My friend, Chrisbo

Oh, just thinking about him tonight. This is a very belated post...he died on May 17th. He was a wonderful guy who was only 41 and he leaves behind a fantastic wife and two kids and my heart aches for them.

Chris had an astrocytoma brain tumor, diagnosed in 2003. He seemed to be fighting it so well for the first 2-3 yrs then it started winning. I was hoping he would get a miracle like Lance Armstrong but it was not to be, I guess.

Some words to describe Chris: kind, soft-spoken, smiling eyes, funny, intelligent, handsome, great skiier, great athlete, great friend, better dad/husband/son, excellent Euchre partner!, successful, a fighter (against the tumor). Just an all-around great person and one who will be tremendously missed by all who knew him.

Monday there is a celebration of his life in Michigan...BikeBoy is going but Munchkin and I are not. I wish we could be there but we will be in spirit. Godspeed, Chrisbo...I love you, my friend.

No mama should ever...

have to bury her child. I don't care how old the child was...whether stillborn or middle aged or older...no parent should have to suffer this loss.

Thinking of Doreen today on this second sad "anniversary." Thinking of my Aunt (Clint's mom) whose 48 yo son died last Wednesday and she buried him Sunday--the day before his 49th birthday. Thinking of my godmother (Eddie's mom) who lost her younger son in 2005 when he was just 53. Thinking of my SIL who lost an infant (Josh) to SIDS in 1980. And too many others...

None of this should have happened. Don't know what more to say.

Moms' Night Out...

My neighborhood Mom friends has a monthly get together. Each month we take turns organizing some kind of event...can be just drinks at someone's home, dinner out, whatever. I hadn't made it to one yet but November was my turn to organize so I chose to go to a tea house for tea/scones. Five of us ended up going tonight and it was really nice. The tea (black jasmine) was delicious and the raspberry scone was good. It was not as fancy as attending a "high tea" but it was 7:00 pm so that's not what we wanted anyway. It was relaxing and the conversation and company were both good! I will definitely try to go again!

An evening with old friends...

What an afternoon! On the occasion of a grad school friend and her beau coming to town from Hawaii one of our friends organized a get-together and we held it here at our house (more central location). There were 5 of us classmates, 5 significant others, 5 kids from age one to six. They were here from 1:00 pm until nearly 7:00 pm and it was wonderful. We slid easily back into the friendships even though with a couple of exceptions we hadn't seen each other for about 9 years. It was potluck so there was more food than you could imagine but the company was the best thing. It was so odd, though, thinking back 9 years...there have been 2 marriages, 4 births and one adoption since then. All of us PTs are working part-time as PTs now (even one male!), two of us have doctorates now and a third is working towards one. And everyone looked the same! Now we're all in our 30s and 40s but we all still look good. And such cute kids!!! Of course, Munchkin is the cutest but they were all pretty darned cute...and no fighting or arguing. Just a really nice day. It was sad to see them all go...especially T and J, knowing they were headed back to HI and I don't know when I'll see them again. :(