Family
It’s Ash Wednesday. My father died this morning. He was a good man, and a great dad. Stoic to the end, he was in good spirits when I spoke with him on Monday.
Last year, Paco died on Ash Wednesday.
If you haven’t had to shovel snow in slacks and loafers because the city did a second round of snow removal while you were at work, well then you haven’t really lived.
10 degrees, stomach flu, and a foot of snow. It’s not a solution but I’m drinking a hot toddy while watching Gaby’s Dollhouse with the 5-year old.
Few things are as joyous as surprising your collegiate best friend, in person over beers, that you moved back.
Took all day to load the trailer. One last family photo before we left for good. Lot of tears. We’re going to miss this place.
Last year, I took this snapshot of Paco while we waited in line for Santa at a farm that does holiday events. It was a moment of peaceful calm for my otherwise very energetic boy.
This year, my wife took the kids to the same event last minute. My oldest had his siblings recreate it for me.
Arizona in December…
… where it’s sunny, 80 degrees, and the city pool event is Swimming with Santa.
I had my second jiujitsu competition yesterday; I lost both fights but I wasn’t there to win, I was there for Paco.
The bracket with small groups works out that I still got bronze. My friend/mentor from the academy snapped this one for me.
Paco’s been gone nine months, today. Miss that kiddo so, so very much.
Last year, Paco got a plunger at the Thanksgiving parade; this year, his sibling made sure they got their own, and so of course they were in our family pic for the year.
Paco loved Thanksgiving. And while we have so much for which to be grateful, there is also a giant hole of love without him. Last year he won that plunger on Thanksgiving and every day after it became his sword, magic wand, scepter.
Today, I’ll have it with me.
My heart hurts today.
We went to ASU’s homecoming parade and the Missus got her dream come true (after six years of waiting): a family photo on Palm Walk:
“Forks Up” Sundevils.
Starting a hard week. Today is five months since Paco died, and Thursday is his 8th birthday.
I miss that guy so much.
Somehow my 4yo or 6yo figured out how to order “The Three Little Pigs” on Audiobook via Alexa.
The 9yo is teaching his little sister (4.5), “Take me out to the ball game.” My heart is full. ⚾️
Burgers, baseball, family movie, clean kitchen, kids asleep. That’s a great Saturday. But on the last Saturday of summer vacation?! Miracles exist, folks.
🎥 The only problem with this otherwise delightful NYT cooking & Kenji Lopez-Alt video on cooking hamburgers is that my kids talked me into making hamburgers for dinner while we watched it. Admittedly, this isn’t actually a problem.
A year ago today, Paco started jiujitsu. Surprisingly, I never posted his original “First day of class” photo. I did post his first stripe on his white belt. Here’s his first day of class pick.
My God it surprises me how much I can miss that little guy. 💔
I’m so glad I took that snapshot.
So… the big kid had to get an appendectomy today—he’s out, resting, and my wife—who is at the hospital with him—and I are both praying and hoping he wakes up to walk “four times” so they can send him home tonight.
Eleven years. Loving each other through good times and bad, sickness and health…
