Funeral for a friend

I realized today that there are many ways to define friends. There are work friends, gym friends, neighbor friends, childhood friends, and so many others we call our friends. I'm not sure what I would call Arlen, my first thought is aquaintence. He was everyone's friend. Even if you didn't know him he would treat you that way. He was famous, at least he was to me, or maybe it would be better to describe him as the person I knew who was closest to fame. He even impressed Tom Hanks once. Arlen was resting at a wayside on one of his many motorcycle trips when Tom Hanks' bus went by. Tom took one look and turned the bus around, he had to meet this guy. This wasn't one of those urban legends, there are pictures to prove it.

Arlen called me sweetheart. I always thought it was because he didn't know my name. He knew so many people I'm sure I didn't really matter. Even though I talked to him at motorcycle events, we volunteered at the same charity events which is where I really got to know him better. It turned out he really did know my name, and he didn't call everyone sweetheart so that made me feel special.

When I left the board meeting Saturday morning I made a note to call Arlen. He was going to work on a fun summer motorcycle event, the pictorial pursuit and I wanted to help. Little did I know that by the time I left that meeting Arlen would be dead. Call Arlen. I still have the note.

The funeral was on Thursday. I went to the doctor in hopes of getting better medicine for the damn bronchitis that has been torturing me since before new year's eve to no avail. Since I left work early I figured it best to head over to the funeral home early. It didn't matter, there were so many people, it took an hour just to get through the line. Funny thing was that I wasn't wearing Harley gear, one of the few, so I was mistaken as a relative. At the funeral, I didn't even notice that his motorcycle was by the casket. There were so many flowers from all his friends and the groups of people he helped. He helped lots. It was certainly apparent how much he helped. His helmet with the horns were set on top of the casket encircled with flowers. It was quite touching.

Arlen will be missed, I know I will miss his charm and kindness. And I know I can truly call him friend.

Rough start

I forgot to pack a bra in my gym bag. When I went to shower after my workout this morning I was kicking myself. How am I going to go downstairs to work without a bra? Going back home is stupid since I'm already here. The first person who even looks at me funny means I am going home. Arrrghhh!

Aunt Millie

My aunt died yesterday. I am sad that she has passed. When I saw her in August, I knew it wouldn't be long. She said she had cancer and she was done with treatment. She didn't want it anymore or it wouldn't work anymore, it was all a little unclear. Not that it mattered. The end result would still be the same. Sadness for those left behind. My aunt was married to my uncle for 63 years. I find that amazing, and my hope is that since my uncle died a few years back that they are now together again, only this time forever.

I toast the New Year

This new years eve is no fun for either of us. Unfortunately, I'm in the middle of a doozy of a cold. Between the headache, body aches, sniffles, and sore throat, I can hardly function. I feel bad for Jeff but I can't do any better than I am. It's really that bad.

I did decide that we should continue some traditions. Usually we have a nice dinner, scallops and steak, wine and nice desserts, candles and romance. But tonight he will do the cooking, probably chicken on the grill. The kids will probably join us, and that will be that. So what's left in the tradition department? The hot tub. We go soak at midnight and ring in the new year with a toast. We enjoy the bubbles of the tub under the stars with the chill in the air.

To add something good to the night (since I've been so ill), I thought we should open a bottle of champagne. We've had a bottle in the fridge for 25 years now. I don't know why I hung on to it for so long. I won it at my company Christmas party the first year I was employed there.

As we opened the bottle, the top sort of flopped off to the ground. No big pop, no overflow of bubbly. A little anti-climatic if you ask me. So we sat in the water sipping the champagne. It was quite a surprise after all. It was delicious. I am not a big fan of the bubbly but this was very yummy. As we sat there watching the stars, feeling the fresh air chill on our faces. thoughts of the years that passed while this bottle sat in the fridge went through my mind. Flashes of things that happened in that time crossed my mind like a slide-show in fast motion. From winning that bottle of wine to losing that job, from the birth of my third child to the death of my brother, from the fat me to the slimmed down me. There was so much that happened during that time, so much happiness and so much sadness. It was getting harder to finish the champagne. There seemed to be so much time value in that bottle that I regretted opening it and opening all those memories. I felt a pang of sorrow for the time that has passed as well as the loss of this bottle in my fridge.

Time marches on, the new year is upon us and it's time to continue making those memories. Hopefully there will be more good than bad. Here's a toast to the next bottle I open in another 25 years.