It’s been a wild up and down couple of days. I found out my uncle has cancer in both his lungs, and that doesn’t bode well. I don’t actually know how bad it is or what the prognoses are, so I’m not making any preliminary judgements, but I do know that eventually I’ll make peace with it. He’s probably my ‘favorite’ uncle, if such a thing exists, and this is not something that I have been looking forward too. This has also brought back a bunch of memories about my Dad, and that hasn’t been easy. I still don’t think i’ve ever really been able to grieve properly, and It hangs over me really heavily sometimes. While I’m out here I need to go visit his tree and talk to him for a while. Yesterday Kelly and I took the kids fishing at her uncle’s pond and i kept thinking about how much he would have wanted to do that stuff with them, take them fishing, take them walking, watch them grow up. It just tears me up sometimes, thinking of all the stuff he missed. And sometimes I feel like it’s something that I’ve been pushing aside, and that it might all just snap back on me at any minute, and then other times I feel like everything is going how it’s supposed to and that there will always be minutes that it hits me harder than others. When my sister got married (we all come from a catholic church), there’s a part in the ceremony where they say a few things that they’re praying for, and they named my dad (they did it at my sister Michelle’s wedding too) and I didn’t even flinch or anything. Kelly’s going through the same stuff right now with her grandmas. One was just in the hospital for fluid in her feet and legs, and the other is in dialysis ever other day. Neither is doing particularly well, and we both seem to think that we’re in for a shitty fall. Again, it’s the inevitablity of things that sometimes press on me even heavier than the actual occurances. Most days I’m able to forget it or not dwell on these times and things and enjoy my vacation, enjoy my wife and kids, but those few moments where it seems to crack in really really bother me. Some moments this week, it’s been all I could do not to just break down weeping and sobbing in my wife’s arms.
Vacation Blog 1
I’m taking a few minutes this morning (Thursday the 10th) to write a few things down. I’m starting week 2 of my vacation, and it was pretty good. My sister got married on saturday and that was good. We drove to Ohio on tuesday and stopped at COSI in toledo, and that was pretty awesome. We’re planning to go to the one in columbus on Friday and then hit the zoo on Saturday. Also Friday night, we have planned a nice dinner with some other d0rks that we know from this area. If you’re one of them, or one of my other two loyal readers, you might remember my description of DF Seattle. The drive to Ohio was lovely and I love driving around washington county, having Kelly show me all the notable things from her childhood. Houses her uncles built, house her dad built, where she went to school, little anecdotes about things, places and people. It’s like sharing her childhood with her. It’s a wonderful insight into some of the things that shaped her into the woman I love. The country itself is really amazing. Hills not big enough to be mountains, but vastly different from the flatland that I grew up in.
A Salute.
My sister Trish is an RCMP officer – has been since a few weeks before the Mayerthorpe Incident that happened last year. Several weeks ago, a different incident claimed the lives of two other RCMP officers near Spiritwood, Saskatchewan. I found out yesterday that my sister and her fiance are being transferred to Spiritwood to replace them. I don’t know what I feel about this – certainly concern, worry and heavy emotion. I suppose that intellectually I knew that there’s a chance that as a cop she could be injured or killed in the line of duty – but this somehow makes it more real. Anyways, prayers and thoughts and good vibes are always appreciated.
Beard Competition.
Some people have noticed that I am growing quite a hefty beard. Here is why:
First of all, I apologize for my tardiness. Please find attached the official rules for the beard growing contest along with judgement days, etc.
THE RULES:
1. The commencement of the beard growing started/starts on May 15/06. The reason for the hold up is my lack of attention to the importance of this contest. I now see the necessity for my utmost attention from this point on. With this in mind any beard growing that began prior to May 15th will be accepted.
2. Trimming is allowed. A beard is itchy, so please trim as you find necessary. Make sure you are simply trimming, see rule #7.
3. The judging will take place on August 3rd, 2006 at the rehearsal dinner.
4. Dyeing of the beard area is accepted and supported.
5. The actual judging will be done on the following three categories and a fourth overall champion category.
I) Length (from the chin, three spots with an overall average. This will
be measured in inches, centimeters for Jeff)
II) Fullness (As I do not have a beard my father will be judging this
one based on 30 years of experience)
III) Originality (This will be based on a little effort in to the beard, like a
little color, braids or lightning bolts etc.)
IV) Overall Winner (This is like the overall champion at the dog shows
enough said)
6. Judges can be bribed, my dad likes a good 12 year old and up single malt Scotch. I myself am a beer man, so please anything import, Guinness is always nice.
7. If you choose to shave your beard prior to August 3rd and then try growing it again you may do so, but you will feel the ramifications come judgement day.
8. On the day of the judging, spectators may make a donation to the Fallen Member Fund via myself or Trish once the judging is done to have a contestant shave off their beard prior to the wedding. We will ask for a minimum $10 donation.
9. We will also be pepper spraying anyone who wishes to try it out.
10. The main thing is to have fun, a beard is a good thing, and remember, not all men with beards are scary, unless you drive a panel van!!!
11. Any ties will be decided by an old fashioned paper – rock – scissor game, best 2 of 3. Participants to draw on three – so, for those of you who took 13 years to get out of school, that is one, two, three – draw.
*Prizes will be provided for each category*
If you have any questions regarding the above rules you can email me. I thank you for your patience and remind each and every one of you, stay safe – and try not to get discouraged as you watch Vince’s beard blossom in the warm June/July weather. PEACE!
Take care
PS: Two months to the judgement day!!! and the contest as well.
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Fathers Day
Did I mention that my wife got me some amazing new skates for fathers day? That’s cause she RAWKS!
