Wednesday, January 26, 2011

A New Normal

I'm going to try to get back to a more regular schedule of posting.  Things have been rather difficult as of late.  My family has been so shocked and saddened by the news of my cousins' death and the violence surrounding it.  We are all just reeling from the horror of it all.  Most especially, his mother, father and of course, his wife.  It is such a tragedy.  No one expects something like this to touch  your world and when it does, you don't know what to do, where to turn, or how to act.  It has been almost a week since the police showed up at my aunts home to tell her of the news and yet, his body still has not been released.  There has been no service, no arrest in the case, no official word on what really happened, no closure.  Perhaps there never will be.  That has got to be very difficult to live with.  How do you reconcile yourself with that?
What they do know is that sometimes Richard didn't make the best choices.  He fought with his demons, he wrestled with them, he overcame them.  Only to slip and fall to fight his way back to the top again.  He was a fighter, make no mistake.  Richard didn't come by things easily.  He struggled.  He worked hard, he fought and he won.  He knew the feeling of despair that comes from failure and he wore a smile that radiated through his eyes from a triumph that no one but he could fully understand.  He had a heart as big as his chest and would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.  He grew up, loved and was loved in return.  We grieve the loss of him.
The circumstances surrounding his death should in no way define the kind of person he was.  He was a good man.  A loving man.  A kind man.  A gentle man.  A man who will be missed.

Okay, the tears are done.  I'll tell you about our anniversary.  Jim and I went to the Bavarian Inn as promised.  It was great.  Cold, but great.  It was just nice to get away and be alone.  The room was nice, king sized bed, fire place, jacuzzi tub, river view.  Jim had thought to have a cheese and fruit tray sent to the room so it was waiting for us when we got in, very nice.  We brought a bottle of wine so we had the wine and cheese in front of the fire place and it was quiet.  Very nice.  When we went to dinner it was freezing!  But it was so crowded, the place really does quite a good business.  The food was really good, but the desert was delicious!  I has a raspberry lindser torte and Jim has apple strudle-mmm good!  Best part was the chef took melted chocolate and wrote Happy Anniversary on our plates with it and then put a candle in it and brought it to the table.  So pretty!  I took a picture, but it didn't come out. 
Here are some pictures of the views:
The view from our balcony.

A side view of the chalet.

The front view of our chalet.

After we got home on Sunday I rested for a while and then got back to work.  I finished painting Bella's room!  Finally!  Last night after work Jim, Michelle and I moved Bella's furniture into her new r oom.  There are still more things to do but we are getting there!  Her old room is trashed, lots of toys and junk that has to be moved, pictures on the wall yet, but the big stuff is done. I'll post pictures when it's done, done.  Hopefully by the weekend I will be able to start priming that room.

This morning we woke up to snow.  All the major school systems in the area have closed for the day.  We are told to expect about 8 inches, which is significant in these parts.  I will be at work for most of the day.  Bleh!


2 comments:

  1. I am so sorry for your loss. I will be thinking of you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Again I am so sorry for your loss. Such a tragic event, and no closuer that has got to be hard.
    On a brighter note.. Happy Anniversary. Your get away look beautiful and sounds like you had a nice time.

    ReplyDelete