Friday, May 22, 2009

Sweet & Sour Chicken

You know I don’t even like sweet and sour chicken that much but I thought it described my mood for today’s post. Its sweet but tangy at times not really what I enjoy. Like life in general this week’s successes have been mellowed by other events in life which pull you back into reality. So I am feeling a bit sweet over some court decisions made by our US Supreme Court on a totally independent case than mine but which really help one of my clients big time. They are disputing a government claim against them, its not criminal though, but really its technical and boring, just worth a ton of dough to them and the sour news was delivered by my cousin.

You see I was supposed to go sailing today and I really wanted to make this post yesterday. Why because yesterday was AEK birthday so if you don’t know him or haven’t wished him one drop by and say happy bday to him. He puts up with some of my boring theories on life in our MSN chats

Also wanted to post this yesterday to say happy birthday to mirrorboy, sorry it’s late mboy but happy sweet 16. He really is one of the cornerstones of this community and always makes me happy during our chats. I hope the next 16 years are all good and how do I get this phone number to send you text messages lol

I didn’t do any of that because yesterday I got one of those calls you get in life that kind of makes the day stop and changes your plans.

Usually on Memorial Day weekend I go sailing for the weekend. It’s a holiday weekend here in the States a day to remember our dead, family and military. There is a little race called the Figawi and it’s about 27 miles long and goes from Hyannis on Cape Cod to Nantucket Island. Over two hundred sailboats participate in about seven classes. I was hoping to take some nice photos. When the boats throw up their chutes (spinnakers) it’s an impressive site to see. The race on Saturday is followed by a weekend of heavy drinking and mingling with old sailing friends.

In the fifteen or so years of participating in this race we have won own our class just once. Then we were promptly disqualified when we gave the race committee our chart for the race; it turns out as we sailed a leg improperly and failed to make a mark. I knew we should not have won the race; we are just not that fast of a boat even with our handicap time. The weekend is capped by a day long leisurely sail back to Falmouth, on the Cape, Monday.

But my cousin called letting me know uncle Louis, his dad had passed and even though you knew it was coming it always hard to lose a family member. A mistake during an operation in January left him in a disabled state that he never recovered from. He was only 20 years older than me. We are given no promises in this life. We plan to live forever while knowing down deep we are only here for a limited period of time. I will be a pall bearer again it’s a job I can’t stand doing but how can you say no to your aunt. My uncle had a good life and his family is well cared for but still it will be hard for them to be without him.

So no sailing this weekend, instead I will be with family. The only good thing about a funeral is that it causes us all to gather.

But once again happy birth day to AEK and Mboy hope you guys had good days. You two and every once else remember life is ticking away make the most out of your life at all times. Create some good times in your life to balance out the pain we all share. Call or go visit those old friends and family, send an email or a text to some one you know, read the book or see the movie you’ve always wanted to see, go out and do some thing. Hug someone and maybe if you have the nerve to tell some one tell them you love them. Don’t wait for one of those phone calls to push you into action or to remind you how short life is

Thank you all for reading and kind words you leave for me they really help

Take care and be safe

Cvn70

14 comments:

  1. woot! first to comment! *everyone stares at me* "sorry, this a purely low key, hush hush kinda post!" sorry to hear about the passing, life sucks when somebody dies, but life goes on, and your totally right about thinking we're going to live forever, cause I really want to, anyways, im too young to be thinkin bout that!

    sooo, just dropped by to say hello!
    xxxx

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  2. Bob - my deepest condolences to you and your family. Will have you in my prayers. - Dan

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  3. I'm sorry for you and your family's loss Bob!

    I completely agree with the last paragraph, great words!

    Take care & take it easy,
    Col

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  4. Sorry to hear that, Bob. As you say, even when its expected, the loss is still hard. Nothing really prepares you for it.

    Like Col said, great words in your last paragraph. Made me think about a few people that I should get back to.

    Thanks for that.

    Thinking of you, and your family
    Luv, Baz

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  5. My condolences to you and to your Uncle Louis's family.

    I haven't been a pallbearer often, if at all, but I always think when I see them that it is a privilege to be able to perform that service for their loved one.

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  6. oh, i didnt realise why you were gone
    srry for bothering you

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  7. i don't like sweet and sour either blah

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  8. Bob, sorry to hear about you and your family's loss. I know it's a bummer not getting to sail but it will mean a lot to your aunt that you're there.

    I also agree the last paragraph made me think as well. I think all of this applies to the grudges we hold in life as well. I think life is too short for that, but you can't change the other persons thoughts. But yeah...

    Hope to chat with you again soon. Take care of yourself

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  9. Thanks for the b-day mention! Btw, it's never been boring chatting with you on MSN. I'm easily amused, haha.

    Also, I'm really sorry for your loss. Life is both incredibly fragile and very enduring. I don't know the relationship you have with your uncle, but I hope there are fond memories that wipe away the sadness of his passing.

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  10. Oh I am so sorry, I missed this post and just saw it today. My condolences for you and your families loss. *Hugs*

    Very inspiring words - it is true that life is but a fleeting moment and we have to make the most of it.

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  11. I just got home today and saw your post from Friday. So sorry to hear about your Uncle. My sympathies to both you and your family for your loss.

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  12. Inspiring, Bob. Very touching. I really do enjoy reading your thoughts Bob. Hopefully we can chat soon, aye? What are you doing tomorrow night?

    Jonathan.

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  13. I'm sorry about your uncle :(

    *hugs*

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  14. Sorry about your loss, and all of it. And most of all sorry I'm so bloody late posting this.

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