Last birthday together

It’s crazy how life takes you by surprise some days! It’s Monday morning and I’m sitting down for breakfast with Melissa. Today is her last “tween day” as she turns 13 tomorrow. She will be a teenager! I am one of those short order cooks that asks every morning what they want for breakfast and then make it for them. She asks for eggs, I make eggs. I sit down with her as she eats and try to find out how she feels about today… and also if she has any special requests for tomorrow’s breakfast, her special day. She looks up at me and she says “I actually do.” I’m pleased to hear because she doesn’t ever ask for anything special. “Oh yeah? Tell me!” And she starts to describe the perfect breakfast sandwich, the one that her Dad and her cooked together. The one he made for her on her last birthday together, the one that tasted the best ever! The one that I will never be able to duplicate no matter how hard I try. The one sandwich that she never asks for. I look at her and she smiles but I can see she’s sad. I tell her it’s a deal and get up to pack her lunch. I don’t look at her for a while because I don’t want to fall apart. I can still see them cook together…ah, darn it, I will make the best breakfast sandwich tomorrow! And it’s ok if it’s just not as good as Dad used to make it. I know they will share it together and then we will celebrate! Life goes on…