There Is Only The Hard Way

 A particularly appropriate thought on July's final Monday...

-AK 

A Token of Appreciation

Today my sister Kara celebrates her birthday.  While I disagree with the decision to end this turn of phrase with a preposition, I agree with its sentiment...

Kara is - and has always been - one of those good people.  She was born with a tolerance for others and a willingness to peel away the shittiest and nastiest outer layers of practically anyone and reach down to their core for the goodness she believes resides in every one of us.  Hers is a skill set that I have never possessed nor, frankly, ever completely understood.  

I have, however, always understood that Stel's way of walking through this world has served her well.  May it continue to do so.  

And may she have the birthday that she deserves.  This year and every year. 

-AK 

A Toast to the Tailgunner

Today the youngest of Nana and Pop Pop’s five grandchildren celebrates her second birthday.   The Colorado branch of the family tree comes east for an extended visit in a couple of weeks.  Here is to hoping that the trial that has waylaid my summer is finally over by the time they arrive.  

Shea and Pop Pop

Shea’s First Ocean Swim

July 2021

And here is to hoping that my adorable youngest grandchild, the darling Shea, enjoys her birthday.  

-AK

Friday with a Side of Hamill

I love Pete Hamill but for me, at least, on some days this landing is hard to stick...

...and every now and again it is practically impossible. 

-AK 

 

Life Goals

Food for thought for July's penultimate Thursday...

-AK 

 

Simply the Best

Food for thought for a mid-July Wednesday, courtesy of Ernest Hemingway… 

…in fairness to me, I did not say it was a happy thought.   

Be careful out there.  

-AK

A Shot of Vitamin Sea

The next several weeks are shaping up to be, well, trying.   Yesterday, I started my day in my favorite place...

Sunrise as seen from the 8th Avenue Beach 

Normandy Beach - July 10, 2022

...the week beckons. 

-AK 

Reaping Freedom's Blessings

You have to hand it to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.  It is not just anyone who can permit his league's schedule makers to create a schedule that not only ensures not every team plays a game on Independence Day but makes sure the New York Yankees are a team without a game.  Really?  Had Lou Gerhig given his "Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth" speech (July 4, 1939) on Manfred's watch, Yankee Stadium would have been empty. 

Happy Independence Day.  Be careful out there.

-AK 

Sixty-One

The birthday boy and his sisters, little and big

Photo Credit:  Pop Pop

Today - sixty one months to the day  since Mom died - we shall celebrate the fourth birthday of my #1 grandson.  We are a couple of days early but that’s okay.   

As someone whose own father died before I graduated from eighth grade, I take nothing for granted.  I enjoy being present for every occasion in the lives of my grandkids, whether in person or via FaceTime as shall be the case later this week when Princess Abigail of Colorado joins her older by one day cousin Cal in “Club Now I’m Four”.   

I suspect that Mom would quite enjoy that our early celebration of Cal’s birthday adds frivolity to an otherwise dank day.  She never met her great grandson but I’ve no doubt they’d have been smitten by one another.   

First Day of the Second Half

In case you missed the memo (I assure you that there is ALWAYS a memo), today is the first day of the second half of 2022.  Seems to be as good a time as any to turn to my spirit guide for a recap of the events to date…

My life story distilled into less than thirty words.  Nicely done, Chuck.  Nicely done indeed. 

-AK