Sunday, July 29, 2007
A Legacy from Stan
For as long as I can remember, my family spent every summer camping on Lopez Island in the San Juans. We have always camped at Odlin Park, rain or shine. The campground is right on the water and surrounded by second growth forest, it is a truly magical place for the Honeywell family. The picture at the top of this phlog is one of the HUNDREDS of sunset picture we have taken from the beach at Odlin. We are heading back there this week for the annual trip and another small memorial service for my Dad, without whom I don't know that we would have this place to share with each other.
Thanks Dad!
Thanks Dad!
Harry Potter and the End of the Line
There will be no spoilers in this entry, I promise.
I just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and, I must say, the book did not disappoint. It was the best book of the series and an excellent ending to such an engaging tale.
I just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and, I must say, the book did not disappoint. It was the best book of the series and an excellent ending to such an engaging tale.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
What a wonderful service...
On Thursday the 12th, my dad was laid to rest at Tahoma National Cemetery and we did a memorial service at St. Johns in Kirkland.
The morning service at Tahoma was truly awe-inspiring. It was a full honors burial, with an Army Honor Guard, 21-gun salute, and Taps. They gave the folded flag to my mom as a token of their appreciation for Dad's service to his country. After honor service, the graves registrar invited us to visit the grave site and participate in the inurnment. This was not normal protocol, nor was it part of our plans, but we embraced the chance. His grave is just on the edge of the trees, right near the main rotunda that looks out to Mt Rainer, it is a beautiful location. The inurnment was unscripted and we handled it with the typical Honeywell mix of gravitas and humor. My dad was cremated, so as we were placing the urn in the grave Max asked, 'What's in the jar?' and Tycho said 'Bye Grampa, have fun living underground.' Dad would have appreciated that.
The afternoon service at St Johns was also awe-inspiring, but for completely different reasons. There was a bunch of people that showed up, which was a nice confirmation for the impact that Dad had in his life. Lisa, Scott, Dave, and I all spoke and we each related the impacts that Dad on us and others. I thought we captured Stan quite well in our remarks, each focusing on a different area. That was completely coincidental, as we had not compared notes beforehand. Then we opened the floor to comments from the attendees, and that was amazing. There were bus drivers from Grayline that spoke, there were volunteers from Hope-Link that spoke, there was a fellow teacher from his first year at Three Points (and ended up teaching with him for his whole career), and several former students. There was one student that spoke of my Dad giving her the confidence that no other teacher ever did and really making a difference in her life, and she had Dad as a teacher about 40 years ago!
It was great to see all those people and hear all those stories, I am so proud of what my dad did with his life and the impact he had on so many people. He wasn't perfect, but he did lead a good life and I thank him for making me (quite literally) a part of it.
PS - The Tour de France has been AWESOME so far this year!
The morning service at Tahoma was truly awe-inspiring. It was a full honors burial, with an Army Honor Guard, 21-gun salute, and Taps. They gave the folded flag to my mom as a token of their appreciation for Dad's service to his country. After honor service, the graves registrar invited us to visit the grave site and participate in the inurnment. This was not normal protocol, nor was it part of our plans, but we embraced the chance. His grave is just on the edge of the trees, right near the main rotunda that looks out to Mt Rainer, it is a beautiful location. The inurnment was unscripted and we handled it with the typical Honeywell mix of gravitas and humor. My dad was cremated, so as we were placing the urn in the grave Max asked, 'What's in the jar?' and Tycho said 'Bye Grampa, have fun living underground.' Dad would have appreciated that.
The afternoon service at St Johns was also awe-inspiring, but for completely different reasons. There was a bunch of people that showed up, which was a nice confirmation for the impact that Dad had in his life. Lisa, Scott, Dave, and I all spoke and we each related the impacts that Dad on us and others. I thought we captured Stan quite well in our remarks, each focusing on a different area. That was completely coincidental, as we had not compared notes beforehand. Then we opened the floor to comments from the attendees, and that was amazing. There were bus drivers from Grayline that spoke, there were volunteers from Hope-Link that spoke, there was a fellow teacher from his first year at Three Points (and ended up teaching with him for his whole career), and several former students. There was one student that spoke of my Dad giving her the confidence that no other teacher ever did and really making a difference in her life, and she had Dad as a teacher about 40 years ago!
It was great to see all those people and hear all those stories, I am so proud of what my dad did with his life and the impact he had on so many people. He wasn't perfect, but he did lead a good life and I thank him for making me (quite literally) a part of it.
PS - The Tour de France has been AWESOME so far this year!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
It's (been) HOT HOT HOT...
People will say that the heat over here is OK because it's a 'dry' heat. I'm sorry, but I am going to call BS on that statement. 110 is freaking hot, no matter if it's dry. wet, or somewhere in the middle. I am starting to think that getting a rental house without AC, or any shade trees, may have been a tactical error on my part.
My dad's memorial service is on Thursday at 3p at St Johns Episcopal Church in Kirkland. Please feel free to come if you are so inclined. I have been scanning a number photos of him over the last week or so, for distribution to my family, and it is interesting to watch him grow from a baby, to a teenager, to a soldier, to a teacher, and finally the father that I recognize. It's been a neat way to get to 'know' him all over again.
For those that are interested, the Tour de France started in London yesterday with Fabien Cancellara stomping the field in the prologue. Today was stage one, from London to Canterbury, and little Robbie McEwan (with the unfortunately named son of Ewan McEwan) showed why he's the fastest man on two wheels in taking the win out from under Tom Boonen and Thor Hushovd. Putting aside all the allegations of doping (most riders probably do) and cheating (through masking the doping agents, which most riders probably do), I don't think there is a more compelling sporting event in the world. The drama that unfolds every day on the roads of France is totally engaging and highly entertaining. So suspend your disbelief for awhile and tune into the Versus network over the next three weeks, you may find it odd to watch skinny little men in tights pedal around the countryside, but you may also just get sucked into the fun and excitement that is the TOUR DAY FRANCE...
My dad's memorial service is on Thursday at 3p at St Johns Episcopal Church in Kirkland. Please feel free to come if you are so inclined. I have been scanning a number photos of him over the last week or so, for distribution to my family, and it is interesting to watch him grow from a baby, to a teenager, to a soldier, to a teacher, and finally the father that I recognize. It's been a neat way to get to 'know' him all over again.
For those that are interested, the Tour de France started in London yesterday with Fabien Cancellara stomping the field in the prologue. Today was stage one, from London to Canterbury, and little Robbie McEwan (with the unfortunately named son of Ewan McEwan) showed why he's the fastest man on two wheels in taking the win out from under Tom Boonen and Thor Hushovd. Putting aside all the allegations of doping (most riders probably do) and cheating (through masking the doping agents, which most riders probably do), I don't think there is a more compelling sporting event in the world. The drama that unfolds every day on the roads of France is totally engaging and highly entertaining. So suspend your disbelief for awhile and tune into the Versus network over the next three weeks, you may find it odd to watch skinny little men in tights pedal around the countryside, but you may also just get sucked into the fun and excitement that is the TOUR DAY FRANCE...
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