Happy Birthday, Uncle Bill!

But, should a man of your advanced years be consuming so much Starbuck's coffee?!?!

Happy Birthday, Uncle Bill!

A quick congratulatory shout-out to my mom's baby brother as I head out the door this morning.

Devil's Food cake is (appropriately) on the agenda for later today in his honor!!

Happy Birthday, Uncle Bill!

I can think of no finer way to mark someone's birthday than to dig up embarassing old pictures.

So, today I post this doozy of my Uncle Bill, taken at Manston RAF Base back in the 1950s.

He's the little fellow on the left, in case ye socks couldn't figure that out on your own. Next to him is my mother, then my Aunt Roberta, the family pooch, my Grandma G, and my Aunt Mary.

OK, now I've done my part. Who's in charge of the cake and ice cream?!

Look who's playing with his photo scanner

No, it's not yours truly.

My Uncle Bill apparently had enough time on his hands today to scan some old photos, and sent this one to me (among others).

It's about 10 years old, and was taken in the master bedroom of my Grandma G's old house in Orlando.

Sadly, the "Pretty Kitty" on the right went to the big catbox in the sky a few months ago.

But the "Other One" is still with us, and an endless source of entertainment with all of her Siamese shenanigans.

Hope this gets your holiday weekend kicked-off on the right note!

Letting go

We have spent Dad's final hours giving him as joyous a good-bye as we can muster.

It started about 3:30 this morning, when we thought the end was near. My mom, sister, and I gathered around his bed as we played one of his favorite Randy Travis CD's. Great old songs like "I'll Fly Away" and "The Old Rugged Cross." We sang when we could remember the words, and hummed along when we didn't.

But, Dad was an old Cold Warrior, and he battled back. In fact, we've been thru a lot of peaks and valleys today and the last week and a half. Actually, the last five years.

Anyway, we had a few kind visitors stop by including his parents, and his Uncle Richard (who sang him "He Walks With Me" and "Amazing Grace."

Thanks to LeeAnn and Kelly for re-stocking the refrigerator and pantry.

Thanks to Bill. Thanks to Ellen. Thanks to Dwight. Thanks to Deloise. Thanks to Sally. Thanks to Margarita, and everyone at Vitas. And, thanks to everyone whose names are not coming to me now, but whose visits, phone calls, and emails have meant so much to us.