I went to a very special birthday party a week ago. My friend, Eagle, turned forty-six. Eagle’s mom, Georgann, hosted a party at Old Chicago Pizza for twenty-five of Eagle’s friends. It was a great gathering of friends and loyal supporters. The only person missing was Eagle’s sister, Jennifer, who called in via FaceTime from her home in North Carolina.
I loved meeting Eagle’s friends. Steve, Andy and Colleen are Eagle’s dear friends from pre-school. Others, like Chaurice and Debbie, are good friends from elementary school. Eagle’s massage therapist, Lizzie, came with her two children. A lot of family friends, including the family doctor, were there because they love Eagle and wanted to wish him a happy birthday.
Eagle got his name when he was born. Georgann and Jim Hall talked about having another child when Jim achieved his Air Force Colonel’s rank. “When Jim puts on his Colonel’s Eagle insignia, we will add a little eaglet to our family,” Georgann told all their friends. Eagle was born three years later.
Eagle’s birth was difficult. He didn’t cry immediately and needed to have fluid suctioned from his lungs. He was whisked away to the Neonatal ICU, where all the nurses referred to him as “Baby Eagle” and described his as “strong, determined, tough, and wants to live.” Eagle has been his his name ever since. He is still determined to meet every challenge that life puts in front of him.
Life hasn’t always been easy for Eagle. He had numerous surgeries at a toddler, including one to rebuild his windpipe. His father, B. Gen. Jim Hall, died in 2014, after a long illness. Both Eagle and Georgann have ongoing medical concerns that require frequent monitoring. They have shown amazing resilience, throughout, and always smile and live their lives with tenacity and grace.
Eagle graduated from special education at Overland High School in 1996. Now he lives in his own apartment and works the three busiest hours of the day in the kitchen at Anschutz hospital. He likes to write and loves watching sports and current events on TV.
He is on a Special Olympics bowling team and belongs to a weekly men’s group with his friends. Eagle and his friends like going to community activities before getting something to eat. He is a wiz at using the computer, and navigates his cell phone better than a lot of people I know. Eagle loves learning new things and helping others learn, as well. He is a kind, patient, enthusiastic teacher.
Georgann made a beautiful speech at Eagle’s party, thanking everyone for being there. “You’ve been with us through the worst of times and the best of times,” Georgann noted. She gave credit to the school programs that were available to the whole family. Although I didn’t know Eagle when he was in school, I worked in the same district. I agreed with Georgann that Eagle was fortunate to work with some of the best teachers and mental health professionals I’ve ever known.
The most important thing to know about Eagle now, is that he is incredibly cheerful. He believes it is his job to learn to take of himself. He loves people and makes lifelong friends wherever he goes.
Happy Birthday, Dear Sweet Eagle! Happy Birthday to you!
Birthday photos by Debbie Harrington.
This is such a beautiful post. Simple and so up lifting. Keeping a cheerful disposition is a great thing and some people have that gift. They spread that joy to the people around them as well. I think the birthday boy and the author have that in common.
Incidentally, this morning I was reading a post where Bill Gates was asked about what he learned from his (senior ) friend Warren Buffet. And he said it is how to value friendships, and how to make long lasting, deep meaningful friendship. That is wealth!
I heard the same resonance in this post.
Thanks, Linda. A lovely way to enjoy this Saturday morning. And appreciated the school shout out, very meaningful to those of us who lived and loved working with students as they learned. Hope all is well.
Lynda, I appreciate your sweet and meaningful post about Eagle. My (somewhat fallible) memory is that I met Eagle when he was an infant, in the fall of 1978. I was the psychologist at the CHEER Program, which Eagle attended for the next four years. My memory of him was that his character transcended his developmental challenges, and his spirit was uplifting and contagious. Joan (Levine) Banko and I facilitated a parent support group, of which Georgann chose to attend each week for a number of years. I was awestruck by Georgann’s courage, her patience, and her immense capacity for love. Eagle was incredibly fortunate to have chosen her to be his Mother. Christopher Reeve (aka Superman) said, “”A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Eagle is a true hero.