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| Family Picnic, Cameron brought as much joy to them, as these ladies brought to us! |
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| My Grandpa in the middle! |
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| The whole clan, my sisters and I remember this one, my Grandma, always squeezing someone tight (on the far right). |
Leap Day, that extra day that comes every 4 years, that same day that I laugh of when I think how close my cousin Tiffany was to having a Leap Year Bday (Feb. 27th!). As the world is hash-tagging, #DayItForward, I attend the celebration of my cousin, 85 years, as we lay him to rest. We were never the family to say "great cousin, or great great grandma, or 5th cousin removed" when we spoke of one another. A Cousin was a Cousin, a Grandma, a Grandma, an Aunt or Uncle, exactly that. (Except GodMother, now thats GodMother & I personally do have the best one!)
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| Celebrating Rolly (& his love for the Casino!) |
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| I just love this one! My dads grandma with her sister. |
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| My Dad loved fishing & gambling with this guy! Thanks Rolly for some fun times. |
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| Mom always smiling with her grand kids (Mia!). |
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| Rolly with my Hubby & Dad. |
Family is family and never take it for granted, TAKE the time to MAKE the time! Learn & hear stories from past generations, that time with them, may be the last.
Learn to celebrate one another, not just tolerate!
(I find that one really funny!)
And for goodness sakes, when a photographer in the family wants to take your pictures, LET HER :) because it may be the only piece of memory that brings smiles to so many faces when its time to say good bye to another dear relative. (yes, by this I mean, I don't take No for an answer when photographing you :))
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| Our love for Delores, Heather & Zoe! |
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| Aunt Martha enjoying Mia! |
Rest In Peace Rolly, enjoy your beautiful bride, LaVerne, whom we all miss so much, and thanks for always reminding us,
"Who the hell cares what they think! Do what makes you happy and live a hell-of-a-life because of it!"
We closed at his funeral with an amazing Military Salute goodbye and this famous speech, by George Carlin, that was perfectly stated & I feel important to share:
George Carlin's wife died early in 2008 and George followed her, dying in July 2008. It is ironic George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent and so very appropriate. An observation by George Carlin:
"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away."
George Carlin
"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away."
George Carlin
