Arriving Somewhere

When we first created this blog, the main purpose was simply to let people know about what was happening with regard to Ethan - what new issues may have cropped up, any new developments - good or bad - that may have occurred, and various other et cetera news. One of the things we needed to do was figure out a name for this running log of our lives. At the time, I have to admit that I was feeling pretty despondent about how things were progressing - or rather - not progressing. A particular, and very downbeat lyric came to mind:

All my designs simplified
And all of my plans compromised
All of my dreams sacrificed
Arriving somewhere - but not here

The song, 'Arriving Somewhere - But Not Here' by Porcupine Tree seemed to resonate with me. Especially the line, "Arriving somewhere - but not here".

Before Ethan was born, we were blissfully unaware of what lay ahead of us. We thought we knew how it was all going to happen, and how we would have a second perfectly healthy boy and the perfect Norman Rockwell painted life (albeit - an Asian version!) lay ahead of us. Somehow we just knew that's where we were going to be. And then life happens. And you arrive somewhere. But it's not where you expected to be. You arrive somewhere. But you never imagined it would be here.

So many problems lay ahead of us. So many unknowns. We knew about the issues that confronted us. But if that wasn't enough, we learned soon enough that there were going to be more issues that we didn't even know about yet to come - we just knew that they would be coming - whatever they might be. As someone once famously pointed out, there are the things you know you don't know, and then there are the things you don't know that you don't know. And at that point, I knew that where ever we would end up - it wouldn't be where we were expecting.

Arriving somewhere - but not here.

Such a negative connotations - those words.

But fast forward 365 days. So many obstacles overcome. So many issues resolved. Ethan has undergone many of his scheduled surgeries. He has so many problems fixed. He's healthy, he's growing, he's thriving, and he's happy. And we're happy. Twelve months ago I never would have thought that we would ever get to this point - so depressed was my point of view.

Arriving somewhere - but not here.

Such a positive connotations - those words.

So here we are - the start of another trip around Old Sol. Where will we be 365 days from here? Ethan's doctor once remarked, "Ethan is full of surprises". Indeed. So where will we be this time next year? Who knows.

All that is certain is that we will be arriving somewhere.

Happy New Year everyone. Especially to our loving families, friends, and especially to our doctors that made it possible for us to arrive here.

- bob