This birthday would be different. There would be no face to face family time. There would be no physical hugs. There would be no group singing. This would be a birthday filled with remembering having shared those moments; because on this birthday we would be 5521 miles apart.
Yet, it was a birthday we were be able to accept. It was easier to deal with because Jen was living her dream. She was not in the hospital or in quarantine; she was not being held hostage. She was just across the globe seizing an amazing new opportunity! We were not together for all the right reasons!
So as the day of September 29th was only minutes away in Macedonia (5 pm September 28th in Lincoln), I hit the computer, facebook, and e-mail. Sent the first of the birthday greetings, two dimensional but greetings none the less! A happy birthday song followed! She would know for sure we were celebrating with her, the only way we could.... in the two dimensions of electronics! Oh my word, her birthday would not go without observance!
Of course I again checked the USPS tracking - no scan since 9/25 in Omaha! If I type the colon and parenthesis that makes a frown..... I will be understating my disappointment. But, we were all alive and well, so no frets! No complaints, only smiles.
Jen and I were able to talk by phone about 8 am Nebraska time (remember the math..... that’s 3 pm Tetovo time). I decided to spoil the secret surprise mailing and ask if she had received anything. She had not. I was sorely disappointed.... but knew we had tried the best we knew how to get some treats to her on her birthday! I shared that the USPS customer service for international mail had filed a claim and maybe she would receive a packet.... maybe she would not.
She was excited that we had tried... and would eagerly look forward to its coming, it’s potential coming!
Transition and adaptation can come in small simple strides! And this was one of those days. We were adapting to being separated on a family holiday. Jen was adapting to a new world and new culture and new surroundings. It is a birthday none of us will soon forget! I did wish she had received our packet, but that was not to be. And then the gift arrived!
No, of course not our packet. The gift she received was one given by a new friend in the new world! Vesna had driven to Skopje and returned to Tetovo with Cassidy (a fellow Fulbrighter) and they took Jen out for her birthday! What a wonderful surprise. What an awesome birthday treat. And so it was, the thoughtfulness of a new friend made all the difference.
Sometimes there is nothing more valuable in our lives than the thoughtfulness of a friend.... new or old friend, it doesn’t matter. The greatest gifts on the toughest days are our relationships!
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