Birthday, how can he have a Birthday without Alec, I was so sad for him as I am again today. There are no more happy birthdays for us, except Cassidy's which is bittersweet.
When Cassidy would see John walking by our house, she would tell Alec and he would yell out the window "JOHN"!. Cassidy would duck so he would only see Alec. It was so funny. We all started yelling "John" inside the house when we heard him coming ( Fable's leash makes a loud jingle), it became one of our many funny things we do. Now when we see or hear John we still say "JOHN" , we have to. Cassidy will yell to John out the window, but only when she know he's far enough away that he won't hear her. Though secretly she wants him to hear.