A couple of weeks ago I wrote about our grandson Liam’s birthday who was turning 7. It had a special significance this year in light of his mother, our daughter Meghan, wouldn’t be there to share it with him.
Many of you are aware, I know, that she passed away Aug. 18 from a bout with brain cancer. I wrote about that last week.
Pat and I and others vowed to make this birthday his best yet. All he really understands about her passing is that he believes she’s in heaven.
This past Sunday Pat and I attended another birthday party which was held for Liam and hosted by several volunteers. It was actually held at Dane Park in Noble and it was also a success and was really nice.
His Aunt Hollie was one of those who helped organize it, put it together along with several women who work her in office and some other Noble city and Cleveland County officials.
What many of you might not be aware of is that Liam is fascinated with trash trucks and has been for some time. Those organizing this party and some of those officials I just mentioned made sure there was a trash truck that showed up, along with a police car and a fire engine.
You should have seen the look on Liam’s face when that trash truck from Veterans Waste Solution showed up with the horn blaring. Liam and many of his little friends started running towards the truck as it pulled into the park’s parking lot.
The same was true when the police officer sounded his siren as he came a little while later.
And then came the fire engine and that drew the same kind of response.
The women who made this happen include Liam’s Aunt Hollie Jackson, along with the other volunteers Yolanda Zuck, Shanda Chastain, Maria Richartz, Savannah Bruner, Teressa Field.
And others included Cleveland County Commissioner Rusty Grisson, Rusty Sullivan who works at the County Clerk’s Office, Noble City Manager Robert Porton, City Commissioner George Schmerer, and those Noble fire, police and trash operator.
Liam is attending first grade in the Noble School District so there were some of his little friends from school there. Liam was given a bunch of presents including one even from the city manager’s office, and among the gifts he received was a little trash truck.
As the party ended, Liam’s dad Terry and Liam let go of two balloons, as those attending gathered.
They were sending the balloons to Meghan in Heaven and at least among family members there wasn’t a dry eye in the bunch!