Catchup...vacation, a loss, other stuff.
It's been a long month I guess...so much has happened and while some was good...some not so much.
First...we have a new addition. The poochlet called "Bunny" is doing well. She's a prissy little diva...likes only 1 type of wet food (apparently it needs to be Cesar Chicken and cheese and if it's from the fridge needs to be warmed)...and is still learning where to pee and poo (though it's not totally her fault...the new neighbors have two monster dogs who beyond barking at night like to bark at my little foo foo poochlet when she's trying to go and she gets anxiety.). Still for all that...she's become 100% my dog. She loves Deb...no doubts...but her choice would always be to hang with me. It's kinda new to me as animals have always seemed to like other people I was living with. Though she's trying (now she's starting to think about chasing the cats...in fact as I write this she just went after Monty and I put her in her cage and she's piiiissseddddddd) at times to handle...overall I have to say I'm happy with her.
Second...vacation. We were gifted a weekend away by some friends of Deb's...and they initially led Deb to believe it was a weekend at a charming little bed and breakfast down state. OYE was that underselling. Where it was in fact was the Mohonk resort down in New Paltz (in the Catskills). About a 5 hour drive from here. It was to put it mildly...awesome. (See pics here: http://gallery.me.com/willbenson#100017 ) The place was built in the early 20th century...lived through 2 world wars and quite a few other events. It was like being on a cruise ship that didn't go anywhere. I really found myself enjoying ever moment of it...we got a massage, hiked up to a tower (which was not an easy ascent), met a few couples who we kept running into, enjoyed some great food and just enjoyed being together. In 9 and a half years of marriage...to not have taken a vacation before now...to put it mildly I felt like a complete moron. Though if you're going to correct an oversight...this is certainly one way to go about it. I've decided that I'm going to try and take Deb away AT LEAST once a year. Maybe back to Mohonk, maybe somewhere else...but we need to do this. A lot of things we didn't even know were issues were worked out on this trip and it was just awesome.
Third...while on vacation...I got a call from someone I know from church and who I worked with at Eastview back in the late 90's. She saw that I had Aimee Snell on my friend's list...and thought I'd want to know that while on vacation in North Carolina...Aimee had gotten into a terrible car wreck and had died almost instantly. 2 of her kids were injured and her mother too. That was all she knew. It hit me like a gutshot. Not because we were close...while we had reconnected on facebook...we hadn't spoken in some years and our contact was limited only to Facebook. We shared some cool conversations and I got to speak some of God's word to her at times of trouble which blessed me. She was someone I was looking forward to maybe seeing next year (at our 20th reunion). To hear she was gone...just like that...and being 6 months younger than me...it really hit me in a way I hadn't anticipated.
It got me thinking about mortality. Aimee...someone I grew up with...who I was in classes with until High School...who always seemed nice and kind...and who had children was GONE. A month ago I wrote about my cousin's mother's death...and how it changed things in my mind. This seemed to take it to another level. Nothing is promised. It's possible I may not grow old...or have children or grandchildren. I may not be able to watch my wife get more beautiful with age...and that thought while not frightening (as I believe in Jesus Christ)...is not comforting.
From childhood we're taught that life has a natural progression. We go through school, grow up, become a husband or wife, have babies, work, retire, have grandbabies and pass away either in our sleep or with our families around us. However...that isn't always what happens. Even for us (the class of 1992...) we faced that at a young age. Mandy Hoose passed the summer between 7th and 8th grade after a battle with a debilitating disease. It was hard...but speaking for myself...I dont think I grasped the message that tomorrow isn't something that will always come.
I find myself now thinking of my legacy. What am I going to LEAVE in this world when I die. I have no children...I have a beautiful wife (who I imagine if I go younger...will be scarfed up by any number of smarter men than I as she's by far the most amazing woman to ever live...)...2 nieces, 2 nephews and 2 sets of sisters and brothers in law and another brother in law out of state. Many cousins, and even more friends and acquaintences. So I find myself asking though...is that enough?
To be honest...I can't answer that question. I hope it is. I pray it is. I want for my life to MEAN something...to impact not only the people around me...but the people around them. The easiest way of course is with children...and it's still my prayer that someday I will be a parent...to either my own natural children or through foster care or adoption. However...if children aren't an option...then I think I need to figure something else out. I don't know what that is. Maybe just writing these stupid blogs, maybe a novel, maybe a song, maybe just drawing tons of pictures of Superman and Green lantern on various pieces of scrap paper...maybe just in investing in others' lives the way the people closest to me invested in mine.
I don't know if that's the answer...but that's what's been on my mind since I heard.
For Rick and the children and Aimee's family...know we pray for you. Also...know that Aimee's life MEANT something...and that through her children and you...she's going to resonate for many years to come.
I hope when my time comes...someone will be able to say the same.
Thanks for reading...
First...we have a new addition. The poochlet called "Bunny" is doing well. She's a prissy little diva...likes only 1 type of wet food (apparently it needs to be Cesar Chicken and cheese and if it's from the fridge needs to be warmed)...and is still learning where to pee and poo (though it's not totally her fault...the new neighbors have two monster dogs who beyond barking at night like to bark at my little foo foo poochlet when she's trying to go and she gets anxiety.). Still for all that...she's become 100% my dog. She loves Deb...no doubts...but her choice would always be to hang with me. It's kinda new to me as animals have always seemed to like other people I was living with. Though she's trying (now she's starting to think about chasing the cats...in fact as I write this she just went after Monty and I put her in her cage and she's piiiissseddddddd) at times to handle...overall I have to say I'm happy with her.
Second...vacation. We were gifted a weekend away by some friends of Deb's...and they initially led Deb to believe it was a weekend at a charming little bed and breakfast down state. OYE was that underselling. Where it was in fact was the Mohonk resort down in New Paltz (in the Catskills). About a 5 hour drive from here. It was to put it mildly...awesome. (See pics here: http://gallery.me.com/willbenson#100017 ) The place was built in the early 20th century...lived through 2 world wars and quite a few other events. It was like being on a cruise ship that didn't go anywhere. I really found myself enjoying ever moment of it...we got a massage, hiked up to a tower (which was not an easy ascent), met a few couples who we kept running into, enjoyed some great food and just enjoyed being together. In 9 and a half years of marriage...to not have taken a vacation before now...to put it mildly I felt like a complete moron. Though if you're going to correct an oversight...this is certainly one way to go about it. I've decided that I'm going to try and take Deb away AT LEAST once a year. Maybe back to Mohonk, maybe somewhere else...but we need to do this. A lot of things we didn't even know were issues were worked out on this trip and it was just awesome.
Third...while on vacation...I got a call from someone I know from church and who I worked with at Eastview back in the late 90's. She saw that I had Aimee Snell on my friend's list...and thought I'd want to know that while on vacation in North Carolina...Aimee had gotten into a terrible car wreck and had died almost instantly. 2 of her kids were injured and her mother too. That was all she knew. It hit me like a gutshot. Not because we were close...while we had reconnected on facebook...we hadn't spoken in some years and our contact was limited only to Facebook. We shared some cool conversations and I got to speak some of God's word to her at times of trouble which blessed me. She was someone I was looking forward to maybe seeing next year (at our 20th reunion). To hear she was gone...just like that...and being 6 months younger than me...it really hit me in a way I hadn't anticipated.
It got me thinking about mortality. Aimee...someone I grew up with...who I was in classes with until High School...who always seemed nice and kind...and who had children was GONE. A month ago I wrote about my cousin's mother's death...and how it changed things in my mind. This seemed to take it to another level. Nothing is promised. It's possible I may not grow old...or have children or grandchildren. I may not be able to watch my wife get more beautiful with age...and that thought while not frightening (as I believe in Jesus Christ)...is not comforting.
From childhood we're taught that life has a natural progression. We go through school, grow up, become a husband or wife, have babies, work, retire, have grandbabies and pass away either in our sleep or with our families around us. However...that isn't always what happens. Even for us (the class of 1992...) we faced that at a young age. Mandy Hoose passed the summer between 7th and 8th grade after a battle with a debilitating disease. It was hard...but speaking for myself...I dont think I grasped the message that tomorrow isn't something that will always come.
I find myself now thinking of my legacy. What am I going to LEAVE in this world when I die. I have no children...I have a beautiful wife (who I imagine if I go younger...will be scarfed up by any number of smarter men than I as she's by far the most amazing woman to ever live...)...2 nieces, 2 nephews and 2 sets of sisters and brothers in law and another brother in law out of state. Many cousins, and even more friends and acquaintences. So I find myself asking though...is that enough?
To be honest...I can't answer that question. I hope it is. I pray it is. I want for my life to MEAN something...to impact not only the people around me...but the people around them. The easiest way of course is with children...and it's still my prayer that someday I will be a parent...to either my own natural children or through foster care or adoption. However...if children aren't an option...then I think I need to figure something else out. I don't know what that is. Maybe just writing these stupid blogs, maybe a novel, maybe a song, maybe just drawing tons of pictures of Superman and Green lantern on various pieces of scrap paper...maybe just in investing in others' lives the way the people closest to me invested in mine.
I don't know if that's the answer...but that's what's been on my mind since I heard.
For Rick and the children and Aimee's family...know we pray for you. Also...know that Aimee's life MEANT something...and that through her children and you...she's going to resonate for many years to come.
I hope when my time comes...someone will be able to say the same.
Thanks for reading...
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