A letter to Paul - 2013

Here we go again.  Another move during the holidays.  It's a house this time.  Everything has been

falling into place lately.  I wish you could be here to see how everyone has grown (even the adults).  All of the cousins are either in, or done with college.  I've been reading a lot, but my reading time is about to be re-purposed for schoolwork, as I finally try to finish college myself.  I've got a little more grey upstairs, and need to be a little more careful with my health these days, but we're going to try to stick around to see all of the cousins turn grey.  Lee and Dawn, and Jill and I have been spending vacations together, and looking forward to more.  It's hard not having you, and mom, and dad around for the holidays, but I wanted you to know that we'll keep the rest of the clan together as much as possible.  Maybe even re-start the old Bruntil "family meeting" tradition.  We'll see.

Say hi to the folks, and any aunts, uncles, and grandparents you may run into.  Take care, and check in on us once in awhile.

Lots of love,

Neil

From Sue: For Paul on his 55th birthday

Inspired by DION'S "Abraham, Martin, and John (and Bobby)

Photo by Amy

Has anyone here seen my old friend Paul?

Can you tell me where he's gone?

He Loved a lot of people in his lifetime.

They say the Good die young.

I looked around and he was gone.

Has anybody here seen my old friend Paul?

Can you tell me where he's gone?

Lifted to Heaven's Gate on wings of Angels.

They say the Good die young.

I looked around and he was gone.

Has anybody here seen my old friend Paul?

Can you tell me where he's gone?

Gone to see Abraham, John, Martin, and Bobby.

They say the good die young.

I looked around, and he was gone.

Happy Birthday Paul from your old friend Sue. I miss you buddy. I'll

meet you down the road. Thanks for your friendship. I'll never forget you. Good times my friend, good times.

Love Always, and Always, Sue

Five - (by Neil)

alphabunny_photos - Flickr

Five cups of pudding

Five trips to nowhere

Five dinners with the folks

Five used Dell C-series laptops

Five quarts of home made spaghetti sauce

Five states called home

Five blue delivery vans

Five BP catalogs

Five pots of Mr Coffee Mac and Cheese

Five miles back to the car

Five nights at the New Yorker

Five hours stuck on an the Amtrack Empire

Five blocks to the laundromat in Union City

Five of us, then four, then three, now two

Five years without you....

A Poem To Remember - from Sue, 2012

Arjan Almekinders - Flickr

A Poem to Remember

Five years 'round the Moon
Brings us once again
To this day in December
When you passed from this life
And we pause to remember

A life so full of Life
In a breath gone to soon

Continue on your journey Paul
Until it's our time to meet again
We all will find you again someday
No matter how many times we travel 'round the Moon.

Give my Love to Santa, xxoo Always & Always, Sue

Happy Birthday

A little bit of our favorite movie for your birthday today.  Happy birthday Paul!  We miss you

Relay 2012!

Thanks to all, from TEAM RICE SALAD!

Team Rice Salad 2012

...and then there were two

I can remember as a kid that the number 5 meant a lot.  It meant that we filled a car.  It meant that we needed an extra chair for a booth in a restaurant.  It meant that we got hotel rooms with roll-away beds.  Over the last several years we went from 5 to 4, and from 4 to 3, and now, this week, we are only 2.  It seems so odd to me.  Almost like I'm an endangered species.  This is just one of many thoughts running around my brain this week.  As hard as it always is to say goodbye, I'll always have the memories of what the 5 of us did together, and I will continue to find comfort in those memories.  I am thankful for the overwhelming support from friends and family, and the great stories everyone has to tell.  Take care, all of you.

--Neil