We've brought the "Force" to Charlie Brown's old classic. I've NEVER carved a pumpkin before, but I let the oldest son choose a design for me to attempt this year. While I pushed for the simple "Bat signal" he went to the Dark Side and chose Darth Vader.
The Choices:
He knows Batman and Darth Vader are my favorites, so it was sweet he was thinking of me, and I'm really glad he didn't choose his favorite, Darth Maul. Anyway, I documented the process, and without patting myself on the back too hard, I'm very pleased with the results and can't wait to fulfill his request for next year: The Dark Knight on the front, with the Bat signal shining up and out from the back like a spotlight. Awwwwwweesommmmmme!
Selection Process:
Section I dreaded:
And Finally, I wish I could type the words so you could hear the Darth Vader-like breathing at the same time, so just imagine with me...choooooo chahhhhh Happy choooo Hallo-chaaaaa ween!
On the way to work yesterday I heard on the radio about a fatal car accident. When I got to work, I got an email from my boss (and friend of 13 years who I've now worked with at 3 different companies) with a subject that said "Daughter in car wreck" and body that simply read: "Sam in car wreck - not good - I wont be in today"
I didn't put the 2 together until I was updating other co-workers and one said they hoped it wasn't the wreck that was all over the news, the same one I heard on the radio. I, along with everyone else, quickly hit the local news websites. The crash was close to his house. The fatality was the same age as his daughter - 14 years old. Coincidence I hope.
Then one site updated their information. The girl was headed to ice skating class. Shit. It's his daughter. His only child.
Then some good news. They were able to bring her back to life, but her heart had stopped for 25 minutes, and stopped again during surgery while trying to repair her 2 punctured lungs. She had mutliple injuries, a fractured skull with a swelling brain, severed optic nerve, broken bones, etc. But there was hope.
But now, the next morning, literally as I write this, I just got an update that a brain scan done this morning was negative, no activity. They have decided to donate her organs and let her go to God.
Take some time, I know it's hard. Just yesterday I was having my daily morning argument with my oldest about him being slow getting ready and making me 15 minutes late to work. What my boss wouldn't give for 15 more minutes with his daughter.
Take the time. Hug your kids, your family, your friends, your pets. Life is shorter than you think.
Posts
