My Laugh for the Day

Tonight is a big night for Jord. Tonight is the first of many overnight camp outs with the blazer scouts. So right after school we headed to Walmart with the grocery list of things he had to bring: baked beans, chips, mustard and eggs. Since this is a special occassion for Jord, a little right of passage, as it were, I told him he could pick a special treat to share with his dad around the campfire. We went to the snack aisle and I was expecting him to pick out something like jerky or marshmellows. But what he chose made me chuckle, and would've made all of my Frenchie friends proud, he went right over to the "fine chocolates" section and picked out a beautifully decorated box of Lindor European truffles. I think I'm going to enjoy camping with Jordie. I also think all of the other scouts are going to be jealous.

A Man For All Seasons
For Grandpa on his 89th Birthday

The seasons of your life were numbered by heaven.
In your Summer
you were endowed with the names of student, educator, husband and father.
In these times,
when your time was endless, there were many days and few worries.
The season was spent teaching and being taught by many cultures,
the world was your classroom and you traveled the earth.

The seasons of your life were numbered by heaven
and slowly
the season changed from Summer to Fall and you became Grandpa and Great Grandpa
and as the days passed, the worry mutliplied
until your only travels were the distance between your garden and a little room in the nursing home where your sweetheart waited.
Like frost on the meadow, we could see the signs of your Winter coming on.

As your children,
we hoped we could store up days against the season by worrying
about your heart, your balance and your driving.
We wanted you to stay.
The number of your days were known to the Lord.
But not to us.

How could those, who watched so closely the path you trod,
have ever guessed
that you, dear traveler
would get dressed in your Sunday best,
and on a winter's eve
walk quietly home to God

And claim eternal Spring.

In Loving Memory


Elliot Castleton Howe
March 2, 1920 - February 24, 2009

Que Dieu te benisse. Adieu cher pere, jusqu'au revoir