Moon Dreams & Day Beams

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Hope your Weekend is…

…filled with sweetness!

via: paris hotel boutique

 

What a terrific week. Baby Whitaker turned 1/2 year old (!!!!!), I made the decision to actively focus on the good things about Dad’s life by creating an ongoing list of things that make me smile about him,  we went to the pumpkin patch. Hmm…what else? I made it to the gym several times – all this among a ton of other things. Beatrice’s Fall Break commences today as I am excited to resume a smidge of normalcy next week. XoXo, Christy

A little mind jogging has led down a path that is flowered with delightful little memories of Dad. Kristen reminded me of his  yellow truck (…remember the Hercules trucks?!?!?) while Holly mentioned his loud snoring (that could be heard all the way downstairs) at Amanda’s sleep overs. This ongoing list is totally making me smile. It is soooo Good Grief!

I am going to add these things to my list:

•  
  • Loud snoring
  • Bright Yellow Trucks
  • Ms. Ann Platt’s Tea Cakes (I thought of these today)

In the spirit of the Griner Gang Memory Walk Team, here is a quick post including a few memories of Dad. Like Marcy (who lost her Mom at the same time last year), I have difficulty explaining how I feel about the death of my parent. The difficulty arises when I explain my grief to others…and to myself. More, most of the time I am smiling about his life while there a things that will spark a tear. I am attempting to rejoice, revere and be glorious  in the celebration of his wonderful life, rather than be sad and selfish about it. He was a fabulous Papa who led a great life. I want to be happy and merry in it. I want to have Good Grief that is uplifting, powerful, and inspirational.

Off of the top of my head these are some things that remind me of him (and make me smile!):

• Oreo’s dipped in milk
• Grape Koolaid
• Over Sweetened Tea
• The Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair Parade
• The Pancake House at the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fair
• Arrowheads
• Storytelling
• The Battle of Bloody Marsh
• Dune Buggies
• John Wayne
• Casablanca
• The UGA Bookstore Fall Catalog
• Worn Brown Lazy Boy Recliners
• Blue Camero’s from the seventies
• Old Blue and Yellow Addidas Running Shoes
• Sayings like, “this is so good it will make your tongue slap your brains out.”
• Ice Cream
• Rear Windows with multiple stickers
• Football, Football, Football
• Southeast Bulloch Football
• College Football especially Georgia Southern Eagles and Georgia Bulldawgs
• Georgia Southern Booster Club
• Snooky’s Breakfast
• Parades
• Toast with Letters made of Butter
• “All aboard that’s gettin’ aboard. If you aren’t getting a board, get a plank.”
• Molly Gogs
• Old Spice
• Lacoste Shirts
• Astronomy Magazine
• Discovery Magazine
• Ag Hill at UGA
• Vince Dooley
• Banjo’s
• Red Man
• The Beach House
• Shoney’s
• Pizza (especially the old Statesboro Pizza Inn)
• His Signature
• Janie Frickie
• Wonderful World by Sam Cooke
• Loud snoring
• Bright Yellow Trucks
• Ms. Ann Platt’s Tea Cakes
• “I can’s see through you. You  must be drinkin’ muddy water,”  he would say if anyone was standing between he and the television! (Aunt Kathy reminded me of this : ) one)
• Moogie

Holly has organized a team for the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2009  Statesboro Memory Walk in honor of Dad. I am so thankful that she did this again this year. It is such a committment of time, effort and love. I am humbled by her friendship and efforts. Thank you so much, Holly!!!

I can’t help but be just a little down as the anniversary of his death encroaches. I miss him so MUCH. Yet, it is nice to channel the energy into a positive effort to find a cure for a disease that runs in my family and in Brian’s. It makes me feel a wee bit triumphant against the disease that took Dad from us so early.

Admittedly, I am the world’s worst fundraiser. I will need your thoughts, creativity, support, advice and love to finish the task of being a member of this team. I am attempting to log my efforts toward the team on this blog for the next eighteen days. The walk is on October 24th.

To initiate my committment to walking, I (FINALLY) completed my page on the team’s website. Personalizing the page with a photo and a cut/paste of a  PSA from last spring, I am ready to begin collection money via the website. You can see the page, here.

mm…what do you think? Upon review. I think the page is a little too dreary while the copy is too long. I am going to try to revamp it to make it more cheerful and bright. I believe that Dad would honestly want us to me happy. I think he would want my energy to be focused on celebrating his life and his transition into the afterlife.

**The photo is of Holly and Beatrice at last year’s walk. : )

Beatrice debuted her dancing skills before her parents last week. It was the first time we have seen her in class. It was so much fun. We were really impressed. Mom kept Whitaker so that we could fully enjoy the performance. Brian and I both smiled the entire hour. It was so funny.

These were impromptu. Brian recorded from his phone so ignore the clarity. I hope you enjoy them!!!