We caught an early morning uber to the airport with 6 suitcases.. we’re acting as mules for some of Gabe’s stuff on all our trips back

We had a nice long layover in Denver.. its such a bright space.. we appreciate the art in there 

we also appreciate the pommegranite mint water in the United lounge.. it looks like art !

THough all creatiivity isnt nabsolutely necessary.. such as these angry eagle boxer shorts.. really ?!?

We got ot our rental.. which is wonderfully accross the street from max and beckys. We rent from their wonderful neighbors. 

WeMax braugt gerwat SW food take out for us all from Aristos and we ate at the rental house, then got a quick tour of Max and Beckys always amazing horticulture.. Including their edible mushroom set up , potatoes and tomatoes.  It’s absolutely  amazing to see how much bouty they get from this small piece of land in the city. 

Great to be here with Max and Becky !

more tomorrow.

nite all. nite sam
-me

To day was our final push we made or las trips to goodwill and the dup. The pile of stuff Gabe is bringing by car.. or we’re carryin on our next trip is getting really small !

The pile of boxes we took to UPS was taller than diane.. and these pics dont show even half of it. 

After all of the dropping off and shipping, Gabe headed out to his mandolin lesson. . After his leasson, Gabe picked us up and we went out a nice dinner at the moon and sixpence.. we listened to soem music and ate fish and choips.. Gabes mandolin teacher Rene and his freind and gutarmaker Jeff were tehre too. We got to talk to them again. thei is our third time gettign to talk to Rene. What a wonderful guy. super kind.. he’s calm and reflective. I was not surprised to here that went to Goddard college back in the 60’s .. 

after dinner, Gabe took us back to our airbnb. we said good bye to him.. we’d said bye to nova earlier. I thk we’ll be back in less than 3 weeks.. . 

We are so proud of gabe.. even thought he’s got so much on his plate right now .. he was a wonderful host .

nite all, nite sam
-me

DIane, Gabe and I continue to go through all the house and pack, sell, give away or throw away as much as possible in prep for his move. Todays big giveaway was his bed ! He gave it to a freind of a freind who drove one and a half ours to get ti. We helped her mount it on her truck. Looks comfy !

TOmorrow we make our last run to UPS, Goodwill and the dump !
we’re making great progress !!!!

nite all. nite sam
-me

Today  we mark the day that Sam’s strong organs helped save 4 people’s lives. The decision for  Sam too  become an organ donor was the easiest impossibly difficult decision we ever had to make. We’d discussed organ donation as a family. We knew what Sam would want. 

saying goodbye to Sam as he went into the transplant surgery was .. and is .. the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do . As I write this.

I can feel that moment like it was today. 

I hope you or your loved ones are never faced with this choice, but in the chance that you are. please have a discussion with you family about thier wishes. Organ donation is a personal choice, and making your wishes known to your loved ones is the most important act you can do to make sure they do know your wishes. 

please do that in honor of Sam and all the other oregan donors 

as tough as todays memories are, they are part of someone else’s best day. 

And life goes on .. literally .. 

We spent the day having fun.  We went to see Gabe’s Mandolin teacher Rene and his long time student Olivia playing in a beutiful cafe. Rene plays mandolin, guitar, banjoe (and I’ll bet many other instruments). He’s such a lovely guy. He and Olivia have been playing together for more than 20 years sunce when aliva was 12 !..  they played a wide range of styles. All beutiful. 

The day was rainey, but twe got gabe and nova out for a walk.. we had to show him the peanut butter tree. . You run the leaves and it smeels exactly(!) like peanut butter 

we saw somone setting up for soemthing .. an engagement ? wedding ? protest.. who knows ? 

Towards evening we made a spur of the moment decision to go to the zoolights festival at the oregon zoo. We didnt expect much.. but it was AMAZINg.. the whole place was decekd out with light up animals, soem animated. some interactive.. It must have cost a fortune !  it was so fun !!!!

Great way to end a day.. 

remember to give life.. 
We love you Sam

nite all, nite sam
-me