Another Fine Friday - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

SwampYankee · #1 10-08-2010, 12:45 PM

Well, this day started off pretty damn good. Fairly busy at work, sunny and mid-70's (damn near perfect in my book), leaves on the trees just starting to change color so there are tinges in the sunlight. Finalized plans to pick up 80 donated pumpkins for the scarecrow walk my wife organized for the CT Down Syndrome Congress tomorrow (the walk will end at the "pumpkin patch" and each kid will get to pick their own pumpkin), which is also supposed to be perfect weather-wise.

Then I learned that a dear friend in our T21 circle lost her 10yo daughter to cystic fibrosis. Little Renee had a dual diagnosis of Ds and CF but never let it get in her way. She was such a fighter, always with a smile on her face. For my religious friends, I'd really appreciate a prayer for her and her family. For my non-religious friends, please think of them in whatever manner you see fit. I'm not exactly a spiritual person, but I do believe this little angel just got a huge set of wings.

mgburg · #2 10-09-2010, 03:25 AM

Swamp: I'm sadden to hear of your friend's lose of her daughter. Regardless what Renee was suffering from, a lose of any child is nothing short of heartwrenching.

I'll keep her and her mother in my mind and prayers this weekend.

Jim B. · #3 10-09-2010, 03:39 AM

About 1x a month I go to this roadhouse to polish off a really good steak. Decent sized place, always busy, but there is a really nice waitress, who's the master chef.

She is apparently single and once mentioned she likes SF (my hometown before I came here; ) and sometimes, she flirts, touches my arm longer than necessary, things like that, lingers a bit and explains the best way to order a steak.

Last month I was there with a date, and service was perfunctory, but this evening I was there alone. And I was made to feel like a king, she was very friendly, flirted again, stroked my arm and WINKED!

Best meal I have had in ages. Just magnificent! It was pretty clear she tried real hard, came back fron the grill and asked me a few times if it was all right.

So.....after I paid, I went up to her at the grill, where she was working, and slipped a 50% tip in her apron.

Threw away all protocol, and took her in my arms and hugged and kissed her, something I have never done in my life...in frront of all the customers, staff and eveyone. I didn't care and she didn't mind at all either.

I was astonished. She was so soft, pliant, yielding. I better ask her out next time.

Jim B. · #4 10-09-2010, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

< snip >
I learned that a dear friend in our T21 circle lost her 10yo daughter to cystic fibrosis. Little Renee had a dual diagnosis of Ds and CF but never let it get in her way. She was such a fighter, always with a smile on her face. For my religious friends, I'd really appreciate a prayer for her and her family. For my non-religious friends, please think of them in whatever manner you see fit. I'm not exactly a spiritual person, but I do believe this little angel just got a huge set of wings.

I am sorry to hear that. Thoughts and prayers going out from me...

mgburg · #5 10-15-2010, 03:20 AM

I broke a piece that's in-line for the brake booster...I believe. So today will be "look for the part day" and see if I can get my brakes back...

SwampYankee · #6 10-15-2010, 10:19 AM

Little Renee's funeral was yesterday. We were really hoping that either my wife or my wife and I could attend (in AZ) but we just couldn't swing it time-wise on short notice.

One thing we (in the online Ds community) started doing a few years ago, was find local florist who was willing to make available individual tulip vases to honor either friends or their children at their funeral (tulips are a symbolic in the Ds community thanks to the poem Welcome To Holland by Emily Perl Kinsley).

Fortunately we haven't had to come together in that way very often, but when we have we're always amazed by the comments by other family members and friends of the deceased about how powerful these simple displays can be.

Each vase is from one family and the framed tulip picture has the poem on it.

Tomorrow is our CT Down Syndrome Congress Buddy Walk on the boardwalk at Hammonasset State Park, which is our main fundraising event for the year that covers our yearly Conference and several all-expense paid outings throughout the year. It looks like the weather is going to clear up in the nick of time for us! I'm hoping to strong-arm some more fathers into joining our D.A.D.S. (Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome) group.

There is also a local carnival right up the street from us tonight-Sun so we'll probably not see our oldest two for the majority of the weekend. I'll take the youngest two over on Sunday since our marina is having a big Rocktoberfest party with a couple live bands, bonfire, grilled meats and kegged beers available throughout the day and evening on Saturday so we can head over after the Buddy Walk. The best part is that the club is right next to the carnival.

I'm also in negotiations with a couple diesel Suburban owners, one a near-mint '86 6.2 w/96K miles from TX and the other a very well maintained '98 6.5L w/150K. I really like the '86 (the nicest 3rd generation C/K I've seen in these parts) but he's asking more than the '98 so we'll see if either are willing to play.

Other than that?...