Death Do Us Part

That is the title of a shirt that I have. It is made by Rise Up. It also holds much more relevance in my life now than when I bought the shirt.

I attended my third funeral in three months, yesterday. Starting with the one that cut me the deepest, and then two that I just didn't expect. All three of the men were married. Two of them for over thirty-years, and one for just a few. But they all three took the same vow, "Til death do us part." Such powerful words, and all three of them held true to their vows. Really I only knew two of these men, but I would be hard pressed to say the either of them broke their once spoken, but many times expressed, vows. And for this I commend them all.

One day I may say these words to a beautiful woman who is facing me. And one of the things I want the pastor to express at my funeral is my deep commitment to the vows I spoke so many years before. I want him to honestly be able to share my love for those around me. I want my eulogy to be as powerful as the three I have heard so recently.

The best way to end this is with a toast.

Here's to the man who I never knew, but through story. Who deeply loved his wife and his friends. Who lived in an unending-vortex-of-craziness.
Here's to the man who lived a life of unselfishness. Who gave of his every moment to those around him who needed a helping hand. Who always had a beer waiting to greet you upon your arrival. Who was a true and necessary character is life in bib overalls.
And finally. Here's to the man that I knew for so long. The one who loved me deeply, cared for me entirely, and showed me how to live to the fullest. The one who bore me his legacy and spurs me to live on. The one who taught me the secret to happiness, humbleness.
To these three I am forever grateful. So next time you have a glass, raise it high and shout, 'Here's to being adequately hydrated!'

When It Rains, It Pours

I just got off the phone with my sister and it wasn't good news. Last night one of my dad's best friends had a heart attack on the couch in his basement. He was drinking a beer and watching t.v. and when his wife went to find him this morning he wouldn't wake up.

Jim was a man who was full of life. He was an engineer, but he still took jobs painting houses and chopping wood on the weekends, just because he enjoyed it. Jim always drove the crappiest cars. One time he had an old Ford Ranger that was almost completely rusted away. It was stick, lacked power steering, and had a horn that sound like a clown car. When I turned 16 he offered to sell it to me for $100 and drive it down to Phoenix from the Twin Cities at no charge. What I'm getting at is he was a true character in this thing called life.

Please keep his wife and two daughters in your prayers.

P.S. That picture is from my sister's wedding a couple years ago. His shirt has sweat spots on the chest area from dancing. If you could see the back of his shirt it looks like he had been taking a shower.

The Longer I Lay Here

So the last two mornings have begun with a ton of laziness. We didn't really get going until 1pm yesterday, and it will be later today. I'm still in shock that I actually viewed Radiohead with my own two eyes. It was nothing short of amazing. We were able to be really close at it was amazing to see how many people were behind us. It was just like all of the huge concerts that I've seen dvds of where there is a sea of people with no end it sight. Just to name a few of the best songs they did(they were all amazing, just a few notable): 2+2=5, Paranoid Android, Fake Plastic Trees, Videotape, House of Cards, etc. I hope that I can see them again, but now I don't need to. Everyone I know going to see them in San Diego is in for an amazing evening.

Tonight is Rage and Wilco. I'm sad that I will be missing Wilco. They are truly my more favorite of the two, but I feel like I will never have a chance to see RATM again. So, Mr. Tweedy will still be on my list after today, but he will have a high priority. OH...and Nole...they aren't coming to Phoenix, they are stopping their tour long before the Valley of the Sun.