Remembering Part 2

There's another day in February that seems to sneak up on me. February 25 was my husband's birthday. He wasn't a big celebrator. There were no dinners out. No parties. He did like the desserts so there always was a cake. And coffee. Lots of coffee.
I know someone who still had a cake every year on her late husband's birthday and celebrated with the grandchildren he never got to know. Some might find that strange but I see it as sweet. Each families' history should be celebrated in their own unique way.
I had a vivid memory of John about a month before his birthday. I was at the airport facing an 8 hour delay due to a snow storm. I'm not a nervous flyer but I will admit to momentary thoughts of disaster. Do you have those? I try to block them out.
And then I remembered John's love of anything to do with planes. My uncle who had been in the Air Force, said he was amazed by John's knowledge. He had never met anyone who knew so much about World War II planes, other than the pilots who flew them.
So as I sat waiting I thought of how much John loved just being at the airport. For someone who found so many situations in life difficult and anxiety producing, the airport was one place he was totally happy.
I have always felt that the loved ones I've lost are still with me. And that they help me in ways that they may not have been able to when they were here. This was one of those moments.
Thoughts of disaster disappeared as I remembered John's almost child-like excitement for all that is aviation. He was confident in the competence of Pilots and the whole flight crew. He admired them and I know for sure, in a different time and a different place, he could have been one of them.