Words

"Uncle Bruce was with me for many of my firsts. He was there the first time I saw the ocean. He taught me how to drive a car...at the age of 5."
-Eddie Camus

Words

"Skipper, you're on a better island now."
-Alan Bodman, aka Gilligan

Easter

These are a few pictures of the past two Easters. We would always go up to the Matthews Easter celebration and see the Easter bunny. On Easter eve, we would always dye eggs together at the dining room table. Mom and Dad always had an egg hunt and a basket filled with goodies for the grand kids. The Easter baskets were always overflowing with goodies and, even though they would cut each other off and say, "No more buying for the baskets. They are packed full," they would always buy more and pile it on top. Dad loved all things holiday and always wanted to make sure everyone was having fun. We miss him everyday, but even more on special days like this. I guess Easter has an even deeper meaning this year. It means that we will get to see each other again someday. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Thanks for all of the good times Dad! You are a good egg.

Quotes

When I was driving through West Virginia the other day, a few of Dad's quotes came to mind. He used to call the state "West By God Virginia". He also would say that once you drove through the state, you would have to "wash the dumb off."

Sigh

I just got back from bringing Grandma down from Pittsburgh for Easter. I love going up there but the past two visits, it hasn't felt the same. Of course it's nice to see everyone, but I think about Dad the whole time I'm there. It makes me feel sad. There was a big leaf blowing all around on the side of the house just after I got there. It was dancing all over the driveway and kept brushing up against the dining room window. I wondered if it was Dad saying hello. Too bad leaves can't come in for a chat and a cup of coffee.

Deep Thoughts

Dana had this as her facebook status the other day and I thnik Dad would have really liked it:

Laugh when you can. Apologize when you should. Let go of what you can't change. Love deeply and forgive quickly. Take chances and give your everything. Life is too short to be anything but happy. You have to take the good with the bad. Love what you've got. Always remember what you had. Forgive, but don't forget & always remember that life goes on.

Me Chinese, Me Play Joke

Whenever Dad would open a fortune cookie, he would "read" it aloud to everyone, "Your face is your fortune, you have none."

Skinamarinky Dinky Dink

Skinamarinka dinky dink
Skinamarinka doo,
I love you

Skinamarinky dinky dink
Skinamarink a doo,
I love you

I love you in the morning
and in the afternoon,
I love you in the evening
and underneath the moon!

So, Skinamarinka dinky dink
Skinamarink a doo,
I love you and you and you
and you and you and you and
YOU!

Beach Bum

While we were on vacation in Folly Beach, a few of Dad's beachy quotes came to mind:

"The weather is here, wish you were beautiful."

"Just another shitty day in paradise." (I heard these many times while growing up in Myrtle Beach.)

Seth also remembered one. "Mom, do you remember that time that Papa was swimming in the ocean and a shark swam up and bit him on the toe and he punched it the nose and it swam away?" Ummmm....no, but I can totally hear him convincing the kids that it really happened.