Day 2384: Goodbye to a good, good friend.

Bali: photos & digital, owned by Dr. Fenema

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I have always intended this blog to be upbeat, even cheerful.

This morning my good, good friend passed away.

Some of you will know him, more won't.

But, you all have lost someone or something and can relate.

This is all that is on my mind this day.

Byron and Demura Sensei

A fellow student of Demura Sensei for near four decades,

there are so any memories, and I will share a few.

                                                  

Byron & Kevin

 He will be missed by oh so many.

 

Byron &Jim

Byron & Mark

Kevin, Byron, Dave, me, Bruce, Demura Sensei, Jerry, Leo, Jim & Mark

A great supporter of our dojo and all the students within.

A really special man, with a wonderful sense of humor.

 

Masa,  Byron and Fernando on the victory stand.

Byron was mine and many other's eye doctor, as well as friend.

Byron and Melissa

My heart goes out to his family in their time of sorrow. 

as well as his many friends, karate-ka, and fellow yudansha.

Byron, Kevin & Brian

Goodbye good friend, thank you for so many memories.

Byron,  Kinue & Carole, January 11, 2019

 

We will miss you greatly.

A thought for Monday ...

Day 1598: Definitely TMI, but it happened.

Girl 5,  ink, watercolor & junk mail collage postcard for MaryAnn

A garage update, in case you're wondering? Or even if you're not?

November 18th I stepped into standing water in my garage.

November 21 a plumber finally arrived.

In the meantime I threw out lots of water-soaked frames etc.

In fairness, some needed to go!

November 22 they located the leak (a neighbor, not mine)

& cut off that water line, re-routing through the ceiling.

This meant cutting drywall, plus removing all my wet drywall.

Same day, Flood Pro came in with 5 industrial size fans ...

which ran 24/7 for six days, turning the garage into a noisy sauna.

November 28 they came and removed the fans.

December 9 the drywall repair men arrived to replace drywall.

In order to do this, they needed to move my industrial steel desk, 

which I had added pegboard behind for tools.

Seems that in 20 years, the pegboard & weight of the tools 

have attached themselves to the desk?

Leverage, gravity, sagging ... whatever. 

My cousin Bob & our family engineers could explain.

Two strong men couldn't move the desk!

Luckily they found a way around it, and I now have walls.

Then there's the garage door, also steel, 

which was left open 2" to allow for hoses during all this, 

but now think that's the default position. 

So, seems like it should be an easy adjustment? It was.

Now they're finished & gone. I will move in & try to reorganize.

Trashing some, taking some to thrift store & storing the rest.
The goal is to get my car in tonight! 

If I sound self-pitying, I do realize it could have been worse.

It could have been inside the house! I don't have an illness.

So actually, I am blessed.

And, writing this helped a lot. Thank you for your patience.

Definitely TMI, but it happened.

A smile for Saturday ...

Day 1581: Just stuff, wet drywall & water!

"from her", photo, junk mail collages & digital

Before all this recent water mess (here), I had great plans!

 

(plumbers, water damage repair guys & big fans, oh my!)

 

Every chore listed & time allotted. Organized, by golly!

Thanksgiving with the Superheroes Thursday, 

and then a wedding on Friday, see here.

An upcoming sale to prepare for ...

(click to enlarge)

but all that recent turmoil has reminded me ...

how we have to be able to change gears, be flexible.

"If you want to make God laugh, tell him you plans."

Some have been so kind to comment & care.

Overall, I am blessed beyond reason ...

& this is all just stuff, wet drywall & water!

No big deal, right?

So much to be thankful for, and

thank you for your patience.

A smile for Wednesday ...

Day 1474: Family Night & Bon Voyage!

lime, junk mail collage

My Superheroes, aka the Salloum family has ...

In the Jeep, Sunday, August 7, 2016

brunch, Sunday, August 7, 2016  (Grandhunks 1, 3 & 2)

"Family Night" almost every Sunday evening.

13 in total, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins & Grandparents.

This Sunday's get together was emotional.

Grandhunk #1 will leave for U of Arizona this week.

1 ready to go, 12 who will miss him dearly.

We love you Jordan!

A smile for Monday ...

by Daniel Picard

Day 1450: Wisdom came early to Team Jen!

"truheart2", acrylics, photo & digital

When I decided to do today's blog about "Team Jen",

as mentioned in earlier blogs here and here,

I thought about this group of young women ...

who have gained wisdom early, the hard way.

CA, 7-10-2015

Learning the value of friendship, life & loss.

It was always my goal for daughter, WonderWoman 

to grow up in one place, with the same friends, 
schools from young to old, through the years.

Mission accomplished, these girls bonded early on and

are still together, loving & supporting each other.
They went to the Hampton's five years ago ...
instead of attending their 20th high school reunion.
Katrina hosted at her summer home & it became a tradition.

They lost the tiny, but mighty Jen a year ago,
after rallying around Jen for 2-1/2 years of

doctor appointments, errands, cleaning, planning activities  
& just being what they had always been for 37 years ...  
great friends.

Now, a year later, still missing & grieving, 

they returned to the Hamptons, their special place ...

2014, Jen in yellow

 ... to celebrate Jen.

they sprinkled ashes ...

lit sparklers ...

and remembered their dear friend.

"We celebrate you Jen
Life here on earth isn't the same without you,

but we know you are in a better place. 

We celebrate ...

our friendships and ...

cherish all the memories!!!" 

A perfect morning, 
doing EXACTLY what Jen would have wanted to do. 

SoulCycle in the Barn in Bridgehampton followed by 
lunch at Jen's favorite restaurant "Pierre's". 

 

And, a fitting way to spend their last day....
In East Hampton at the Jennifer Miller Jewelry store.

All are on their way home today after a great five days. 
 

Yea friendship ...

Yea Team Jen!

A thought for Friday ...