Year 2

Today was the 2nd, anniversay if you would, of dad's passing away after a tough battle with cancer.

It strikes me, how time has gone. I took the day off and spent part of it down by the rivers that I love here in Denver. While sitting/laying there, i thought it felt a little bit like South Haven. Like I could get up and go down to gma's house and say hello. In lieu of that I wrote on her facebook wall. :)

I took time to rest and relax after sleeping in this morning. I'm not terribly sad about the day. Sure, it brings back memories thinking about pops, but I know that he is in a better place and that I will once again get to see him, someday. Whenever it is that my time comes. Both my heart and mind have come to grasp that he isn't with me. Sometimes I forget it, though. I get this urge to call him, but then I realize that it's not his phone anymore - it's Andrew's, now.

Except I forget that when Andrew calls me [okay, the one time he called me] and the name showed up as Dave Brucki. That was a little bit of a stunner, I'll be honest.

Mostly, though, days are well, even with rememberance's of him. It's definitely bittersweet. It's usually been more sweet than bitter, though.

Well, I am getting tired, though it's only 8:05. I need to make some calls, see if some people want to hang out. It's free pie night at Village Inn. YUUUMMMM!

Labor Day weekend

Fun facts about Labor Day::

x It originated in Canada, first Hamilton then Toronto [which is near Michigan!]
x The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City
x Due to the aftermath of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands ofthe US military and US Marshals during the 1894 Pullman Strike, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.
x We can thank President Cleveland for this
x All 50 states have made labor day a natl. holiday
x Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. The holiday is often regarded as a day of rest and parades.
x some view it as the last weekend for parties before returning to school.
x Labor Day marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons
x Alternatively, Labor Day traditionally occurs on the first Monday in September

I enjoy labor day and all the things there are to do on this day.
Some places have parades, fireworks, etc.
It usually involves a big day of party.
Cooking out, laughing, playing games - it's the last big HURRAH! of summer, afterall.
Unless you have an Indian Summer.

:: Charaterised by sunny, warm weather in autumn, not long before winter. Usually occurring after the first frost, Indian summer can be in September, October, or November in the northern hemisphere.
:: In the northern U.S. state of Minnesota, for example, warm Indian summer weather generally occurs earlier, in mid October rather than early November.
:: value for determining whether an Indian summer is occurring is that the weather must be above 21°C (70°F) for seven days after the autumnal equinox
:: in the South as elsewhere, this period is more commonly known as the dogdays, in reference to the appearance of Sirius – the "Dog Star" – to the Ancient Greeks
:: Joe Walsh has a song called "Indian Summer" on the 1978 album "But Seriously, Folks..."
:: Pedro the Lion included a song called "Indian Summer" on their album Control.
:: Mandy Moore has a song called "Indian Summer" off her new album "Amanda leigh" [I hope this album is good, it is, after all, named after me!]
:: "Indian Summer" (the movie) was produced and written by Mike Binder in 1993.
:: Brooks & Dunn have a single released in 2009 called "Indian Summer".

I LOVE Indian Summers. It is my favorite time of year, by far! The leaves are turning colors, some are falling off by this time, and the weather is just as fabulous as ever. It's such a glorious time! The sun comes back out and you crave being outside. I hope they have Indian Summers here in Denver...!

Right now the weather is still wondrous, but I haven't been out in it as much as I would like.
The sun goes down ridiculously early here because of the moutains.
I don't appreciate that at all. The weather here is usually nice, though.
It is hard to believe it is already the 4th day of September.
I can feel this month is going to pass quickly.
The 16th makes it 2 years since Pops has passed.
Time really does fly.

I hope that I have a lot to do this Labor Day weekend.
I am too extorverted to spend as much time with myself as I have already.
I need energy and excitement.
People, friends, family, church, etc.
I have to get out and about.
I still need to do more things!

with love, blessings and a thoughtful heart,
.:Amanda:.

Life never slows down.

There is always going to be ebb and flow when it comes to living.

Coming and going;
beginning and ending;
hello and goodbye.

It's a never ending cycle.
But there is always beauty.
Even in the hard times.

How does one find beauty in family failure.
In a wife cheating on her husband.
And producing a child.
What about the four children the couple shares?

This family tragedy is one that I see again and again in our society.
It's sad how often this seems to happen.
This happened to one of our families.
Today the whole building saw the fermented fruits of this failing relationship.

It's hard to know how to deal with something like this if you've never been privy to this happening with anyone you know before.
It's not so hard, if you've seen it with your own eyes and experienced it with your own heart.
It feels like there is never anything you can say to the person on the opposite end who has had to suffer through this.
They will never understand it.
It's possible to try, but it's almost always incomprehensible.

We said goodbye, tried her hand at magic
We couldn't make us disappear
Not a day goes by, I don't wish I had you
So run away, I'm glad you're still here

It's a bitter sweet victory
Lovin' the ghost in front of me

Now I can't laugh, can't cry
And I can't run, can't hide

What do I gotta do?
What do I gotta do to keep you?
What do I gotta do to keep you
From doin' this to me?

I wrote a couple of notes
One in love, one in anger
They're lyin' there
Dyin' in the dresser drawer

Lived louder than my voice
Struggled through a stranger
He loved me
Till I loved you even more

It's a bitter sweet victory
Lovin' someone else who wanted me

Now I can't laugh, can't cry
And I can't run, can't hide
You get used to the pain and numb to the sting
Till you can't feel anything

You tried to explain, but I couldn't hear it
As if your words were my tears
Flowin' freely, warm and quiet
From the edges of my eyes and my ears
Then all that disappears

Now I can't laugh, can't cry
And I can't run, can't hide
Now I can't laugh, can't cry
And I can't run, can't hide

What do I gotta do?
What do I gotta do to keep you?
What do I gotta do to keep you
From doin' this to me?