A Year We’ll Never Forget
Looking back, holding on, and giving thanks for the people who carried us through
January started with a date circled in Bella’s mind long before it showed up on a calendar.
It was one of the very first things she asked about while in rehab. We knew it was going to be an uphill battle to make it happen, but she kept pushing. Working. Refusing to quit. And somehow, she pulled it off.
She made it to Bitty & Beau’s Coffee in the Strip District in Pittsburgh. A simple stop for most people—but for us, it was a victory. One of those moments you don’t forget because of where you were, but because of what it took to get there.
February brought us to the CCA Waterfront, where Skyler spoke about his internships. Watching him talk about his future with confidence and purpose was one of those quiet moments that sticks with you. Around that same time, Vega came to her forever home. She’s been a great dog for our family—steady, loving, and exactly what we didn’t know we needed.
April took us to the state capitol, where Bella was honored on the floor. That day still doesn’t feel real when I think about it. Seeing her recognized in that space, after everything she’s been through, was overwhelming in the best possible way.
May reminded me I’m human. Literally. I found out I had a screw loose—embedded in my tire. We also found our way back to Harrisburg and got to take some really cool senior pictures with Skyler. Shortly after that, his graduation arrived, and I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder. Watching him walk across that stage was everything.
By the end of June, life shifted again. Tab had her first stroke.
At the start of August, she had a second one. Since then, we’ve been walking this battle with her—step by step, day by day, never quite knowing what the next turn will bring.
August also gave Bella and me a bit of a side quest—tracking down one of the coolest graves in the country: a pyramid. Because sometimes, when life is heavy, curiosity and history give you just enough oxygen to keep going.
September brought a powerful moment: Bella and I got to hear former President Obama speak. Whatever your politics, it was impactful. That same month, the three of us found ourselves in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, for the Mothman Festival—one of those strange, memorable weekends that somehow felt exactly right.
Early October? Someone decided lanes were optional and rear-ended me, totaling the car. Another reminder that plans are temporary.
November sent Bella and me to Johnstown, where we visited the dam site to learn some history. Bella loves photography, and that trip gave her plenty to capture—including a chicken in traffic after we visited Mom. You can’t make that stuff up.
And now here we are—at the holidays.
We’re not entirely sure what’s next. It looks like Tab may be heading to Cleveland for her next rehab stop, which means more tolls, more gas, more miles. But I’ll keep doing my best to do right by her. Always.
Soon it’ll be Bella’s birthday, then Skyler’s, and before we know it, spring will be back and we’ll be standing right here again—wondering how time moved so fast.
I can’t thank you enough for the support over the past year and then some. The check-ins. The messages. The quiet encouragement. Most of the moments above live not just in memory, but in photos—and each one tells a story of perseverance, love, and showing up even when it’s hard.
Thank you for walking this year with us.
It mattered. More than you know.