July 28: "Birthdays Are Good For You"

Birthdays are good for you. 

Statistics show that 

the people who have the most 

live the longest.

~Larry Lorenzoni

Today, July 28, is one of those special days on the calendar when two members of our family have birthdays. My sister Barbara and our grandson William are both celebrating another year today.

Barbara and William enjoying a moment
last year on Wildwood Lane 

Barbara was born in San Diego sometime in the last century, as were all of her siblings as well as most of her cousins. In the spring of 1978, the year after graduating from San Diego's Kearny High School, her parents Maida and Eugene Shepard left Southern California and moved to Western Washington. Barbara and mom Maida still live today in the house Mom and Dad bought 42 years ago when they settled in Anacortes, Washington. Barb had a recent bout with breast cancer but received some wonderful news from her doctor not long ago: she is now cancer free.

Barbara is the primary care giver for our mother Maida and receives lots of help in caring for Mom from our brother Gary and his wife Cindy who live not far away. With her 96th birthday coming up in November, Mom's needs continue to grow. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Barb, Gary and Cindy, and all those who are helping our dear mother through these sunset years. Best wishes to Barb for a very Happy Birthday today!

William and "Mimi" celebrating
their birthdays in San Diego in 2015

Our Grandson William Shepard is the other birthday celebrant on this day. He was born in San Francisco eight years ago, the third child of Nathan and Chenda Shepard. For the last 6 years he has lived with his Dad Nathan, brother Logan and sister Preslea in the San Carlos community of San Diego, not far from where Cindy and I live. William and his siblings seem to be enduring the Pandemic shut-down quite well. When the time is right William and his siblings look forward to going back to school, playing hockey, visiting friends and going to places they have had to avoid. Happy Eighth Birthday to William!

On a few occasions in recent years Barb and William have been able to share their birthdays together physically, even though they live nearly 1,500 miles apart. Last year, for example, a whole group of us were together in Las Vegas to celebrate with Barb and "Mimi" on their special day. But this year, because of Covid, an actual face to face birthday celebration will not happen. At least not in the traditional fashion. Instead they will get together virtually in a Zoom celebration, to blow out candles, eat cake, and sing Happy Birthday. Best wishes to both of them!

Steve Shepard
(he, him, his)