Dia de los Muertos: Remembering close friends and family who have died.

I know technically the Mexican holiday is on Nov 1st but in my house we celebrate it on the 31st (Halloween).

Bill Kozlowski. I chose this picture because it captures the times I loved the most with Bill, just strumming and singing along. If humans were planets, Bill would be a star in the craziest most inspiring solar system in the galaxy. Given the holiday, it’s also fitting this pic was taken in Mexico:

Betty Moore. My Mom’s mom. Homemaker extraordinaire and general great life example. Inspired me to learn music and still does. When I was a tone-def kid I remember dancing with her and hearing her say “That boy can’t sing worth a darn but he sure can dance”.

Dick Stanley. One summer, at a young age, I was introduced to proper work ethic by my Dad’s dad. Bucking bales of hay in jeans and 100˚ isn’t easy! I figured he’d pay me a little extra because we were kin and all, but: nope! Almost earned minimum wage but got a whole lot of great hay-lifting experience (not to mention getting to drive the tractor every now and then).

Jeffery Weitkamp. Jeff’s parents and my parents went to college together and are lifelong friends. Jeff and I grew up mostly on camping trips around the Northwest US. It is on one of those trips that I gave up the diaper, and later learned to tie my own shoes. Not sure when that happened for Jeff. Nevertheless, for many years of my youth he was the closest thing I had to a brother.

Finally, after 33 days of straight wind and rain we get some long-deserved sunshine. Too bad I have to work through it… hopefully it holds until the weekend!