Hello Summer

In The Thick Of It

Just like that, we're in the thick of Summer. Right before the Solstice last night, Summer rolled on in. It was roasting yesterday.  We hit 100. Humidity was high which made it feel even hotter....and the pool still looks like dirty water after spending and arm and two legs on soft swim. Whatever.  We'll work on that today and whether it's clear or not, I will be in later because Gar-man just stuck his head back in the door and said 'it's worse than yesterday'.

To welcome the new season, some pictures from the apre wedding brunch on Sunday, that just say Summer to me.

Ah, the smell of salt air at Glo's house. Just a block away from the sand. How wonderful it is to live where we do.

The boys (or boy) of Summer. Way to connect Cayd!

A pretty Summer wedding bouquet.

ICE CREAM MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One More Day to Enter

The Giveaway closes at midnight. If you've waited this long to enter, you've waited as long as you can. Go enter for pete's sake. This is a not-to-be-missed giveaway! 

As Summer Made Itself Known

It wasn't the heat that brought us down, but rather the loss of another friend. I know, I know....this year has not been kind. We say a sad farewell to our buddy Mike.  He had some health challenges in the last couple of months, and it just seemed like his body didn't have the strength to fight them.  Mike was  thoughtful- always had something to give you and was ready, willing and able to fix the stupid window on my car for the umpteenth time and whatever my Dad needed fixing on his stinkin' lincoln; he always had a nice word; he was Gar's buddy;he was an all around good egg. 

At least we know that he's now with our buddy Bob who we lost a couple of years ago. Mike was really great while Bob was fighting cancer. Always there. The way friends should be.

I'll see Mike (left) and Bob (right) together on my computer desktop everyday as my photo gallery moves through its pictures.  And, I will always remember Mike arriving to our 4th of July lobster bakes on his moped. That's the way he rolled. 

So long Mike, it's been great to know ya. Rest in peace.

Sunset Meadows

Mike's sunset at the meadows last night. Pretty send off.

Enjoy the day wherever you are.  It's all you've got!

Peace out,

Nothing But A Heartache

So Long, Too Soon

Boy, this year just keeps throwing curve balls. We learned Sunday that our very dear sisterfriend Cin had passed away. She'd been fighting lung cancer, but I think we were all still in shock, not expecting the worst or at the very least, not expecting to lose her so soon. I know I was in shock. 

She's been my sister Gloria's best pal since high school and an honorary part of our family. A third sister, an extra daughter. I just mentioned her last week in my Mom's birthday post.

She could always make me laugh whether she was being silly or irreverant.  Her and my sister raised a lot of hell together. I was too young, but boy could my sister and my brother tell you some stories. So could my parents.  In fact, one that still cracks me up is my father going to 'retrieve' his daughter Gloria at a house party. Well, when he got there, he didn't find Gloria but he did find Cindy who we barely knew at this point. He said, 'don't I know you? you're coming with me" despite her pleas, and promptly removed her from the party and brought her home. 

Cin and Glo had to drag me around with them at times, and dubbed me Diddle Bain. Yup, you guessed it, their code for 'little pain'.  To this day, Cin called me diddle.

I will truly miss that, but what I will miss even more is just Cin.  She could brighten my day with an email or a Skype call like nobody's business.

I will remember her learning to drive a standard in her Saab and jerking back and forth as we left Cumberland Farms....must have been the 'diddle bain' tag along that day. I'll remember our day trip over to my sister's college with another chum who's gone, Dean (another 'diddle bain' day). I'll remember doing the Texas two step with her around Gloria's house when she was visiting from Louisiana one year. When Mack the Knife plays, I'll think of Cin because it was her and my sister's song. I'll always think of her at Mardi Gras, as she lived in Lake Charles, Louisiana for years now and always did it up right starting with black tie formal dress up for the Mardi Gras Ball. I'll think of her whenever I tailgate because she loved to tailgate for a football game. And I'll definitely think of her when I enjoy a beer or two and when my pool is open and I'm floating about, two more things she loved. 

She suffered her fair share, but always looked on the bright side and knew there was always someone worse off.  At the time of the unexpected death of her husband Ron (who I called R2 since he was 'ronnie ray') last August, she joked through it all, and somehow muddled through the loss of her one true love. She was amazing. In the end, I think her broken heart made it too hard to fight the cancer.

I understand, but it sure doesn't make it easier. 

I am so grateful that her niece Susie had been with her in Louisiana to help her, to be Nurse Susie, and to simply be with Cin in the end. It's a true blessing.

I'm so glad you were a big part of my life Cin. So, so glad.  I couldn't have loved ya anymore.

Love ya always, 

diddle

Sunset Meadows

Oh the sunset the day we learned that Cin has just passed was striking.  I'll just say, whenever I get 'bubble's of light' in a picture they seem to appear around the sun. Not in this one. This bubble of light is ascending towards the heavens. Enough said.

Peace out my friends and be well,