(this is) durkin.org

Amy and Alan after the reception, originally uploaded by atomjohnson.

If the pictures are any proof, this wedding was one heck of a party; Adam has details here. Recent events¹ kept us from making the trip, but we were with Amy and Alan in spirit, and look forward to toasting them in person sometime this Fall.

The Johnson’s as a whole are tremendous people, and I count myself lucky to know them². I really wish we could have been there, but am happy for them nonetheless.

So anyway - Amy is a wonderful person, and Alan is a lucky guy. Best of luck to them!

1. MR could not drive for two weeks after giving birth, and we were advised against any travel for at least that time. «
2. Well, four out of the five…if it weren’t for the fact that everyone but me knows him and there are tons of pictures of him, I would doubt the existence of Scott. «

jakebirth3, originally uploaded by lukesmom.

Congratulations are also in order for Jen and Chris (and Luke) on the birth of their second son (and first brother) Jake. I like this picture; he looks like he just heard a bad joke. Tons more pictures here.

Jen once asked what to expect with two boys, and I never really answered her. That’s probably for the best¹, as I wasn’t able to poison the well and give her any additional cause for worry, other than that which she may have come up with on her own. Mostly, I would say its tiring and hectic and LOUD and tiring.

But completely great, and totally worth it. Really it is.

1. It is mayhem. Total mayhem. «

2007_0708miller0051a, originally uploaded by amanda521.

Congratulations to Amanda and Leslie on the birth of their first child, Miller. She was born in June and mother and child are doing well (and have even already been to the beach!).  In the picture above, she is having a bath.

John Haines Durkin was born this morning at 7:29 am (stats: weight - 8 lbs 3 oz | height - 20.25 inches).  Haines is doing great - he’s already charmed several nurses, eats and poops like a champ, etc, etc.  We think he favors his older brother Reilly (especially when Reilly was a newborn).

Mary Reed did wonderfully through the c-section; but there was a complication that required a second surgery in the afternoon.  She is back in our room resting now, and is fine and there are no long-term impacts; but she had a very rough day.

The big brothers were able to come up and see MR and meet Haines, and so far so good.  Because of the craziness today, we didn’t get a chance to do the “gifts from the baby to the brothers” bit, but we will do that tomorrow, I’m sure. 

About his name: “Haines” was Mary Reed’s paternal grandmother’s middle name.  After we decided on the full name, John Haines Durkin, we discovered that the aforementioned grandmother was named after a family friend - John Haines.

Scott Pelfry Greene, age 60, of Sandy Springs, died June 29, 2007 following a long struggle with multiple sclerosis. Scott’s strong will to live and positive attitude were an inspiration to family and friends. She grew up in Atlanta and was a 1964 graduate of Sandy Springs High School and a 1969 graduate of Georgia State University.

She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Luke Greene; daughter, Mary Reed Durkin and her husband, John of Birmingham, AL; son, Will Greene of Atlanta; mother, Mary Earle Pelfry of Sandy Springs; father, Reed Pelfry and his wife, Peggy of Toccoa; sister, Anne Berryman and her husband, Bill of Athens; grandchildren, William Reilly Durkin and Edward Dobbs Durkin.

Funeral services will be held Monday, July 2, 2007 at 2 PM at Sandy Springs Chapel. Rev. Tyler Dixon, officiating. Interment Arlington Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Multiple Sclerosis Center of Atlanta, The Palisades Building, 3200 Downwood Cir., Suite 550, Atlanta, GA 30327. The family will receive friends Sunday from 4 PM until 7 PM at Sandy Springs Chapel, 136 Mt. Vernon Hwy., Sandy Springs. (link¹)

The paper said very nicely and succinctly what many will struggle with for years - Scott is gone. She was a wonderful friend and mother, and she fought her disease with every part of her for three decades; refusing to let it drive her life.

But it did take from her. When I met Scott, she was walking and feeding herself; she could hold and talk on the phone. Over the last ten years, she has gotten progressively worse, and for the last two or so was bed-ridden, and dealt with numerous complications. I would like to remember her as she was at our wedding, dancing with her husband.

She was in the ICU for the last week, fighting two infections, anemia and pneumonia. The night she died, her entire family gathered in her room, and more or less had a party. We talked, we mourned, we laughed and we prayed.

Cliches abound in my head - but there really aren’t words: We will miss you, We love you. We will not forget you.

More pictures of Scott | Slideshow

1. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has online guestbooks for the obituary entries - this one is Scott’s. It will be online for one year; sometime before then I’ll save a copy of it here. «