Friday's Fun Foto #13

I think Jennie, somehow, tricked me into looking through the hole in this sign before I saw the front of it...

I'm not sure why Mom would have kept it in her box of memories.  Maybe there's some truth to the sign.

Posted by Clyde

Uncle Joe's Birthday

Uncle Joe was born on this date (August 31st) in 1927.

It's hard to believe it has been seventeen years since he passed away and went to take those Flying Lessons with Uncle Junice.

Posted by Clyde

Bird Clock Instructions

In case anyone has lost the instructions for their bird clock, here is a copy I ran across in Mom's memorabilia...

I'm sure everyone still has their precious Bird Clock, chirping away to announce the time of day.

Posted by Clyde

HBD Cason

For all u old folks, "HBD" means "Happy Birthday". That's how Cason & I, & all us c%l kids talk these days.  LOL

Cason's bbe pix started hitting da Stalkerclan ryt after it was started. I rmr dis was 1 of my favs...

 ...da Dude sho looks different now tho...

HBD CASON !

Friday’s Fun Foto # 12

It's been almost nine years since I last posted a Friday Fun Foto.  With Moma's Box of Memories (and her photo albums) available to me now, I will try to share some of them with everyone by restarting the Fun Fotos.  

Here is one somebody requested a while back...

Posted by Clyde

Decisions Decisions

I can't make up my mind what photo to use to wish Crystal a Happy Birthday.  I could use that famous baby photo but we've displayed it about two hundred times already...

There's always that photo of her choking the frog, but I really don't want to deal with all those complaints from PETA again...

The photo of teenage Crystal that inspired the "Food Fight" scene in Animal House is a good one.  I could go with it...

Or should I use something more recent?

[Photo Removed Under Duress.]

I hate having to make these decisions.  Oh No! I've run out of time...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CRYSTAL

Clyde

Crystal's Eulogy for Traci

From as far back as I can remember, Traci loved the outdoors.  Her favorite color was camouflage, and every November, she would fight with me over whose turn it was to go hunting with dad.  Ultimately, I would concede my turn to her because, once you got down to it, 4am was just a ridiculous time for me to wake up for anything.  For Traci, however, it was heaven. 

She was also tenacious and driven.  I vividly remember when she decided that she needed a horse.  I use the term “needed” because everything with her was a zealous desire. She didn’t just ASK for a horse… she drew pictures of horses… hundreds of them… and posted them around the house.  She would write stories about having horses and would vocalize this daily.  She was the master of wearing our parents down for things, which I thoroughly took advantage of.  😊

In school, she was intelligent, beautiful, and athletic.  Her talents came so naturally that I often found myself jealous of her fundamental abilities and intellect.  She was loved by everyone who met her, including teachers, coaches, and friends.  She played softball, volleyball, and loved hunting, fishing, and horseback riding.  She also ran her own tree removal business, climbing to the highest of highs to get the job done.  She was one of the toughest women I have ever known.   

Traci’s life took on a new meaning on October 11, 2000.  She gave birth to Cameron, who was the love of her life.  She would read to him daily and was always showing him math flash cards before he could even read (maybe this is why he is so smart).  Cameron was her sidekick, the thing she was most proud of in life. He became her best friend, and through her, he developed strength, determination, and a strong passion for life.  Traci was born with all these same gifts, so it was natural to see them all reflected in Cameron.  Even at the end, Cameron remained her most prized possession.

Traci’s lifelong battles were long and hard, but through it all, she always had a smile for everyone.  She would always show up with gifts for the little ones, or a kiss for her parents and sisters.  She had so much love to give but struggled with how to balance her two very different worlds.  Throughout it all, however, we have never stopped loving her.  She a mother, daughter, sister, cousin, and friend. She will never be forgotten. 

Crystal

Erik's Birthday Again

According to the calendar, it's Erik's birthday again.  It's a shame we can't be there with him. 

I've been looking back at some of his previous birthdays.  Here he is in 2009 with a pineapple upside-down cake...

Here he is again in 2011 with another pineapple upside-down cake...

And finally, here he is way back in 2005 with yet another PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE!

DANG!  I'm going to miss being there with him more than I realized.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIK 

Clyde

Remember When

Yesterday was a tough one.  Watching the Facebook Live from Traci's celebration of life was heartbreaking.

Feeling nostalgic last night, I logged onto the Stalkerclan and typed "Traci" into the SEARCH THIS SITE... box.  A series of posts where she was featured or mentioned scrolled up my computer screen.  It was good to recall many of the fun times we had recorded.  There were stories about Ski Trips, Stripper Shoes, and even a Hen Tale.  

There was a story from almost exactly ten years ago that Sherry had written for Traci's 30th birthday.  It included this slideshow...

I noticed some of the same photos that had been shown in the presentation at the funeral home earlier in the day.  But this time, after the memories of happy times and without the sad music, the slideshow made me feel a little bit better.

I think if we try to focus on the good times, the happy memories, and stay away from sad music, we can get through this.  I'm going to try to do that.

Clyde

Moma's Box of Memories

To:  Luci, Sherry, Jeff, Michelle, and Shawn

Somehow, the job of sorting through "Moma's Box of Memories" fell to me.

I've divided her big box into smaller boxes.  There's a  "Box of Memories" in the mail, addressed to each of you.  It should arrive in the next day or two.

Now it's your turn to go through the memories she held close for years and years. One quick word of advice, have some tissues handy (I went through two boxes...before I found this song.)

Clyde

A Schell Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to a couple of our favorite StalkerClan members...

Cupcake Wars

Sophia and her cousins made the paper this week! Credit to my awesome sister, @ambermaybe5 , for being so domestic that she has skills for the both of us and comes up with some amazingly fun projects for her kids (and mine). How cool!

Posted by Crystal on Instagram