Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Veni, Vidi, Vici

Julius Caesar spoke these famous words to a Roman senate over 2000 years ago declaring the totality of his victory in a famous battle. “Veni, Vidi, Vici.” I came, I saw, I conquered.

In this case the words “Southerland, Ridley and Mary Camp” are a little different from the words Caesar spoke but for the parents of triplets, the meaning is pretty much the same. At least they have conquered year one. And there is absolutely no doubt that it has been quite a ride. And year two has already begun. Parenthood doesn’t offer any breaks. And when you have three at a time you don’t even have time to figure out when you can take a break.

Ben and Liz decided to make a little detour on the way back from the beach to visit their Papa Joe. The girls don’t understand the significance of such a visit right now but “one day” they will. And there is a lot about my blogging that is about “one day”. Now this moment is forever captured in the blogosphere. And it well should be. The picture is sad on one hand but on the other it makes you smile. It is sad because these precious girls never got the opportunity to meet this grandpapa. And he never got the opportunity to meet them. But you smile because this grandpapa will never die as he lives on in these little girls.


And that is exactly why life is so amazing. You just “keep on living” even after you are gone if you leave behind a few investments. But more importantly those who are left behind “keep on living” after those they love are gone. And that is exactly how we honor them.

By the way, Mary Camp, Ridley and Southerland got more birthday cake on them than they got in them as they celebrated their first birthday. But make no mistake about it – the cake you see on them is proof positive that year one is in the books. And that is no small achievement for parents of triplets. Veni, Vidi, Vici.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is great.
"Veni, Vidi, Vici"- I like that.

-One of your sons.

Anonymous said...

Adorable little girls!