Monthly Archives: November 2012

Thirsday night – Thanksgiving / Donate life !

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It’s thanksgiving day.. . .. it’s also the day that Sam gave four of his organs to save 4 people’s lives. If, g-d forbid, it ever happens that you are in a position to be an organ donor, the most important factor in making that gift is that your loved ones know your wishes. There’s no better way than to pass on the love than to tell you family how you feel about organ donation. Please have that conversation with your loved ones now.. do it in honor of Sam and all the millions of folks who have given the ultimate gift.

That what was on my mind today….  Of course it was also thanksgiving.. i have much to be thankful for.. i love my family and friends.. and where I live.. and  i enjoy my work.. I am grateful for what I have and what I’ve had.. . and I say that in the middle of recognizing sams passing..  I hope that everyone reading this has a chance ot reflect on their own blessings..  we are all lucky to be alive and thinking.

I managed to dodge out of helping with the prep for thanksgiving because I volunteered to go fetch Hannah, Matt and Olivier from Montreal.. I got up there in time to have a nice long lunch with my buddy George..


his office has a great view of the city..

I picked up hannah, matt and oliver around 5L30 and we headed back to vermont.. traffic was bad so it took us 2 and a half hours.. we spent the time going through matts iphone songs trying to spell things with the first name of the artist.. In ‘THANKSGIVING DINNER”.. we listened to  glitch mob Taylor swift, nirvana , Edith Piaf, notorious B>I>G ,  gypsy kings, swollen members, daftpunk, iron maiden, etc.. We got back in tme for an ad0hoc celebration of kevin’s 21st bbirthday.. most of the gifts involved alcohol.. what kind of example are we setting ?

 

we had more than 20 friends over for thanksgiving.. once again the house was filled with warmth.. felt good.. for the2nd time in so many days.

man.. am i exhausted.. taking vacation is harder than working.. gotta get some sleep

more tomorrow..

 

nite all, nite sam

-me

Wednesday night – Sam’s yahrzeit

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Today is the day we ‘officially’ observe Sam’s passing. Just like birth, leaving is a process. Sam’s soul left his body on the 20th right after the accident, on the 21st he was declared brain dead and on the 22’nd his organs went to save four others.   I wear the reminder of this day on my left wrist  and look at it every day..

In my culture, it’s tradition to mark the day of death , the yahzeit, by keeping a candle burning all day..

We appreciate all the candles others lit for him today ..

I like to think that sam would have appreciated this version more .

Before i describe the day.. let me drop back to yesterday for a moment.. Yesterday started with a ‘sunbow’  (or sun dog).. a good omen..

Gabe and I marked the day by making a red bull toast as we drove back from New Hampshire. .. We always dump a little out for sam..   since we were moving .. we had to do it via the sunroof..

Last night I ,marked the night by going to see Dark Start Orchestra at higher ground. Wouldn’t you know, they were doing a bone marrow donation screening..  a perfect parallel

 

The concert got out around 1:30 am.. which was perfect because Max’s bus showed up around 1:45 down town. By the time we got home. ate . hugged, drank, etc, it was 3:30.AM..    so morning came late.. Diane was p and had the Sam candles lit.

 

breakfast meant breaking out the hotsauce collection.

Before we new it, it was time to head to bolton.. we gathered at the base.. by the time we left we had more than 40 folks. it was a beautiful , warm and windless day.. a prefect day to walk with sam up the mountain.

By the time we got to the top for the picture we had more than 50 folks.. wonderful that 6 years later Sam  still has so many friends.

our tradition is that gabe. max and I climb the shaky fire tower, drink a red bull and blow something up.. we did that today.. it was beautiful up there sorry I didn’t get a picture of the explosion .. but we were standing right next to a large mortar.. i was cowering with fear rather than taking the  picture 🙂    .

we got home around 4 .. and folks started showing up for dinner.. by 5 the house was full of  love..

 

Pucket came by with his son Sam.. such a cutie.

 

James at 2 and a half was the second youngest.

Gabe poured the red bull toast…

A full day full of love . laughs, tears and stories.. As I said to folks today at the toast.. I was so sorry they had to be there.. and so glad at teh same time..

 

good night everyone…

 

good night sam..hope you felt the love today !

-me

Tuesday afternoon – Our beautiful son Sam – the call

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Six years ago this evening our beautiful Son Sam was hit by a car as he crossed the street with two friends. The boys were all on vacation down in Florida having a great time. When he got on that plane to go down, we never imagined that we’d never see him alive again. My heart breaks when i think about it.. but my heart is full in knowing that that kid was so loving and was/is so  loved. . and he knew it.. he knew it everyday..

I will never forget the terrible call we got when we learned that Sam had been hit  The moments  after that are etched forever  in my mind.. I relive them almost daily .   but the call i like to remember is the one I received from Sam earlier that afternoon..  I saved the recording and listen to it all the time .He would have made that call about now. He  left me a message telling me how much fun he was having with his buddies.. and he told me he loved me… like he did every day..

The last six years have been so hard… i feel Sam’s presence everywhere and his absence deep in my heart. There are times when its still overwhelming ..  there are also times now when life seems almost normal. We laugh, we have fun and we have much love in our lives.. At the time, i would never have believed that possible. I think it has only been possible because of the love and support we’ve gotten from family and friends..   For that we are forever thankful

Tomorrow . the 21st. we will mark the official day of Sam’s passing . That’s the day he was declared dead which cleared the way for his organ donation on the 22nd. In leaving, Sam helped 4 others live on.

We will mark tomorrow with a climb up Bolton Mountain . Mete us at 1PM at the base lodge if you’d like to join us. We’ll then all go back to our house for a lasagna pot luck (Sam loved lasagna), stories, music and samstones.

Ok Sam.. it’s another year..  you are forever in hearts and near us always. We love you very much my son ..

-dad

 

Monday night – the day before

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Tonight is the day before the day sams accident. Today is the 6th anniversary of the last normal day i had on this earth.. And i remember it well i had just come back from austin after a particularly frenetic week. . I remember being very stressed out about some bit of business planning stuff at work.. Stuff that happens every year.. Stuff that really doesn’t matter. I remember being So worked up over those meaningless details of my job that i wasn’t sleeping well.. i remember that sam was visiting friends in florida.. I called and spoke with him and he was having a great time. I remember the stress of that week.. I actually remember feeling sorry for myself for the situation i was in..
I would trade anything for that day…

Hug your kids, hug everyone you love .. Thats what matters…

Nite all, nite sam .. I love you very much

-me
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