JUNE 2011

This June has been it's usual hot self as the Summer settles in officially. The days and nights move along at a quick pace as time keeps track of things- offering gentle and not so gentle nudges as to when plans are made and when to expect certain seasonal things to take place... baseball, weddings, graduations, vacations, camping, gardening, swimming, sitting out on the patio or the front porch, to cool-off and take it easy.
Then you get a phone call from an old friend, she is calling to let you know about a mutual friend, whose husband just had a fatal heart attack. Out of no where a perfectly sunny Sunday morning turns grey with the news. A wave of shock and sadness shroud the moment as I continue on with my day. Meanwhile, family and friends grieve, the grief resonates as heavy hearts connect spiritually. It is immediate as the holy spirit stirrs our souls and we want to reach-out to console the bereaved, the people who will "survive" the death of a loved one.

http://brunodelaroza.com/

Mark Allen Joseph Ipiotis

I was very sad to realize life would be painfully devoid of you, so different without you around. Sometimes now, sadness gets trigger-happy on me for various reasons, reasons when nothing else will do but to drop a tear or two, for missing you. Your life does not end with us on a spiritual level however, the memories every bit of  them that I can recall went with you and are very much a part of me now... plain & simple.

 http://brunodelaroza.com/

Remembering You

When I recall Memorial Day weekends I think of long weekends, camping, day trips, puttering around the house, catching-up on projects and hanging-out with favorite people. You rounding-up a few friendlies for a little barbecue action at your place, and Nancy making sure everybody had plenty. The cold drinks, watermelon, water guns, baby swimming pools, music and good cheer filled the warm air.  I find myself thinking about you as if you were just across town.

 

We remember the days of summer when our big worries were to go with the vanilla or chocolate ice cream cone from the Dairy Dan truck on Sunday night, or which flavor of popsicle or Nehi soda, coca-cola, rc or doctor pepper?? OR who would take us swimming or to a Dukes baseball game? We remember you and all the people who now exist in perfection and who we love so dearly, still. 
~ Your hearts, as sacred as your spirits are great.
Thankfully, the love remains and continues to comfort and bless. Yes, we remember you and all the goodness you shared ~

http://brunodelaroza.com/

Sunset Memorial Piper

June, 1994: One Saturday afternoon, while walking around Sunset Memorial Cemetery, where Mark had recently been laid to rest, I was feeling forlorn, dumbfounded by the death of my twin bro's passing, suddenly off in the distance, the quiet stillness is interrupted by the haunting, prayerful sound of a bagpipe player whaling into his bag of pipes; Amazing Grace.

I was lifted out and taken back by the dreamscape-quality of the moment, it seemed like heaven cracked-open a door and I was allowed to take a peek inside. I was at once, overcome with grief and stunned with disbelief... an experience of a lifetime, so simple yet unusual, mysterious and spellbinding, it left me breathless and hoping I would never forget.
Since Mark's passing almost 14 years ago, holy spirits beckon me with particular glimmers of light and love, peace and comfort, with gentle sometimes barely audible whispers from heaven, always reminding me of a special place and time, and all the goodness we shared.
I know this to be true and receive the messages as answered prayers. ~ To the best of my understanding and beseeching of such matters as these, I am sincerely thankful and humbled as I am made aware of God's amazing Grace that continues to be bestowed upon me and those who ask.

http://brunodelaroza.com/

Amazing Grace

Rise and shine ☼

Art Imitates Life

Whenever the classic movie, To Kill A Mockingbird was on TV, Mark would call me and tell me it was on. Scout and Gem reminded him of us. Scout, a high spirited tomboy and good kid who wanted to beleive that everyone basically was as good-hearted as she is and Gem, Scout's brother, a little older, much more subdued and stoic, thought everyone should be equally as composed and as smart as him.
http://brunodelaroza.com/

Dear Mark,

Just a note as you cross my mind ♪ been a couple of week's since I've posted in your bloggity-blog. Man, the memories, photo's, places, people that bring-up your name, still... who you were and will always be... so cool to hear, be reminded of.  You would love it; "the man, the myth, the legend". How can someone who physically died over thirteen years ago, still be so present in our daily lives?  The impression you made on us, like all dearly departed one's, remain locked-in tight. Those you shared special moments with or very simple, the best or funkiest of times, a little or a lot of life, love, laughter, music, so much goodness to hold on to.

Those days and nights somehow linger and surface easily like a flash-back in a movie.  

I come across various things with your name on it; Mom, your brothers and sisters, your children and Nancy still hold a part of you in their hearts. I see it and feel it.

Well, that's about it for now. As mom would say; "K.I.T.", Keep In Touch. We'll be on the look-out for  you. xo, me

http://brunodelaroza.com/     

Dancin In The Moonlight - King Harvest

A Prayer

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
~

         Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.       
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

   ~ 
Saint Francis of Assisi

~ Dan Fogelberg (8.13.51 - 12.16.07) 1993 River of Souls ~

I take my place along the shore

And I wait for the tide

It seems I've passed this way before

In an earlier time

I hear a voice like mystery

Blowing warm through the night

The silent moon embraces me

And I'm drawn to her light

I follow footprints in the sand

To a circle of stone

Find a fire burning bright

Though I came here alone

And in the play of shadows cast

I can dimly discern

The shapes of all who've gone before

Calling me to return

There are no names

That fit these faces

There are no lines that can define

These ancient spaces

The spirits dance across the ages

And melt into a river of souls

Lo que es de mio ~~ what is mine ~~

Lo que es de dios ~~ what is god's ~~

Lo que es del rio ~~ what is the river's ~~

Melt into a river of souls

I take my place along the shore

And I wait for the tide

It seems I've passed this way before

In an earlier time

To every man the mystery

Sings a different song

He fills his page of history

Dreams his dreams and is gone

There are no names

That fit these faces

There are no lines that can define

These ancient spaces

The spirits dance across the ages

And melt into a river of souls

Lo que es de mio ~~ what is mine ~~

Lo que es de dios ~~ what is god's ~~

Lo que es del rio ~~ what is the river's ~~

Melt into a river of souls

Wake Up!

Wake UP Everybody!

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

"No more backward thinking. It's time for thinking ahead"

Opposites

You & me. You're on the left and turned-out left-handed. That would be me on the right.. looking all worked-up about something.

Opposites we are, mom says we are mirror twins, boy and girl twins like twins that are not identical, are also referred to as fraternal. We were womb mates but took up in separate placenta's, even our DNA was not the same as it is with identical twins. There is an undeniable bond however, yes a Bond, Twin Bond. Seems like we always kept an eye on one another. It was natural to ask where you were if you were not around. You would inquire as to my where abouts if I wasn't in sight. Even when you and Nancy married, the connection was locked in between you and I.

You are so missed, Mark, but your physical life ran it's course, unless you consider your cells, various matter, chromosomes still running around in your children and now grandchildren... that's another blog. It hurts sometimes to think you were taken from us mid-way though our lives, taken from everybody who loves you. Honestly, when I think of all the history, the rough and rowdy times, the special moments we shared, the love, loyalty, laughter, fussing, fighting, friendship, unequaled partnership... I feel a void still, the severance included it's own unexplainable grief but like any uncommon bond, I do hold a great deal of satisfaction in knowing we came into life together give or take a few minutes. We shared so many experiences, adventures, lessons, fun and fantastic times as well as challenges, triumphs, simple and unforgettable moments... we shared much.

I'm grateful we grew-up side by side, we gave life our best shot as twins. I am a better person, a different kind of individual for being blessed with you as my twin. I still think of myself as a twin, your twin. You cross my mind often and I thankfully have great memories of our twinship. It was a hell of trip and we traveled with a lot of love, good humor, sass and unique brand of everything. It makes for wonderful stuff of my life.

For The Last Time

The last day of the year meant we could say this is the last time we would do this or that, for example; "This is the last time I will use the bathroom in 2010". or "This is the last glass of water I'll drink in 2010". or, we'd say corny things like; "See you next year"... which would be day after tomorrow. Just silly things to mark the last time something would happen this year and next year would soon be upon us.

23½º

December 21, 2010 Solstice takes place at 23:38 Universal Time = 5:38 PM Central Standard Time.

It's a big deal, when the shadow of the earth can be seen from earth, it's all the rage when the moon and the sun play a kind of hide and go seek. A lunar eclipse is like watching a quiet storm or a silent movie. It's a star studded event, it's an extravaganza rarely seen by humankind. All the main characters placed in position. The world orbits on it's own tilted axis around the sun, the North Pole leans 23½ degrees shying away from the warmth only to scurry and search for the light as quickly as possible tomorrow.

Late dawns, early sunsets, lingering noontime shadows, mood swings, emotions run high and low. Existence moves at a faster pace. In the northern hemisphere it is the shortest day of the year, in the southern hemisphere, it is the longest day. Places are traded, roles reversed, shifts occur. Crazy to imagine the globe moving at an average speed of 18 miles per second. Makes life as we know it seem to be moving in ultra warped slow motion. It's all so curious yet studied since antiquity astronomically, mathematically, scientifically and with countless instruments, tools, devices, maps, charts, Stonehenge's and other means of attempting to figure out the absolute in a infinite sea of variables and factors.

The days in our lives from this corner of the world grows longer after today. The imperfect circle meets the perfect cycle and rhythm of life. Sunrise, sunset and repeat.

December 12

December 12th is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, mother of Jesus and Patron saint of the America's. Devotee's stem from Mexico, New Mexico, the great Southwest and around the world, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is a symbol of faith, hope and love.

The Dominican nun's at Queen of Heaven got it in their heads to put a pageant play on one year, at the church. We were 6th or 7th graders as I recall and you played the part of a bishop.You wore a red cassock with a matching skull cap and looked very bishopy. I was a guard and my costume was a Mexican serape vest and a super goofy straw hat, which were big in the late 60's. Something Annette Funacello and Frankie Avalon, wore in those movies with a beach backdrop. Roy Rivera narrated the play which was very corny and very sweet. Afterwards, Mom treated us to a great spaghetti dinner at Caruso's, the Italian neighborhood resturante.

Mom has always believed that good things happen to her on The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She has believed it and so it has been, is and will be. Amen. Here's to you "Lupe" we love you, most holy, precious, peaceful, perfect one.

Thank you too!

Thanks you crazy, knuckle-head!  Man did we raise hell, like with some of our knock down drag-out fights for example, that called for post fight reviews to include how we would protect ourselves from one another, the next time. Thank you for stopping to pad your bare knuckles with socks, the socks that were supposed to hold in the padding like boxing gloves. The socks slipped around and in no time we were basically boxing bare knuckled. I usually ended-up with a bloody nose and that pretty much put the kibosh on the match. The blood was impressive and made me feel real gladiator-like.  But yeah, Thank you for the goofy good times. I think about certain moments we laughed so hard, the tears streamed down our faces. The fist-a-cuffs one day and the hilarious mad-cap shenanigans we worked ourselves in and out of, the next. It was a blast. Yes, Thank you oh so, oh so, oso much! xo, m

Dia's de Los Muertos

¡¡Viva La Vida y Viva Los Muertos!!!

Sundee June 5, 1994

You called from Mom's and said; "C'mon over". I said; "No". You repeated; "C'mon over" I said; "Nah., You persisted; "C'mon over" I resisted and said; "No".

You insisted and said; "Mom made strawberry Jello-O w/bananas"! I changed my mind and said; "OK".

If it hadn't been for Mom's strawberry Jell-O w/bananas, I would not have seen you the day before you went to Heaven.

I miss you, is all I'm saying here. We think and talk about you dearly departed one, all the time. Seems like you're always around, but not quite.

Here's to strawberry Jell-O w/bananas, white butterflies and all the things that remind us of YOU. XOXO, ME

On Your Mark

Get set... GO! Run, jump, zig-zag, dart in and out of this obstacle and that one.. rather exciting stuff to us knuckle-head roustabouts who only wanted to have fun, a good laugh, the thrill of trying to be good at something and better then the competition which was each other, minimum. Anybody else in on the fun and games would be well advised to bring-on their best game. The backyard obstacle courses we set-up were fantastic fun and slightly dangerous. You know, no Risk Management or Quality Control inspections to ensure our safety. No, none of that candy-assness... and by the way, NO cry babies. Note: The obstacle course shown here is not exactly like some of the courses we rigged-up but similar in concept. The wheel barrel jump, scaling the cinder block wall & flower-box planter, the race against the clock... Was ON, the competition- fierce. The stop-watch was ticking. If there was any abrasions, lacerations, rasberries, knots or blows to the head, slight concussions, contusions, sprains or such you were strongly encouraged to tough it out so we could start over. Fun Fun!

August 28, 2010

When your son, Mark was born around 28 yrs ago, apparently you couldn't grab your baby boy fast enough from Nancy who had just given birth to him, to present him to the small waiting crowd gathered outside the deliverary room... beaming you offered him to mom and exclaimed; "Happy Birthday Mom" to your beloved mother and mine, Marian "Sparky". HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM & MARKY!!! We Love you then, now & ever more!

Yesterday, August 28, 2010 Mom turned 85. We got her in the 47 Chevy Fleetline, we also call; "Sparky" and along with sisters, Sophie, Marcie & brother, Chris went for a spin and a coke.

A little later, we all gathered in mom's room to sing happy birthday to her, couldn't find any candles. I said; "on three---" and immediately started with "Happy Birthday to you..." without counting to three, which Liz-a was all to happy to point-out.

The ride with mom & siblings, Breakfast Club gathering in the morning, the rain and the day was a beautiful deluge of freshness, family, great old friends, good cheer and was as sweet and special as can be. Blessings abound.