Game On

Dad would have loved to see Seth playing in his first team sport. And the team colors would have just sweetened the pot. Go Black & Gold!!

Pictures From Teri

Actually we all call her Teresa - but that name is only reserved for special people. Mom and Teresa worked together for years and our families have been close for a long time. We are all so thankful that Mom has such a great friend to be there through the good times and bad. Teresa and her daughter Katelyn are Panthers fans but this year they were rooting for the Steelers too. They even made a fleece Steelers blanket for their living room so a little piece of Dad would be with them.

Teresa recently came across these pictures and posted them on facebook. I was so glad to see them. This is the first time I have seen a picture of Dad since he passed that my immediate reaction was a smile and laugh instead of sadness. Of course, I'm still sad but it feels good to be able too look at a picture of him and feel some joy.


Mom and Dad at a book club party circa 2004. I can hear his laugh when I see this picture.






These were taken at a party. This was the first time Dad met Teresa's brother-in-law, but it was like they were long lost brothers. Dad met never met a stranger - only a friend he hadn't made yet. Dad loved to sing and felt at home with a microphone in his hand.

March Madness

Every year, Mom and Dad have thrown a big "March Madness" birthday party for all of the March birthdays in our family - Aunt Sandy, Mark, Dan, Mingo, Scott, Carlee and Ashley. Dad would be glad to know that we are continuing on with the tradition.

The Wee Lad

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.

There's a tear in your eye,
And I'm wondering why,
For it never should be there at all.
With such pow'r in your smile,
Sure a stone you'd beguile,
So there's never a teardrop should fall.
When your sweet lilting laughter's
Like some fairy song,
And your eyes twinkle bright as can be;
You should laugh all the while
And all other times smile,
And now, smile a smile for me.

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.

For your smile is a part
Of the love in your heart,
And it makes even sunshine more bright.
Like the linnet's sweet song,
Crooning all the day long,
Comes your laughter and light.
For the springtime of life
Is the sweetest of all
There is ne'er a real care or regret;
And while springtime is ours
Throughout all of youth's hours,
Let us smile each chance we get.

The Luck o' the Irish

Dad had a lot to be proud about, but one of the things he was most proud of was his Irish heritage. I can't tell you how many times I have heard to story of his grandparents coming over from Ireland. His grandfather was a maintenance man at A&P and one day, when he was cleaning out a room, he came across a stack of bonds that were worth a fortune. Instead of keeping them, he turned them in to the company. As a reward for his honesty, A&P bought him a truck to start his own freight company, which he turned into a multi-million dollar company. A true American story. (Too bad we never saw any of it! LOL!)

Dad also loved to sing Irish songs, which he taught to all of us. My Wild Irish Rose, When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Tora Lora Lora - to name a few. I can still hear his baritone voice. At night Seth likes for me to sing to him as he falls asleep (he doesn't yet know the meaning of tone deaf) and I often include these tunes in the repertoire.

Dad would cook corned beef every year on St. Patrick's Day. Most years it was edible and the house didn't catch on fire. (That's another story that I'll let Dan tell another time!)

I always imagined that someday we'd all take a big family trip to Ireland to kiss the Blarney Stone, but it just didn't happen. I guess time ran out. But as Seth marches in his St. Patrick's Day parade in school, Dad will be on my mind. Maybe I'll even toast him with a pint.

Elevator Music

I was shopping at Walmart today and out of nowhere, as I was looking at birthday cards for my nephew, I heard Amazing Grace being played by the bagpipes. What an odd song to hear as in-store background music. A friend of Dad's played this song on the bagpipes at his funeral. It was haunting and beautiful. I will never hear it again and not be immediately transported back to that place in time. How strange it is to be going about your day, thinking you are doing fine, when something as insignificant as Muzak suddenly takes your breath away.

From "Uncle Rick" - Dad's BFF

Still With Us

One of our cars bit the dust and we haven't bought another yet. Every morning Seth and I have been waking up early to drive Mark in to work before we start our day. This morning, Seth was still half asleep and I was carrying him out to the car. As I walked out the front door, I saw the storm door being pushed toward us quickly by the wind. I stuck my elbow out to keep it from hitting Seth, braced for impact and felt....nothing. As I cut my eyes to the left, I saw the door being gently swept in the opposite direction. I did a double take to see if someone was there, opening the door for us and watched the door close softly behind us as we passed through. It all happened in a flash, but in that moment the feeling came over me that Dad was with us, opening the door, just popping in to say, "Hi." He's still with us. I can feel him.