life death and family
by Tony Peters on September 2, 2006

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
Jackie Mason | September 4, 2006
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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 »

Change 3
a 07:30 phone call saying ooppsss uimmmm well it turns out that you are gonna have to go after all and we are gonna have to send 2 teams is not that way I wanted to start the day. Neither is sweet talking the travel clerk who's day we ruined yesterday to redo all the work she did yesterday....however other than cancelling my New Years plans, a ride with my dad and a climb with my brother, this on again off again travel thing isn't too much of a burden. Go »
vacation and such
well my father, brother and I set out last thursday for Ithaca NY, my father and I on our motorcycles and my brother in his LandCruiser pulling a trailer/tent. The goal was to get from Rhode Island to Ithaca for a family reunion and back by using only back roads. We succeeded and we plenty of adventures to boot...my Go »
Oh what a day
After spending the morning cleaning and setting up for a visit from my inlaws (looking forward to that being over) I spent the afternoon Downhill skateboarding with a bunch of guys...life is so simple with a bit of speed. I'm the 4th guy to enter the screen, Black shirt, Blue helmet, Pink wheels trying to stay in the draft of the two kids in a tight draft train. Go »
Beyond annoying...
well I'm officially retired now, sorta looking for a job but content to work in and around the house for a bit. My one task that I need to accomplish is to complete my VA claim and boy is that annoying....I have my medical record all 5 inches of it and I have to prove each issue that I am claiming and when I first had it treated....this Go »
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 »
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.