Just before I left you weren't feeling well, i hope youbare feeling better.
So i spent much of this past weekend following you around telling you how much I loved you. I think almost to the point where it was annoying you at times. So I figure I will use the blog to explain why i felt so compelled to tell you all weekend.
It was Thursday night during the flood recovery when it happened. Choas ensued throughout the house. Water pouring in from the outside and us trying to figure out how to get our stuff put up quickly enough to avoid damage. Just prior we had spent time in the basement avoiding a potential tornado. It was during these critical times that i realized you had your own super power.
Your power is your smile. You may not know this but at both times when the girls looked nervous you smilwd and said something witty. Both times even in your own uncertainty you made them feel safe and comfortable. Both times it was what you said near as much as the smile you gave them to make them feel safer. I felt it too. It was like suddenly you put all of us on your shoulders so we knew exactly what to do. And you did with one of your finest smiles making us feel comfortable.
So i started thinking. When have we seen that smile before? And we have. I have seen it way more lately than in previous yeras because you must hvae some sense of my nerves right now. We saw it in Hilton Head when you tried to calm the unstoppable nephew. It just turns out that the smile i saw is your "don't worry everything will be fine" smile. The best part is that I don't even think you know that you do it.
So it made me really attracted to you all weekend. It made me feel so comfortable to be with you. It made me realize that even after over 8,000 days together, I am still learning new things about the person I love so much. I know that this life with you will never be boring.
You're the world to me. I love you more than anything in the world.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Importance of OUR Family
It was a long 12 days. There was certainly much fun. Certainly much activity. Certainly much drama. Certainly some memorable moments. But it wasn't the kind of relaxing vacation we as a family are used to taking. I had a great time though and look forward to the next one as always.
I did get to spend a considerable amount of time reflecting on a few things. Most of them are centered around the kind of family we have built over the years. Not the extended family, but our family of four. It's funny but I think I posted a very similar entry following our summer vacation to Hilton Head last year. I could be wrong.
So why I have I decdided to be so proud of my family? Why is it so important to post about how important we are to each other? I think the answer is in the future of all of us. What will we be like when we are "older" and more seperated? What will happen when "new" family members expand upon the small group we have now?
I saw this past week how some distance can cause some grief in a family. How not being together all the time or in constant communication with each other can suddenly make things that seem so normal and routine appear weird. I understand why you have such a strong desire to have the girls close. I understand why it is so important to make certain that they always feel comfortable reaching out to us for anything. I saw why a simple thing like daily phone calls and a routine "good night" call are so valuable to the family as a whole. Once some distance gets between you and your family other things start to take the place of the family. We can't let that happen. You have done such a strong job of not letting that happen. You keep our family close. You keep it in tact. While I know that will get harder and harder over the years, we all count on you to maintain what we have built.
Then I saw how adding a "new" family member completely changes the dynamics of a family. Suddenly this new member has input, contribution and impact on something that had remained so stable over a long period of time. Handling that appears to be very difficult. The balance of pleasing the existing family member who brough the new member and helping the new "very different" memeber adapt is tricky to say the least. I am pretty certain that a rigorous screening process should be undertaken before such endeavors are made official. How we are going to handle that remains to be seen and is hopefully many years in the future.
So what does all this mean and why did I think it was so important? I was proud of the family we have made. We are a strong unit. We bounce back well and always remember that we are together no matter what happens. We managed to make the best of strange situations. We managed to lead the fun whenever possible. More importantly we all looked out for one another when things were sketchy. I couldn't have been more proud.
I know that we do so becuase that is the kind of family you have always wanted. The kind fo family you designed. The kind of family you know that we all need to maximize our lives. I can't help but wonder where all of us would be if you hadn't taken such meticulous care to build this family the way you have. We likely take for granted how strong it is and how much it helps all of us. It is your greatest accomplishment in life.
So when we embarked on the 3 day trek home we did so together. More together than when we left and more together than the rest of the family we left behind. We had a great time on our "mini" post vacation (the 3 day drive) and we solidified our family of four yet again.
My love I can't thank you enough for our family. While it was my idea for you "to get off your ass and have a baby" it has been all you ever since. We reflect exactly what you wanted us to become as a family. You have done such a terrific job molding us into what we have become.
I love you so much for all of our family. I love you so much for being there for all of us. I love you so much for being the leader of our amazing family. Frankly honey I just love you so much. The rest of our family may be able to tout their educations, careers, money, successes or whatever, but you have built something so much more important. So much more rewarding and so much longer lasting. You have done it with style, flare and a huge smile. You are incredibly humble about it even where you should brag. You have done this one thing almost perfectly.
You're the world to me. I love you more than anything in the world.
I did get to spend a considerable amount of time reflecting on a few things. Most of them are centered around the kind of family we have built over the years. Not the extended family, but our family of four. It's funny but I think I posted a very similar entry following our summer vacation to Hilton Head last year. I could be wrong.
So why I have I decdided to be so proud of my family? Why is it so important to post about how important we are to each other? I think the answer is in the future of all of us. What will we be like when we are "older" and more seperated? What will happen when "new" family members expand upon the small group we have now?
I saw this past week how some distance can cause some grief in a family. How not being together all the time or in constant communication with each other can suddenly make things that seem so normal and routine appear weird. I understand why you have such a strong desire to have the girls close. I understand why it is so important to make certain that they always feel comfortable reaching out to us for anything. I saw why a simple thing like daily phone calls and a routine "good night" call are so valuable to the family as a whole. Once some distance gets between you and your family other things start to take the place of the family. We can't let that happen. You have done such a strong job of not letting that happen. You keep our family close. You keep it in tact. While I know that will get harder and harder over the years, we all count on you to maintain what we have built.
Then I saw how adding a "new" family member completely changes the dynamics of a family. Suddenly this new member has input, contribution and impact on something that had remained so stable over a long period of time. Handling that appears to be very difficult. The balance of pleasing the existing family member who brough the new member and helping the new "very different" memeber adapt is tricky to say the least. I am pretty certain that a rigorous screening process should be undertaken before such endeavors are made official. How we are going to handle that remains to be seen and is hopefully many years in the future.
So what does all this mean and why did I think it was so important? I was proud of the family we have made. We are a strong unit. We bounce back well and always remember that we are together no matter what happens. We managed to make the best of strange situations. We managed to lead the fun whenever possible. More importantly we all looked out for one another when things were sketchy. I couldn't have been more proud.
I know that we do so becuase that is the kind of family you have always wanted. The kind fo family you designed. The kind of family you know that we all need to maximize our lives. I can't help but wonder where all of us would be if you hadn't taken such meticulous care to build this family the way you have. We likely take for granted how strong it is and how much it helps all of us. It is your greatest accomplishment in life.
So when we embarked on the 3 day trek home we did so together. More together than when we left and more together than the rest of the family we left behind. We had a great time on our "mini" post vacation (the 3 day drive) and we solidified our family of four yet again.
My love I can't thank you enough for our family. While it was my idea for you "to get off your ass and have a baby" it has been all you ever since. We reflect exactly what you wanted us to become as a family. You have done such a terrific job molding us into what we have become.
I love you so much for all of our family. I love you so much for being there for all of us. I love you so much for being the leader of our amazing family. Frankly honey I just love you so much. The rest of our family may be able to tout their educations, careers, money, successes or whatever, but you have built something so much more important. So much more rewarding and so much longer lasting. You have done it with style, flare and a huge smile. You are incredibly humble about it even where you should brag. You have done this one thing almost perfectly.
You're the world to me. I love you more than anything in the world.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
My life the movie
"a real tear jerker, the chick flick to end all chick flicks!" - LA Times
"more action than Benji - and twice the fun" - NY Post
"If superheroes were real, this would be their movie" - Paducah Post Gazette
Yup thats what the reviews would say. My life the movie. I guess that is a scenario we all think about. What if my life were a movie? Everything wrapped up in 100 minutes or so. Nothing left hanging. No unknown. Resolution at every turn.
So what would my life the movie be like? I figured i would start by telling you why I like so many of the movies I like now. You know the ones that make me laugh, think, and tear up so easily.
"Family Man" - Clearly one of my favorite movies. The perfect couple and an outside view of why. When either of them says the "we have made some sacrifices" speech I cannot help but think of us. "we've had a few surprises and made our share of sacrifices, but we always stay together. You see we're in love, unbelievably in love. And nothing is more important than that". Whther the Jersey thing fits or not, it is the same for us. But the best thing said in the movie is the part that fits us best. As Jack describes how his new life of success will make people Envy them she replies simply "Jack - they already do.". I can't help but cry. It is exactly what i think people think about us.
"Big Fish" - a man larger than life. A man who simply wants to make sure his life was memorable. A man who realizes that through him so many other people have been made special and who wants nothing more than to feel the same. Big fancy exaggerations of routine stories of life. So what they entertain. They make him bigger than life in his eyes. They make sure that he is immortal and the stories live on after he passes. How coul you not want that? All i ever think about when i watch that movie is how people will remember you and I. Will they talk about us like a lasting love story? A passionate tale of two people so enamored with one another that amazing life surrounded them? I sure hope so. We'll craft this "story of our lives" together. It will romantic. It will be a fairy tale. We wil be a big fish who's legend lives on long after we are gone.
"P.S. I Love You" - how anyone doesn't think this movie is the most uplifting movie ever i have no idea. How can anyome not be touched by a love story that goes beyond physical life? How can anyone not see that even after passing he knew that he had to care for her. To coach her into the next phase of her life. Because even in death she was still important to him and having her be happy was all he cared about? I am literally tearing up right now. I wilk take care of you forever my love. No matter how i have to accomplish it - no matter how it needs to be done.
"Superman" - ok this one is obvious. Needed a superhero rference and I got one. I will go to my grave believing in my super powers. My ability to accomplish anything. My ability to bear the burdens of the world for you if i have to do so. You give me superpowers like Superman. Your love powers me to feats i never imagined. Needed a superhero movie. Got one.
I couldn't thinkmof a good chick flick to mention, but you know how I love them. Not becuase they are chick flicks but becuase they all have one thing in common. They end happily. Which is all I want out of life. Our continued happy ending.
So with that in mind here is a summary of my life the movie. Its is simple. Boy meets girl. Girl changes boy's life. Boy changes girls's life right back. Boy and girl have a lifetime of adventures together. Boy and girl are inseperable. Boy and girl shar funny memories for decades. Boy and girl can't keep their hand off one another. Boy cherishes girls. Girl makes boy a better person for it. The ending is happy. The ending is memorable. The ending is perfect.
So if my life was a movie you would be the co-star. Maybe my life is kind of like a movie after all. Every day a new happy ending.
Finally on a totally seperate note. I read something romantic the other day and all I can remember was this phrase..."I can feel you breathing for me my love" - I feel that way about you all the time.
You're the world to me. I love you more than anything in the world.
"more action than Benji - and twice the fun" - NY Post
"If superheroes were real, this would be their movie" - Paducah Post Gazette
Yup thats what the reviews would say. My life the movie. I guess that is a scenario we all think about. What if my life were a movie? Everything wrapped up in 100 minutes or so. Nothing left hanging. No unknown. Resolution at every turn.
So what would my life the movie be like? I figured i would start by telling you why I like so many of the movies I like now. You know the ones that make me laugh, think, and tear up so easily.
"Family Man" - Clearly one of my favorite movies. The perfect couple and an outside view of why. When either of them says the "we have made some sacrifices" speech I cannot help but think of us. "we've had a few surprises and made our share of sacrifices, but we always stay together. You see we're in love, unbelievably in love. And nothing is more important than that". Whther the Jersey thing fits or not, it is the same for us. But the best thing said in the movie is the part that fits us best. As Jack describes how his new life of success will make people Envy them she replies simply "Jack - they already do.". I can't help but cry. It is exactly what i think people think about us.
"Big Fish" - a man larger than life. A man who simply wants to make sure his life was memorable. A man who realizes that through him so many other people have been made special and who wants nothing more than to feel the same. Big fancy exaggerations of routine stories of life. So what they entertain. They make him bigger than life in his eyes. They make sure that he is immortal and the stories live on after he passes. How coul you not want that? All i ever think about when i watch that movie is how people will remember you and I. Will they talk about us like a lasting love story? A passionate tale of two people so enamored with one another that amazing life surrounded them? I sure hope so. We'll craft this "story of our lives" together. It will romantic. It will be a fairy tale. We wil be a big fish who's legend lives on long after we are gone.
"P.S. I Love You" - how anyone doesn't think this movie is the most uplifting movie ever i have no idea. How can anyome not be touched by a love story that goes beyond physical life? How can anyone not see that even after passing he knew that he had to care for her. To coach her into the next phase of her life. Because even in death she was still important to him and having her be happy was all he cared about? I am literally tearing up right now. I wilk take care of you forever my love. No matter how i have to accomplish it - no matter how it needs to be done.
"Superman" - ok this one is obvious. Needed a superhero rference and I got one. I will go to my grave believing in my super powers. My ability to accomplish anything. My ability to bear the burdens of the world for you if i have to do so. You give me superpowers like Superman. Your love powers me to feats i never imagined. Needed a superhero movie. Got one.
I couldn't thinkmof a good chick flick to mention, but you know how I love them. Not becuase they are chick flicks but becuase they all have one thing in common. They end happily. Which is all I want out of life. Our continued happy ending.
So with that in mind here is a summary of my life the movie. Its is simple. Boy meets girl. Girl changes boy's life. Boy changes girls's life right back. Boy and girl have a lifetime of adventures together. Boy and girl are inseperable. Boy and girl shar funny memories for decades. Boy and girl can't keep their hand off one another. Boy cherishes girls. Girl makes boy a better person for it. The ending is happy. The ending is memorable. The ending is perfect.
So if my life was a movie you would be the co-star. Maybe my life is kind of like a movie after all. Every day a new happy ending.
Finally on a totally seperate note. I read something romantic the other day and all I can remember was this phrase..."I can feel you breathing for me my love" - I feel that way about you all the time.
You're the world to me. I love you more than anything in the world.
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