In the End . . . .

I'm not a big TV watcher.  In fact, over the last 5-6 years, I've come to enjoy more as background noise, then for it's content.  Granted I'll watch the weather channel religiously when it comes to bad weather.  And there's a few shows I love, but just a few (Elementary, Sherlock, Big Bang Theory, 2 Broke Girls, and HIMYM).

I never watch a show from the pilot though.  Not sure why, but I'm usually a little behind the times when coming to new shows.  Guess I don't want to waste time on things I'm not going to enjoy and want to see if the shows going to hang around for a while.  Once I find that I like them, though, I'll watch them over and over and over again.

First time I can remember was Friends.  In fact, I didn't watch the show until it was almost off the air.  The few shows I did I like, and ended up buying the 1st 6 seasons.  And I remember when the finale was on.   Parties were scheduled, groups of real life friends got to together and watched it on a big screen.  I watched it again when rewatching the seasons (again and again :), and thought the producers did a good job with it.

HIMYM was very much the same.  I think I started watching in the 3rd or 4th season. During the summer, I always anticipated the following season .  Felt like I connected with Ted the most - and I suppose that is the allure of shows like this.  It is a representation (I hope) of the friendships we have or have had in the past.

I suppose the ending is one you either love or hate.  For my part, I'd liked it.  Because it was real.  Death, and changes in life's path are part of it all.  With life, while there are going to be great and awesome times, there will also be those where you feel you are barely making it.  Fights that last longer than you want, hurts that go so deep.

I read an article about one of the creators whose life this is based on.  Mention of the show brought tears to his eyes, because it was his reality . .  .  Sigh great show.  Ted and all, you will be missed.

Beautiful Weather Good times . . .

Love this music.  Discovered it while leveling in North rend, as so many in the Warcraft Universe have done.  I could just sit and listen to this forever.  It's amazing how far technology has come since the days of the Commodore 64.  Remember those days, too. Hours of playing World Games, trying to master the ole Caber Toss . . .

Today received a wonderful care package from Mom.  My most favorite part wasn't the gift card (although that's going to be used quickly) or the clothes for the kids.  Nope, favorite part was seeing the book Good Night Oregon.  Having been born in Hood River, OR, it was nice to have something so treasured - a remembrance of home . . .

Happy family memories for me are few and far between.  Divorced rocked our house when I was just two, and took us all years to get over.  My family, in the course of a night, became a 2 coast family. I saw very little of my mother, my grandmother, my sister and my aunt over the years.  Not because of not wanting to  - there are so many things that happened back then.  Only thing I remember is how much I've missed being out there.  The recent passing of my grandmother over a year ago reminded me of this. No one's to blame really.  It's just - sad. Those of us who are left behind in divorce's wake are the ones who must pick up the pieces.  We are the ones who must heal, forgive and learn to move on.

It's not always going to be easy.  Since my wife is from Mexico, we have both a multi-cultural and a multi-coastal family.  There's a big difference in the folks who have lived on the East Coast and those on the West. Pace of life, points of view, it's an interesting mix - if you're not aware of it, well it can cause issues even when both parties are of the same family.  On top of that add a second language, completely different culture, and you are never bored.

Folks in the PNW (Pacific Northwest where I was born) are descendants of pioneers.  Families who endured more hardship than I could ever know - unforeseen territory, the fear of the unknown and constant fear of Indians always present.  The independent, quiet nature of so many have passed down through generations . . .

Our family is one of those.  Meals are always important, conversations often tarry in the late hours of the night. Some nights they were stressful, talk of crop or problems at work.  Many were happy, slowly weaving the fabric of life into those conversations, good times spent and good food for all.

As time went one, they have become nonexistent.  Work and responsibility pull at all we do, and there doesn't seem to be enough time to do it all.  Summer has started, yet it seems few have noticed.  We go on with our daily routines as the days become warmer and longer.  That's why when they do happen, we embrace them, squeezing every last moment together.

Some of the most fun are the ones where we cook together.  A glass of wine, a hot oven, and a cool night blend together into the orchestral moments together.  One of my happier times was a Christmas visit to Arizona.  While there on business, I was able to spend time with my family on my mom's side.  We've never been able to be together as much as we've wanted. So when we do, we pack Christmas and birthday's together.

The picture below is from my last trip out there.  I've looked at it longingly so many times, wondering when the next one will be . .  .