My uncle died last friday...it wasn't unexpected, 3rd bout with cancer, but it hurt none the less. I've been out of the country for about 16 years so the fact that I am stateside means I needed to go. Of course ERNESTO made everything annoying. Flight down was bumpy but otherwise easy (thank you SouthWest) arriving to find out that my flight home has been canceled just meant that life would stay interesting. I don't think I have ever been to a place that was worse for huricanes/typhoons than south Fl, below sealevel, canals everywhere, surrounded by the everglades, flat terrain, tile roofs. I see why they panic when a storm goes boo. At least we had a nice hotel right on the glades with golfcourse surrounding us (not that I play but golf cart paths are good for skateboarding and I brought a board as usual). It did rain but not much. The service was emotional and I connected with family not seen in 20-25 years. My uncle would have laughed at the stress about the non storm. The post service party was great...lots of people celebrating his life...I think the Irish have it right (and I'm part irish) life and death are a good reason to party especially with family.


Three Replies to life death and family

Scott Hardie | September 2, 2006
Sounds like a good trip for a poor occasion. My condolences, Tony, and I agree with you that the Irish have it right.

Jackie Mason | September 4, 2006
[hidden by author request]

Tony Peters | September 4, 2006
Thanks folks, I have always looked at what happens in life as education and experiance... skateboarding along the edge of the Everglades was cool; watching the huricane approach over the glades was almost like being at sea, only without the crappy food.


vagabond-punk

The musings of Tony Peters, a perpetual child, no matter where I am I will find a way to climb something or go skateboarding Read more »

Last day skateboarding of 2007

OK I admit that a 41 year old man finding a day of enjoyment skateboarding might sound strange but I find it centers me and provides a source of exercise that I can't find else ware. That said I spent the day working on my tuck, downhilling in a nearby neighborhood. I lost count of the number of times I went down the half mile hill my legs are feeling the hike back up (gotta earn those runs) so I'm gonna guess more than 20 times and I know I listened to at least 6 hours of music on my Ipod. Go »

Yet another funeral

one of the nice things about coming home after nearly 20 years away is that I get to see family the bad part is that the most common place to see family is at a funeral. Unlike last summer the weather was glorious so we have a couple of hundred people come to lay my Uncle Donny to rest. Everything was pretty straight until one of the grandchildren laid a Hot Wheels car of a 68 Chevelle, exactly like the one Donny drove for nearly 40 years, in the grave. Go »

the next grand adventure..........

as a retired sailor I really thought nothing of deploying and leaving my wife with the cats and dog at home while I went off to fight wars, fix submarines and otherwise earn a living.......now the shoe is on the other foot. I am in school fulltime taking care of the cats, the dog the house and whatever else pops up while my wife and best friend moves to DC to take her dream job. Go »

Seriously I am running...

OK maybe running isn't quite the best description especially since I am mostly running/jogging on trails but who would have thought that after 20 years of hating running (and that's an understatement) while in the Navy I am finding trailrunning soo much fun. This all started last fall when I decided that after 4 years the screws in my ankle were still annoying me. Removal isn't an option as recovery from that is a year of minimal exercise/stress which means I couldn't even swim or ride a bike. Go »

animals are family

one of our cats, Sketch was diagnosed with CHF (congestive heart failure) on Friday we spent the weekend at the the animal hospital before bringing her home late sunday night. Her Condition has been mixxed since though we hope for the best. Her heart seems to be OK and her lungs are free of fluid but she got severely dehydrated which has really messed up her digestive track. Go »

world traveler

Well I'm finally home after 2 1/2 weeks of wandering the earth...Diego Garcia is the definition of tropical paradise...granted the only things to do are exercise or drink and I'm not a drinker...long Go »