Raise A Glass, Say A Prayer.

My cousin Robert emailed me the eulogy/funeral verse that he used for my Grandfathers funeral this past Wednesday. I thought I would share it.

***First I would like to thank all my grandfathers' family and friends for being here. Nothing would have pleased him more than to know his family was together gathering as a whole, something he wished. My grandfather was born in 1913 which is amazing in itself, a stamp cost 3 cents and the average annual salary was 1,100. He was the son of European immigrants, he had sisters & brothers; he would sometimes joke that our last names could have been not as common as Thomas if his Dad Pete, kept his last name of Andronoplois. During his lifetime he lived through 17 different presidents , 2 World Wars, the Red Sox curse wasn't one yet, it started when he was 5 years old. He saw the invention of the radio, appliances, tv, and more than likely everything we take for granted now a days. He married his sweetheart Mary, if there was ever any doubt about The Thomas surname continuing it didn't last long, they had three sons Jack, Richard and Bill and between them 8 grandsons and 2 granddaughters and 21 great-grandchildren today. Many of times he would say boy I have a good looking family and who was I to argue. His legacy as well as his memories will be passed along for future Thomas Generations to come.

They say opposites attract, if so my grandmother was the fire and he the ice, she dressed in the latest fashions, he always in a shirt and tie, she would swear and he would bless himself, he drove a Plymouth Fury she drove a Dodge Charger. If it was his choice he still would have been driving, recently he would kid his great-grandson Robbie once he got his permit he would buy a car and than Robbie could drive him to Atlantic City. Could you imagine the State trooper pulling over a 16 yr old on a learners permit driving his 92 year old great grandfather to Atlantic City? And him telling saying he is teaching him how to drive?

Growing up & going to their house was most memorable, whether it was the house in front of the deli, both homes on Park Avenue, Cleveland St or the one where my grandmother said "all the old people live at" in Toms River, never was there not chocolate on the tables, cakes or chips in the cupboard or a grease fire about to be extinguished on my grandmothers stove. He led a simple life never wanting for anything, just worrying about how all his kids and family are doing. He worked most of his adult life for General Electric; while many of his peers were looking to retire he found a second career, being a security guard working to the age of 80. He looked forward to watching the Yankees or the bums on TV, his beloved fighting Irish football games.

In his later years he enjoyed his visits to Atlantic City, he would say it was something about them casinos; I never get tired and feel great when I'm in there. It says a lot of the man who at 92 still lived by himself and turns down countless offers to move in with his son, he would reply I'll let you know when I can't take care of myself. He never wanted to be a burden, and would never want a shoulder to assist him and way too proud to use his cane in public. Just this past month his health failing he managed to scribble I love you and June 3, family party. He was hoping to get better and wanted all his family to gather for his 93rd birthday, so mark it down on your calendar, this June 3rd take time out of your day and raise a glass say a prayer and remember the man and his family, they were the most important thing to him, I love you and God Bless you Pop."

Time Flys...

I am back from the Garden State. My Grandfather died this past Saturday. He lived to be 92. When we got there on Feb 15th he was laying in his hospice bed. We found out the second stroke took his sight and he could not see us gathered at his bedside. He could hear our voices and even though he couldn't say a word he made a motion with a pen like he was pointing at himself. The nurse that was there told us he had been doing this and it meant "I". She said he had been scribbling notes to other family members for the past week. He made a motion with the pen like he wanted to write. The nurse got him a pad of paper and he wrote the word "LOVE". The next 3 days he layed there moaning in an almost comatose state. When me and my brother stopped in on Saturday night. We were there about 10 minutes when Chris said to me "I don't think he is breathing anymore?" I told him "What are you a doctor, go get the Nurse". She came in, checked his pulse and told us he had passed. Not many people make it to 92. My grandfather had been heartbroken since his wife passed in 1997 and he was a devout Catholic. I'm going to miss his sense of humor, his wisdom and his LOVE that he showed his family. I'll share some more stories as the week goes on. Take care-DAG! 

I'm on a plane in about 7 hours...

...and I can't sleep. This picture is from this weird, funky old funhouse in Asbury Park, NJ. It was called "The Palace". Me and my bro turned this place out circa 80's. It has been torn down since. This might be my last post for awhile unless I can get ahold of a computer in NJ. Take care yall- DAG! 

What It probably looks like now...

I went to my Grandmothers funeral 7 years ago and it was in February too. New Jersey is very grey, wet & snowy in Feb. It probably looks something like this... 

East Coast! Here I come...

Well, I got the call today. My Grandfather in NJ has been moved to a hospice. My family back east said it is a matter of days before he passes. My dad booked me a flight to JFK and I leave on Tuesday morning (Valentines Day). The picture you see here is of Toms River, NJ. 

Boozer and decoy are back!

Boozer-stay healthy man and UTAH makes the playoffs. I'm headed out to the South Town Mall in Sandy, UT to do a piece on a band/artist/group called "Allred". I'm freelancing for a local mag called SLiC. I'm getting teary eyed thinking of the good ol' days with the GRID peeps. Peace to- Sam Cannon, Daddy Murco, Jon "How's Your" Armstrong and those lovely transparent stickers. 

Tao Of The Week

Without going out of your door, you can know the ways of the world. Without peeping through your window, you can see the Way of Heaven. The farther you go, the less you know. Thus, the Sage knows without travelling, sees without looking, and achieves with out Ado.