Tania's Birthday

Here we are three weeks on from the trial and Tania's 18th Birthday has come and gone. This is the third one we have had to celebrate without her.

From year 7 she was always asking to have her belly button pierced - until I came upon the idea of offering her something she wanted in exchange. At some stage she decided that she wanted a car with a soft top, so she could drive around with the top down (when she was old enough, of course). So I offered to buy her a car (with a soft top) for her 17th birthday, if she would not ask about the piercing again.

We hardly ever heard anything about the belly button piercing again.

Shortly before she died she said to me "What's to stop me getting my belly button pierced after I get the car?" Tania had finally realised that the only reason she was offered the car was because I wanted her to wait until she was 17. I had never actually meant to stop her, just put her off until she had grown up a little and could pay for it herself.

So Tania's 17th birthday was one that I really missed her, because I was looking forward to giving her the car and teaching her to drive. One of the many things that I'll miss out on sharing with her.

Tonight we went out to Terrigal pub with three of her friends, unfortunately we couldn't get a hold of some and others are away during the school holidays. We had a cake, a good chat and sang happy birthday to Tania.

It was good to catch up with them again.