memorial week

Taco Bell in Pathetica (Thursday)

Playground ~ 39th and Ortega (Sunday)

I missed Charlie's official service since we were in Chicago, but the Blogmaid
and I met his daughter, Jen, at his favorite restaurant in Pacifica. We had a very
pleasant time and had some laughs and tears as we remembered this fine and
funny man. Like many of us, she was a Daddy's Girl and misses him terribly.
Jen was wearing his favorite Giants sweatshirt as we ate his favorite food and
each pocketed a handful of the secret sauce, just as he would have done.

There was a Borders mini-reunion at the sad occasion of Stacey's memorial
last Sunday. She was only 36 and had a two week surprise hospital stay
before she died of cancer, quickly. It's shocking that one so young and vibrant
could be gone without time to plan or prepare. She had just started her new
job at City Target and was soooooo excited about that. The Big Box Family
was there to show our support and remember her impact on our lives.

distracted and concerned

I can't seem to think about anything other than the fact that our friend
Charlie Dowd has gone missing from an Amtrak train. He was last seen
on Thursday, and they found his luggage and cell phone in his sleeper
room. His family is searching in the midwest currently with fears that
he might have fallen from the train, but let's try to stay positive. This is
when social media shines ~ there is a special Facebook page that his son
and daughter update constantly and there are almost 3,000 followers, many
in the small towns where the train stopped. Charlie could have been dis-
oriented from assorted medications or lack of sleep. In the 20 plus years
that I've known him, insomnia was a way of life for him. Strangers doing
their best to help, this is when my faith in humanity is restored. But, I am worried...