in it together

That's my family- at Disneyland, November, 1961 -I'm the really cute guy next to my sister Kat, getting "cooked" up front. My oldest brother, Danny, is on the left and Tim on the right. Dad and mom seem to be getting a kick out of watching their kids stew a bit... we were all so young, each of us just kids...

Mom loved Disneyland- back in the days when entry was free and in the evenings it was easy to take a stroll down Main St., shop a little, and dole out tickets saved from past trips to us kids. Gold "E" tickets were a rare commodity... usually saved for the older boys adventures while Kathleen and I rode Dumbo or the Merry Go Round on the dreaded "A" or "B" tickets at the front of the book. I'm guessing that with four kids in the house any escape was welcomed and one that offered so much diversion must have been wonderful.

Mom died this morning, a little before 2am, June 3, 2008. We held hands and wept together, prayed and then released her, with tears, into the Main St. of eternity. Heart's broken, hope securely fixed on the promises of Christ, one more time we were all in it together... never to be all together again until we're Home with The Lord.

That's our family... that's my mom... she gave us more than we could have ever asked for or imagined. She loved us with her whole heart. What she always wanted most is for us all to be in it, regardless how hot the fire, together.

Can't imagine life without her. I'll do my best to keep her constantly in my heart, live out her practical faith daily, remember her sense of a "higher calling" and do my best to see God's Big Picture in everything. Our family stew, stirred carefully over the years by mom, has seeped to the core of my being. I'll keep her memory alive in my life, in my actions, in my love.

Main St. in Heaven is packed with good folks I love. Tonight, as the little white lights in the olive branches begin to twinkle, I imagine mom just getting settled in...enjoying "The Evening Light" waiting, until we're all in it together again.

love you mom

Favorite Moments

That's one of my favorite photos. It's our son John, at the helm of our former sailboat, "Visitation," with his mom at his side. I don't remember much about the day. It was autumn, warm and perfect for sailing and by the looks of the background we were a couple of miles off Sunset Beach. The image captures most of what I enjoy about sailing: being outdoors, on the water, together, loving life.

I'm not a great sailer. It'd take years for me to master the technique, skill, knowledge... much less desire... to race at the head of the class or to challenge the open seas. However, when the wind is fair, the sun warm on our backs, the swell gentle and I'm surrounded by those I love... sailing fits the bill for me. It's hard to imagine that we no longer own a boat and that our little slip on gangway 25 in Long Beach belongs to someone else... so many good times.

Talking with a good friend recently, I listened as he went over his training program and the races he has planned for the months ahead. I lamented that it would take me months of training before I could even enter, much less compete with him, laughing he said: "Better start tomorrow." I told him that "tomorrow's" always my favorite day to train... when I wake up, look at my running gear next to the bed, too often I think- tomorrow... not today.

Favorite moments are the result of participation in life. Whether it's paying the price to own and learn how to share a sail boat on a wondreful fall afternoon or waking up to train alone in order to share a race with friends, favorite moments rarely just happen, we create them. What are you creating with your life today? What memories and emotions will a snapshot of today bring back five years from now, twenty-five years?

John doesn't know it yet, but someday, when Debi and I are well beyond our sailing years, or when we've already set our sails that one final time, he'll treasure this snapshot for the memory of the day and the memory of his mom... it's going to move way up on his list of favorite moments. It'll make him a better dad with a deeper desire to spend the time and money to share with his family and create some favorite moments of their own. Our lives... sometimes our legacy, is often little more then a collection of favorite moments, time well spent, with those we love. Don't wait until tomorrow. Make the most of today.

blessings... and smooth sailing,

Eric