Beautiful snow everywhere..   and it’s all probably going to disappear tomorrow. We’re expecting wind, rain and ice..Dianne and I decided to get out and enjoy the snow.. We took our first snow shoe of the season with the dogs.. It was so wonderful getting out in the woods. We forgot that it was still black powder season.. and none of us had on our orange.. so we stayed close and made noise as we tromped through the deep snow.

When we got back, we had a couple of chores to complete the conversion to winter.. More windows sealed, the  storm door on.. and the fan vent covered. On my way to do that, I discovered a small treasure trove on the top of a book case in the hall.. Well.. more like a small shrine.

I found a small TeePee that Sam made in school .. maybe in first or second grade.. It’s a kinda cool idea.. You wrap a flour tortilla around some sticks and  let nature take it’s course. .. here it is.. still unfrash 10 years later..

I stood on my ladder and stared at the thing for a  good long while ..   How do such things make me feel.. happy ? sad ?a mix…. always a mix..

I also found one of Sam’s old dragons.. he liked ‘sparkly things’ when he was little. I think this was a Christmas gift at one time. I remember shopping for such things this time of year..   I’m glad we still have it.

All of the relics weren’t from Sam.. here was one from me.. it’s the cup that my 18 year old class from Waltergasse 4 in Vienna  ,.. I taught English there for a year in 1979-1980 The class gave this  to me when I left.. it says.. ‘Remember us John’ .. and I still do.. I keep in touch with one of my students from them.. Murat.. the middle kid of my Landlady.   I think I’ll call him and check on his family..

These memories remind me.. .. actually , everything reminds me.. that tomorrow is Compassionate friends annual candle lighting. Compassionate Friends is a world wide support organization for families who have lost a a child. On the 2nd Sunday of Decemebr, they ask everyone to light a candle at 7PM local time in memory of all the childreren who have passed on ..  The idea is to circle the earth with light..

Please join us tomorrow at 7 and light a candle for our wonderful Sam and all the other kids who have died..    We really appreciate it !

OK.. feeling a bit low.. I think I’ll got to sleep now..

Nite all, nite Sam,

-me

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