Monthly Archives: June 2010

Saturday evening – The gap

Today was to have been Sam’s high school graduation. An exeact moment in time that I could imagine from the time he was born.. until the day he died.. and every day since. Few things are as fixed in time and location as this.. Birthdays , Holidays.. all happen like clockwork.. but are harder to picture and move around in space. This was a moment that I could picture.. but not like this.

Diane and I got there a little early and found some time to talk to friends. We picked up a program and were surprised and grateful to see Sam’s name in there.. Listed in memoriam . 

It’s real…. unbelievably real.

We were well supported.. many hugs and sad smiles all around.. The principal Jen made a point of finding us as we came in..

I was surprised how I felt in that room. I was uplifted and excited..and.. … actually happy.. So many of our friends, sams friends were graduating today.. These kids have been part of our lives for years.. and if anythign more so since sam’s passing. We love so many of them.. It felt good to be there for them.

We were surrounded by freinds in the bleachers.. as we all fanned to try and keep cool in

The grads-to-be all filed in.. and we tried to pick them out.. Here’s Nate wearing a sash of his own design

Here’s Pat with his Sam tribute on his head

It was great seeing all of our friends get up to speak, sing.. and receive awards..   Here’s Owen giving the validictorian thingy..

And Kevin doing the charge to the students.. he did a clever thing… read txt messages from the class..

Then Avery and friends did some singing.. 

.. then Owen, Jacob, Ben and freinds did ..;Forever Young’.. a song I always associate with someone dieing young. I lost it at this point.. and about 4 folks around me put their armsa around me.. not even sure who they alll were.

Caught sitght of Owen down taking photos..

As his brother Owne and Herron got some sort of award..

Then the grads started their prossesion as each in turn received their diplomas.. here’s our friend Joe..

.and Alex..

The  A’s.. then the B’s.. then.. the C’s..   And then.. there was a gap..

They read Sam’s name.. and paused.. THe place erupted in clapoing and yells.. It was  moving and sad.. and wonderful.. I yelled Sam’s name..

then…

Along came the D’s.. E’s.. .. eventaully the K’s.. here’s Nate.

.. and Justin

Jake..

And Brad wearing the magic tiedye gown that soemone from MMU always gets to wear.

Owen..   I couldn’t get pictures of everyone.. the camera wouldn’t cooperate.. but.. it was wonderful seeing them all

And then.. they were done.. launched out into the world.. It was a great feeling  !.

Max and I both dropped SamStones under our seats.. and we ran for the door.. We had to be in NY for Gab’e s Lacrosse tournement by 1-ish..

Max headed how with Jack.. while Gab,e Diane and I headed South to Fort Ann.  NY.. we made it in great time.. We got there in time for the 2nd half of Gabes game.. It was  a prefect example of how the world keeps moving..

We were now all about Gabe.. and his game..

Ahh.. one veyr cool thing happened at the lacrosse field.. someone had turned in my wallet !!!! ..complete wiht cash.. Thanks oyu kind person.. thank you world. !

After the 2 games we all headed to Lake George Village for dinner..


.. there were even fireworks !!!

and finnally a creamie to fill out a long and emotionally packed day..

We just got back to our hotel room.. Gabe just said.. he was so tired it hurt’.. Same for me..

Thanks for all the love and support we’r gettign from freinds and family these last few weeks it really helps..

night everyone.. nite sam.. and .. congratulations…   we’r every. very proud of you.
-me

Thursday night – Happy birthday Max !

Happy 22nd birthday Max !. I’m so happy that Max decided to come up to Vermont for his birthday.   He is such a great man-kid.  I just love talking with him. He has one of the most creative and active minds of anyone I’ve ever met. and he’s such a warm and loving guy.. (see proof below) ..A bunch of his friends came by the house around 5.. and many are still here at 12:30 as I write.. It’s nice to have the noise and music in the house.

Max and friends fired up the pizza oven that Max and Diane built and they grilled and cooked pizza for everybody.

Around 7 Diane and I took off for MMU to see the Senior ‘Superlative’ night.. You know, the event where they name ‘most likely to succeed’, ‘most popular’. etc..

It was a really cute event.. a couple of our friends got recognized

for stuff.. Nate and Caroline for best musicians, owen for must likely

to succeed, kevin ands most spirit, morgan as half of a ‘twin’ look alike .. Ryan for best

snowboard bum (and then he back flipped off the stage and stuck it

perfectly !), etc..

Near the end, they announced the award for the ‘best smile’ They gave it to Sam !  The whole place stood up as we went down to get the award. It was so sweet.. and so sad.

Friend Caitlyn made a great slideshow that hilighted the whole class.. The closing slides were pictures of Sam  . It means very much to us that the whole place keeps sam in their hearts like they do.. it means so, so much ..

From that bitter sweet.. (more sweet I have to say) event, we drove back to the mild mayhem of a cohn mariano party brewing at the house. lout music yummy food, lots of music and of course fire

Gabe had made it home while we were up at MMU.. so we gave them both their college savings pplans.. a lottery ticket each.. in the hopes that they could actually afford to finish college.

Later in the evening, we served the vegan anatomically shaped (don’t ask) cake that Jack had made for Max.. And we all ang a particularly wonderfully atonal version of happy birthday

We eneded our day with a tequilla toast as my father always does with me..

Happy birthday Max.. you are fine , fine man.. I love you so much and I’m so glad you’re my kid.

Time for sleep.. nite all. Nite Sam !
-me

Wednesday night – just hanging out

Beutiful evening. We figured this was the one night that all of us could be at the same place at the same time.. so,, max, gabe, diane, kristin and Jack and I all piled in the car and went to Single Pebble for dinner.. great time, great food. it felt so good to have the family all in one place. even if for only a few minutes,,

I needed another picture so I could flash the sam medallion I always wear.. I felt him there  and not there so strongly.

We got home around 9 to a wonderful surprise.. The guys had gotten me a Fathers day present !  I know fathers day isnt until sunday,, but.. we’ll all be scattered by then.

They got me this very cool inversion chair you lock in your ankles then you turn upside down,

It decompresses your spine and knees,, and give you this wonderful rush of blood to your brain . I’ve had a messed up back for about the last 20 years.. .. in fact In in nearly constant pain from it.. but I have learned to live with it. .  As soon as I’m upside down though  it totally dissapears , . It feels so wonderful..

We all had to give it a try even though we were full of Chinese food.

Here’s the view from down under,,

ylimaf ym evol i

worromot erom

lla etin  , nite sam

-me

Tuesday night – Schools out for summer !

Last day of 8th grade for Gabe. Last day of middle scool for him.. last day of middle school for all of us. hard to believe !!!!!

Gabe had the rare pleasure of being able to drive to his last day of 8th grade.. I was really proud stting there next to him.

The school day had this wonderful ‘who cares’ layed backness.. I loved it. I could remember just what that felt like.

There was a really cute recognition event..  Mr Carbonne. the principal kicked it off (what a cool guy.. really !  ..)

Each of the ids had to recognize one of their peers.. Gabe recognized Lance , Jack W recognized Gabe..

Afterwards the kids walked down to the park to hang out for the rest of the day.. I dropped bye to say hi.. Gabe and his class were playing ultimate..

I wanted to do a science stunt that didn’t involve explosions.. which was hard.. Diane had a great idea.. a windbag.. I have these bags that are ultra thin (2mil) plastic bag tubes about 50 feet long. You tie both ends up and let the sun heat the air.. the warmed air lifts the whole thing into the air.. Pretty cool when you see it.. how often do you see a 50 foot snake thing in the air..  ?

You get a sense of scale here.

You need to keep them tied down..with the right weather .. a little cooler than today.. they’ll keep rising. Tere are several instances of these getting high enough to show up on aircraft radar.. we don’t want that.

Gabe spent the day at the park while I went off to work.  When I got home we all went to the end of season Lacrosse cookout at Mills River.   Coach Craig and the other coaches did a great job thanking the team. 

On last shot at a (poorly lit.. sorry) team picture .. and the team faded into summer.. It was a great season..

We celibrated the end of the school year.. and the end of school lacrosse  with the first creemee of summer on the way home..

Now I’m the only person in the house who has to wake up early around here.. how’s that goign to work ? ..:-)

Max is up at Eden tonight.. I’ know he’s in town.. but I haven’t caught up with him much yet. Hope to get some more time and pictures with him tomorrow !.

Nite for now.. nite all .. nite Sam
-me