Birthday Traditions: Honouring Those We Miss

August is not my favourite month of the year. No, not because it’s winter as I love our mild Australian climate, but it’s a month of special dates that remind me of the people I’m missing; The 10th is the anniversary of my mum’s passing, then, there’s a spate of birthdays that I used to celebrate - Ian’s, his mum, then his father’s and my dad’s, which is usually accompanied by all the Father’s Day advertisements telling me “not to forget dad!”…. as if I could!

As the years roll on these days, while yes they are sad, they don’t quite hurt as much as they used to. Over the years my family and I have found ways to celebrate their memories - afternoon tea with a lemon meringue pie as that was my mum’s favourite; I buy myself a bunch of flowers to remember my mother-in-law and her love of gardens; and to celebrate my father-in-law this year I think I might buy a roll of Cadbury chocolate buds because if I ever needed a chocolate fix at work I could always count on finding a half open packet in the top drawer of his desk; and for my dad I’ll cook myself a simple piece of cold toast with Vegemite just like he made for me on so many occasions because that’s how we both enjoyed it. 

Now for Ian, I celebrate his birthday in a way that I know he would approve of. Ian loved sport, he loved community, and he was generous. So what better way then combining what he valued than by supporting and attending the Mark Hughes Charity Ball to raise much needed funds to fight the insidious disease which took Ian’s life. It’s such a worthwhile charity but I find it a happy/sad night. 

Mark Hughes and his beautiful wife, Kirralee, along with their team of volunteers organise an amazing event with this year raising over $230,000. To play a small part as a sponsor gives me hope that one day they will find a cure so other families don’t have to suffer the loss of a loved one from Brain Cancer. I am sure Ian would be happy with how I choose to remember and celebrate his birthday.