And so it goes

There continues to be these days of wonderful sky where the beams come shining through.  I know it's not "him" him, but it always makes me stop whatever I'm doing and think of him.  It grounds me for a moment, and helps me take stock of whatever my current reality happens to be...and it calms me.  So these sky pictures keep getting posted.  This picture was taken just before my friend pulled a major "Clemmie" with his act of extreme grace and my cousin saying he sees a resemblance in me to my dad and granddaddy.  He is always with me.  Always.

Folk Songs

I went to see self-proclaimed "Folksinger/Agitator," Anne Feeney tonight.  The connection is mainly through my mom, but I ended up thinking of him a lot.  I was there with one of my dad's closest friends, and I got lots of compliments on my hat-my dad's.  But really, I had to fight back tears as she sang her one Irish song of the night.  It took me back to my dad's pub and when he would have his performers there-of which she was one, way back in the day.  Between her Irish Lass accent, and her amazing expressions, I felt like I was sitting in my dad's pub-drinking O'Douls.  She made a point to tell me "how much fun he was."  The past tense just sucks.

He would have wanted to see this

The day the world changed, 11/4/08.  I was overcome with emotion at the fact that we elected Barack Obama president.  I was even more overcome by the spontaneous street celebration that gathered.  I stood at times paralyzed with emotion, wishing he was here to have seen this, to see the action on TV, to be on the other end of the line, to see the pictures, and to just be with me during this outcome.  Unfortunately, the day MY world changed has already come, and he is not here.  He would have LOVED Tuesday night, for so many reasons.  I held him in my heart the entire time.  

RS & Fall

This is a picture I took driving 75 mph past a Russell Stovers billboard.  I pass this billboard so often on road trips headed south, and I never seem to miss it.....and it always makes me think of my dad-even before he got sick.  This picture, though not great also captured some of the coloring trees, which is the only reason I decided to post it.  My dad loved Fall, and the loveliness of the slow differences each day brought to these trees around here.  Though he wasn't overly-sentimental about things, he really did love the colors, and it had been quickly becoming my favorite time of year.  Now, it just seems much harder because every beautiful leaf I see makes me think of him, and that is not overstated.  So as I drove down south this weekend, I thought of him, the whole way.  Between the nature, beauty, and sports of the season......it's all a little bit overwhelming this time around.