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A Guest Post
By Margot | August 2, 2009
My dear friend John London and I have a running joke — I always tell him that I feel that I am the luckiest man in the world. I tell him “But John. I have 3 beautiful little boys and a wonderful wife. How could I be more blessed?”Â
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And then he always chimes in “yup, you’re the luckiest guy in the world having a child with relapsed neuroblastoma – I would hate to see you get unlucky!”
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He always makes me laugh by saying that – it is our little inside joke that has brought a smile to my face on so very many days where it was the only smile I could muster. But I sincerely believe that I am the luckiest man, with the most beautiful kids and I love watching the family grow and stumble and fight and cry and laugh. It’s not a straight line but I surely think that my boys are on the right path to being decent and honorable men and for that, I owe so much to my wife. That’s what it is about right?Â
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Today is my 11th wedding anniversary and I’ve long since delegated any TeamSam updates to my wife. She writes more eloquently, is a more observant reporter of the boys activities than I, and chronicles Sam’s bravery and his brothers love more than I could ever dream of. But tonight, it’s my turn to write.
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11 years ago was very special. For those taking notes, we had a live band and an open bar – have you ever been to a bad reception where the booze is free and the band is great? My brothers and my dear friend Nick and Margot’s brother were in the wedding party; my buddy The King sang Elvis with the band; another buddy gave perhaps the most awkward wedding toast in history which somehow grows funnier as the years pass; we think very fondly of Uncle Don who interceded and saved the day. It was wonderful to have my mom, Margot’s mom, dad, and brother, aunts and uncles from both sides and pretty much all of my single “I think we can get one more beer before the bar closes” friends there to celebrate.Â
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August 1st 1998 was a great day and so today I celebrate. I celebrate the same beautiful girl I married 11 years ago. The same girl that gave me three beautiful little boys, that reads to the boys for hours, spends time playing MadLibs where every verb, noun, adjective, adverb and even pronoun is some variation of ‘butt’, that struggles immensely to impress upon soon-to-be-three Charlie that it is imperative that we somehow learn to enjoy the beauty of forsaking diapers for the joy of underwear and who laughs when he answers a resolute ‘no’ to her pleas to “don’t you want to be a big boy and wear underwear?” Who somehow channels Andrew’s incredible boy-energy and competitive juices into sports and academics and other things that challenge a young boy who is gifted and was touched by God with so many talents. And I celebrate a girl that has worked tirelessly to get Sam prepared for 4th grade – school is his salvation and she is his angel.
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The challenges ahead for Sam and us are immense. But I have never doubted that Sam will live, that Sam will kiss a girl, dance at a prom, and go to college. And I am thankful for the girl who will face those challenges with me and share the joy as our three beautiful little guys grow each and every day.Â
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May God bless each and every person reading this. I can’t thank you enough for sending your support and love to our family for the last 4-1/2 years.Â
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Neil
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Topics: Progress Reports | 28 Comments »
August 2nd, 2009 at 5:30 am
Perfect. You ROCK Neil–all your old girl friends are crying right about now….
🙂
Sam is made of tough stuff, and the best of both. Many prayers for our hero.
August 2nd, 2009 at 5:33 am
redman, margs, sammy, andy and charlie..
So Blessed to know you and your Warrior spirit.
With Sam in the hospital tonight and you finding the time to post..to be able to write such great thoughts on your life and wonderful wife in these times..
I remember that day of days and am proud to be in your life.
Yes the line hasnt been straight..but it has been a good line nonetheles..I think of you and your family as tempered metal; stronger because of your trials…
When I think of Sam I think of his absolute trust in you and Marg’s..after thousands of pokes and worse, the trust is stronger..
With all my love and to many more years..
Tom
August 2nd, 2009 at 7:41 am
Happy, Happy Anniversary! Bless your family. Love, Ellen
http://www.caringbridge.org/ma/seanhanson
August 2nd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Happy Anniversary! I love that you are able to embrace the love and beauty in your life.
August 2nd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Happy Anniversary Neil & Margot!
Happy Birthday Neil!
May your day be filled with love!
Love,
Steven & Silvia Vanni
August 2nd, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Happy Anniversary!!!
August 2nd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
A beautiful celebration Neil…wishing you a happy birthday too. I had to laugh about your “butt” reference. Joe came home and told me he and Sam wrote stories about butts all afternoon.
August 2nd, 2009 at 6:10 pm
You are right- you have an amazing wife and mother to your three boys! And you are an amazing Dad and Husband! Many wishes for a great and bright future! Angela (Madison’s Mom)
August 2nd, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Neil, your post was perfect, your words eloquent and your love for your family spoke loudly through each sentence. Happy Anniversary Neil and Margot!
God Bless
Lisa Riniolo
August 2nd, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Happy Anniversary Neil and Margot. We send you our best wishes for good health and great happiness for the two of you and your three adorable boys. Your blessings are richly deserved and we know from your posts that each day’s blessings are richly cherished.
Sarah and John Bartosz and family
August 2nd, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Ah…..got me a little teary on that one!!!! what an amazing post..an amazing family…. happy Anniversary to two wonderful people!!! may God continue to bless you as being the luckiest guy in the world!!!! Which in my bood, you most surely are!!!!!!!!
August 2nd, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Beautifully said ~ Thank you for letting us share in your joy. You are a member of one amazing family. Congrats on your Anniversary. Love and hugs all around.
August 2nd, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Neil and Margot, As my family would say, “L’Chaim!” TO LIFE, and may you and your family be inscribed in the book of Life forever and ever. A toast to you tonight. Happy Anniversary. For our 10th anniversary next week, I think I’m gonna ask Kirt to write me a letter…hmmm. We’ll check in the morning if Sam feels like visitors. Lotsa Love, Lisa (and Mack, Grant & Kirt)
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:21 am
Happy Anniversary!!!(you newlyweds!!!(-:)
Also-Happy Birthday Neil!! I second Lisa’s L’Chaim!
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:18 am
Wow. That was intense.
I dont know what else to say.
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Well said Neil. The two of you together have done SUCH an amazing job with those three beautiful boys throughout what has certainly been an extra – ordinary 4 1/2 years. You combine some pretty impressive talents and energies and the results are there for everyone to see.
I honestly don’t know how you have managed it all but I know that you will continue to do so – and more!
Happy Birthday to you Neil, Happy Anniversary to you and Marg and lots of love to all 5 of you from the Maleys down under.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Uh Neil … you’re raising the curve for us other husbands 🙂
Seriously, while I’ve never met you, I do know Margot from her being my literary agent for many years. She’s a wonderful lady, and that she picked you says a lot. As does your wonderful post, even though my wife asked me “why can’t you write something romantic like that about me? 🙁 As I said, you’re raising the curve.
Happy Anniversary!
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Beautiful Neil. Margot is amazing and brings such a great energy to everything. I learned alot from her just in one meeting.
Hang in there. I still see Andrew and Sam downing a fews brews together in college.
Sincerely,
Meryl
August 4th, 2009 at 5:12 am
Happy Anniversary, Neil and Margot. God picked the perfect parents for three beautiful boys. There will be many more smiles in all of your lives.
Love, Bev
August 4th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Happy Anniversary!!
August 4th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Right on the nose Neil, God bless you, Margot and the boys.
Marco
August 5th, 2009 at 12:29 am
Happy Anniversary, Margot and Neil. Best wishes from Venice, Florida.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:16 am
PERFECT… a wonderful tribute to a wonderful team. Being married almost 30 years I can spot the good ones and the bad ones and from the day I started following you guys I knew you had the kind of marriage that gets stronger with this nightmare we have to live in. Happy Anniversary!
Caryn Franca
August 5th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Aww, Neil, that’s a very sweet post. I remember your wedding well. Happy Anniversary! I wish you both (and all) all the best.
August 6th, 2009 at 4:03 am
WOW, Neil… can you give that college friend of yours
some pointers ??!!
You and Margot are a wonderful couple and we wish
you all the best ! Happy, Happy Anniversary !!!!
Also, happy bday to my fellow Leo !
We pray and wish for years and years of smiles and
happiness for all 5 of you !
xoxo,
Colleen
August 7th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Haooy Anniversary!1 What a tender dedication to your wife and a testament to the beautiful family you are raising together. The boys are incredibly lucky to have such awesome parents who still love each other after all these years!!
Best, Leann
August 9th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Linda and I were honored to be invited to your wedding, and with the exception of the fake Elvis and the weak “toast” it was one of the best weddings ever. I knew Margot and you were perfect for each other when I first met her.
Congratulations and many more to come.
Keith
August 11th, 2009 at 6:07 am
You two are soulmates, and Sam will have one someday too!
About the wedding, I look at your bouquet that was on our table every day b/c our little black dog never takes a picture you can see him in. The best picture I have is next to the vase with the beautiful flowers we brought home after the reception. So I think of your wedding every day. It was a perfect day (except for the toast, which I still comment on to Dan every once in awhile – only you two would see humor in that toast)!