Aggies vs Aggies

Well, Sally and I survived another fun and activity filled weekend! Started off with a Friday night trip to the Washington County Fair. Always a blast. I think it is the best fair in Texas. Saturday found us in the yard. Sally mowed and I ran the weed eater. After that we ran a few errands. Picked up hay, broccolli, cauliflower, onions, shallots and tomatos. Came back and put the brocolli and cauliflower in the ground. Also planted rutabagas and Swiss Chard. After all of that we were off the the A&M and Utah State game. Spent the whole afternoon with Uncle Donnie. Sally got to see her dad's memorial. She also got to see where he lived (Corp Band Dorms) and where he and her mom would meet to go to games. Very nice and very touching. Watched the Corp line up and step off. Very moving. Then we went to the game. The Aggies won so we had an almost perfect day.

Sunday took us to 8:00 mass and then we started CCE. Looks like a nice class. After that we went to Houston and had lunch with David and Pam. The we went to the Forum and visited with MiMi and Pa. Then we went to Sally's classroom and we did door decorations. We made a Scare Crow and "Miss White's" pumpkin patch. Very cute.

Tired ...

Well, I am beginning to get tired. Too much activity lately. There are issues at work that I have to get up at 5:00 each morning and tend to. Last weekend we went to Dora's wedding in Austin. It was very lovely and we had a great time. However, I was already tired of traveling. Then to make sure I was good and tired of traveling, we got up at 5:00 on the Saturday after the wedding so we could head to Tulsa to see Margret's dad. Don't get me wrong. The trip was truly needed. Margret needed it and so did Karl. However, it was very long drive in the pouring rain (both ways). It was made more bearable by the fact that we had a lovely traveling companion. Mary DeWalt joined us and what a time we had. She drove the entire way and we just talked about politics for two solid days. Truly a lovel trip. The Hartley's were very glad to have us. Poor Margret. Taking care of Karl during his last few days on earth is really wearing her down. Pray for her. We also celebrated Sally's birthday on the road home. Stopped in Denton for lunch with Jessie and Whit. Very nice and we really enjoyed seeing the girls!

Sally's Aunt Gloria passed away last week so we left Monday night to go to the Tuesday morning funeral. Spent Monday night with Katie and Moose. Katie really does keep a very nice house. I was very impressed. The next morning we drove to San Antonio and went to the funeral. Very nice as funerals go. Because of this funeral, Sally and I may have solved one of our dilemas -- where to be buried. I think we are going to be buried at Fort Sam Houston. It's free and they stick us in the same hole. Talk about spending eternity together! Finished up the trip by stopping back in San Marcos to celebrate Chris's birthday. All of this is wonderful and it is great to see everyone but I need a break. I do not want to leave Brenham for at least a couple of weeks

On a similar note, grad school is beginning to take its toll as well. I need someone to remind me why I though this was such a great idea. I am sure it will all work out in the end, but right now I am truly tired of everything. And .. just to make sure we don't get lazy, CCE starts this weekend. I really do think we are nuts.

On a happy note, Sally and I are going to the Washington County Fair and the Aggie game this weekend. So, regardless of all of my whinning in the previous paragraphs, life really is pretty good for us.

Whooping Cranes

This was a very exciting and productive LABOR DAY WEEKEND!!!! Saturday saw the beginning of the Potager. Sally and I got up at early and headed to the garden Sally dug bricks and i dug ditches untile we were almost sick. Then we cleaned up and had a nice grilled fish dinner at a new Brenham resturaunt. Then we went to her school and worked for a few hours. Then two amazing things happened. First, Joey Pospicil plowed me up a new garden! I am so excited. Then while we were visiting, 6 WHOOPING CRANES landed on a dead tree in Langke Lake. Seems we are on their annual migration path. joey said he sees them every year. Very exciting stuff.

Sunday started with another digging session. Then we were off to mass. This was third Latin Mass in a row. I am looking forward to hearing it in English again. After mass, we went to see Herb and Pat. Nice visit. After that we went to a surprise birthday party for Sally's Vice Principal. Heather and Jared called and surprised us with a visit. they stayed the night and we really enjoyed them.

We ended the weekend mostly by working. We grilled shrimp with the kids and then they left. Sally went to work on her school stuff and I went back to the garden. I planted a 25' row of collards and a 25' row of beans. Tommorrow i will plant brocolli, cauliflower, cabbage and squash.

What I learned from Ginna ..

A week has passed and I am just now getting around to writing about Ginna's funeral. I have to say I was very pleased. Her daughter, Megan put everything together. She did a wonderful job. So many people came. I counted 108 signatures in the visitation book. Then, so many showed up at the cemetary in 102 degree heat. Thank you to everyone! Ginna would have been very happy with the send off she recieved.

I heard one of mother's cousin's tell Aunt Sarah that they had meet there (there being Cade Cemetary) too many times. I got what she meant. She was sad that so many of our family have died. The fact that she had seen so many buried meant she would soon be in the cemetary too. She was mourning the lose of her life just as much as she was mourning the loss of Ginna's.

That comment, coupled with Ginna's death has made me go very deep. So please bear with me on this post. When someone you care about dies you try to find meaning in their passing. I think I have done that with Ginna. I am not here to beatify her, but I have learned some things about life through her death. I want to share those with you now

1. LIVE!!!! - We are all put here for a very short time and death is inevitable. Since we are all headed for a hole in the ground anyway, we might as well LIVE while we are here!!!! I had to give an intro of myself in grad school today. He asked us to tell the most exciting thing that had ever happened to us. I could not think of one thing; I thought of MANY!!! Why, because I have LIVED!!! I have publicly stuck my finger in a sheep's rectum and I lived to laugh about it! I kept getting married until I got it right. I feel like I have lived and I am happy.

2. WWDD or WWGD - Ginna is not solely responsible for this lesson, but it fits. Do what makes you happy. Do not live just to please someone else. That is what Ginna did (and what Uncle David still does, WWDD). I recently read an article that basically said most people do not really live until their parents die. How sad is that! I do not want that to happen to any of you. Sally and I are nosey and bossy and way too far into your business. Ya'll need to feel free to tell us "I love you but ya'll need to butt out! " Honestly! LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE!!! I promise, Sally and I will love you and be there for you no matter what you do.

3. LOVE - Ginna never found her true love and she never found acceptance. That to me is the true tragedy of Ginna's life. Find someone and something to love. I know this is not easy and it may take several tries, but do not give up! God made us to be with other people. Find someone and love them and let them love you back. I had a wonderful life before I met Sally, but it has been so much better since we came together. Also, find SOMETHING to love. Be passionate! I do not care what it is. Find something that makes you feel fulfilled and pursue it with gusto!

Along these lines, don't forget to tell people you love them. I love all of you so much! I am proud of each and everyone of you! Here is a quick note to each of you to tell you how I feel right now:

Sally, you are truly the peas to my carrots! To quote Tom Cruise, "You complete me!" I never knew love until I knew you. Thank you for chosing to love me each and everyday.

Katie, you have grown into such a loving and caring young woman. There is nothing more noble than giving aid to those that are less fortunate. I am proud of you for going back to school. I know it is hard but it will be worth it.

Chris, you are so passionate and so driven and I truly admire you. You are so kind and giving. You also understand that you have to do things your own way. Go forth and make things happen!

Jessie, you have recently shown me that beneath that mild demeanor is a tiger! I am so proud of the woman you are becoming! Keep growing and live YOUR life YOUR WAY! BE NOT AFARID!!!

Heather, You are like me in so many ways. You are doing things the way I wished I had when I was your age. I admire your intellect and your drive and the way you lead your life. Keep making good choices and you are bound to succeed!

Whitney, you have my soul. You are kind and loving and creative and I am so proud of all of the beautiful things you create. Do not let me get in your way. Continue to grow and travel your own path. I am proud of you and I want you to bloom.