better to burn out

Big birthday weekend.  Preparations began on Thursday with these two and their new paints from Grandma KK.

Lennon said:

 

"I'm going to paint lots of tiger stripes on this one because Dad likes beasts."

 Then Karic showed up fresh from finals and joined us in celebrating Tod's birthday.  And then watched our kids all weekend so we could leave our kids all weekend.

 The only picture we have to document the getaway. Ate a lot and had uninterrupted conversation.  I even slept in until 8.

 Sunday night we celebrated my dad's birthday at home.  He spent the first five years of his life in Japan.  One of his favorite dinners was Gyoza.  I grew up making and eating this regularly; it was cool to see my kids do the same.  He would've wanted us all together, eating and laughing.

When I feel sad about losing him I try to remember that he never lost his independence or his dignity.  We never had to put him in a home or watch him fade away.  

 

 "It's better to burn out...than to fade away."

 

- Neil Young

 

Happy Birthday to two of the best guys I know.

 

[Birthday photo courtesy of Tod's sister Ali.  Nailed it.]

Future BSU Cheer Captain

This entire week I thought of last year at this exact time.  Larry was in the hospital over night with horrible croup and Tod and I woke the morning of his birthday cramped on a hospital cot with a sick, sick boy.  I reread this post tonight and it made me thankful for regular life.  Day to day with nothing to report.  Except that for Tod's birthday, I bought him his dream car:

 Actually our friends Matt and Karlee rented it and put a huge red bow on it for his birthday.  We walked him outside and started screaming and cheering that he had a new Challenger...to which he responded, "I don't want a new car."  Good thing it was a joke.  But he enjoyed peeling out at lights all night and being a total tool.  In a Challenger.

 We saw Cirque du Soleil's new Michael Jackson show.  Being avid Cirque fans, we were thoroughly disappointed.  Ask Tod what he would've done differently and plan on at least an hour of listening time.  He thinks that Michael grabs himself in his grave everytime they perform.  Did that come across the right way?

 Larry accompanied me to Lennon's preschool Christmas program where Lennon asked Santa for a Captain America shield and Larry asked for a shark.  We'll see what happens.

 And finally, I found Tod's favorite college team t-shirt in Lennon's size online and it arrived today.  Although the picture online didn't show the puffed sleeves and feminine neckline. 

 Maybe someday he'll cheer there.

Happy Birthday Tod.  Glad we didn't spend it in a hospital room this year.