A selection of our favorite stories about and memories of....

Morai, I will never ever forget our trip to Ireland together. That is one of my most treasured memories with you! I loved walking through the different cities with you and Ryan, looking at the cathedrals and castles, and kissing the Blarney Stone!! Standing on the Wicklow Mountains and seeing Guinness Lake was breathtaking, and it was even more special knowing that area is where our ancestors are from. I appreciate your work in tracing our lineage and your excitement in passing on our cultural pride! The hostel owner in Cork was so impressed that you were willing to stay in hostels with us and sleep in bunkbeds! I’ll never forget that time in Kinsale when we were walking down the street and you said out loud how you were craving chocolate. A woman driving by reversed her car and poked her head out the window, telling us exactly where we could find you dark chocolate! It was so neat and exemplified the friendliness of the Irish :)

Another memory of mine speaks to your patience and endless generosity. Remember when you rushed me to Olympia to get my visa notarized before Spain? I had an exam in Spanish right before and I was so stressed out that I told you the wrong time. You came to campus 30 minutes early before driving me 2 hours to Olympia! Then you bought me lunch! I had a blast chatting with you the whole way down and back! I’m so grateful for that time together, talking about my classes, and I asked you all the questions I could think of about how you and grandpa met :) Thanks for being so continuously wonderful to me. And sorry for being such a procrastinator!

~ Emily

So many memories to pick from, but I will focus on Mom's trip to New York City a couple of years ago.  Juan Carlos and I brought Mom to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in Midtown Manhattan.  It's a must-see for everyone visiting the Big Apple.  It's home to countless master works of modern art, including my personal favorite, Andy Warhol's "Soup Cans."  In case you don't know, "Soup Cans" is a 32-piece work of art depicting all 32 flavors of Campbell's soup.  It's one of the most recognizable works of modern art in the United States.  Well, let's just say Mom was not impressed.  I stood before the wall on which the paintings hang and said to her, "Don't you love it?  It's just a masterpiece."  And Mom's response?  "Oh, I don't know, honey.  I don't understand it.  It just doesn't do anything for me."  I was floored.  I told Juan we should just leave now.  It was hopeless.  All was lost.  But Juan Carlos saved the day by suggesting that we go to the Cloisters, a museum of religious art from the Middle Ages.  Mom was thrilled.  I was in shock.  But it was a priceless moment.

~ Michael

Corey and Emily were quite young the summer we took them to join Grandma and Grandpa Mac in Roche Harbor aboard the Tomfoolery for a couple of days.  Having spent many a day on the water sailing throughout the San Juan Islands a day on the water sailing throughout the San Juans, Mom was eager to get into open water.  Dad was happy to breathe the fresh salt air.

Underway for a couple of hours, Morai pointed toward the water as a school of dolphins surrounded the boat from all sides, swimming close to the bow, then darting away only to be replaced by another.  Morai quickly helped Corey and Emily get seated topside to enjoy the aquatic entertainment as the dolphins played with the Tomfoolery for a while. Soon, they were gone, but Morai was so excited that everyone was able to experience and enjoy these beautiful creatures.  She was genuinely thrilled at our good fortune and happy to be part of Corey and Emily's special experience at sea.

~ Rich

One of my favorite memories of us is when you came to Notre Dame during my sophomore year. I got you a ticket to see the Fightin' Irish play, and my friends and I snuck you into the student section. Even though we lost the game, we all had a blast. Several years before that, you and I were alone in the cockpit of the Tomfoolery as we motored through the Straits of Juan de Fuca near Victoria, and we saw orca whales breaching. Gorgeous sight. After Dad's biopsy, I watched you and Dad walk hand-in-hand down a hospital corridor. Supremely sweet. Made my heart swell. I remember so many instances of your devotion to Dad during those weeks before he died, not to mention all the years you helped him live after his first surgery. Then there are the many conversations we've had in which I've shared ideas about spirituality and psychology, and you've listened patiently and often with interest! Thank you for your generosity. I love that you started traveling abroad in your 60s. What courage. Finally, on many occasions I have witnessed you modeling unconditional love for someone who does not share the same values or beliefs that you hold dear. Like Pope Francis, you do not alter your position or remain silent about your beliefs when asked, but you let your love and compassion preach the gospel. You have done that numerous times for me and for your other children and grandchildren. You inspire me.

~ Tom

Playing tackle football in the house. I split my head open more than once on that hearth!

Eating chocolate frosting in the garage- hiding from mom.

Sleeping on Tom's floor on XMAS eve.

I remember bothering him at night when he was trying to study.

Tom liked fire and torched the tent! That was funny.

He allowed me to play football with his friends.

I was involved in a bike race with Tom and his friends. We rode several times around our circular driveway before racing off to "75 acres". I crashed along the way and Tom came back to find me.

I was playing in the cul-de-sac with my friends. A couple high school boys drove by and started threatening me from their car for some unknown reason. Tom came flying out of the house and they sped off - they were scared. A few years later, one of them told me he couldn't wait until I was 18 so he could beat my ass- I'm still waiting.......

Tom loved to camp more than anything; he hated the sailboat.

~ John

What gifts you've been given!  Love that you chose to use these gifts especially the gift that inspired this project. What a treasure for all of us!

Then there is your ability to teach while maintaining order.  I treasure the memory of my morning in your classroom a few years ago.  Your students obviously appreciated your love of them and your attendance at their varying events.

~ Mom

Uncle Tom, one of my favorite memories with you, among all the good times of course...but the time that sticks out the most is.... drum roll...... Galway Bay, Ireland. That picture you took of me on those rocks over looking the bay, great photo-you captured my handsomeness so accurately... well done sir. BUT, on a more serious note, the story telling that we went to at that Irish pub where we ran into an Italian English class on a field trip and then the walking around Galway. That entire trip was amazing and the little stories in and around the Galway Bay make it a week of sick, gnarly awesomeness. Thank you for being there Tom... Always... Imagine this, next time we’re both there again, we should seek out a place for tots as well... bring a tradition from here to there... I think that would be awesome. I raise my glass(s) to you Uncle Tom to many, many more great memories that will be made in time to come.

~ Corey

It's funny to think of all the memories I have of friends saying, "your mom is so cool." And while I responded with some smart ass comment like, "you don't live with her," I knew that they didn't know how right they were. I have fond memories of our short commute to work every morning and miss having that time together. It was always fun to come back after work to give her the car and come into Roosevelt to meet a bunch of people who already seemed to know me. She would often forget and reintroduce me to people multiple times throughout the school year, luckily there was enough time in between meeting these people that I would forget their names so it worked out well. I never minded her eagerness to make sure I was introduced to everyone because it was clear that she was proud to introduce me to the people she spent so much time with. It seems the apple doesn't fall far from the tree because I don't usually let friends pick me up without coming in to say hello or to meet my parents. Now the pride is mine as I reply with, "yea, she's pretty damn cool."

~ Ryan

Nana, I love to play with you at your house.

~ Oliver

Laurie has always gone out of her way to make things special. She flew up to Seattle with Corey and Emily days before my senior prom and took me shopping for makeup, stockings, shoes. She wanted it to be special for me. She even took me to get my ears pierced! Dad was so mad, but I was 18, what could he do?

She even flew up weeks after Emily was born so that she could see me perform in 42nd Street.

Working with her at Rim was awesome. We had so much fun! If I couldn’t get an account to balance, she’d sit with me as long as it took and go line by line to find the discrepancy (yeah, I think that’s fun). We would eat lunch together, work on projects together, plan events; basically spend almost every minute together at work, and then we’d get home and call each other on the phone to talk about all things we couldn’t say in the office!

Laurie has the best sense of humor! I remember her coming home from college and telling a story about the food in the school cafeteria. All I remember was something about mashed potatoes crawling across the plate…

One summer I was on vacation with the Mildons and we stopped in Ellensburg at the pizza joint Laurie worked at – Frazzini’s, she was so excited when she saw me that she jumped out of her shoes!

Last week I brought my shirt over to her house to borrow her iron, because I don’t have one. I had a job interview the next day, and I wanted to look sharp. Rather than just letting me borrow the iron, she did it for me. Why? Because I don’t own an iron, so it was very possible that I might not do it right, and she wanted me to look awesome in that interview. And, you know what? I looked awesome, and because I felt awesome, I was confident and rocked that interview!

No one else will break out into song with me, regardless of where we are.

I realize now as I’m writing these memories down, that she is the model I’ve used to become the aunt I am to her kids. For all the examples I took from our own aunts and uncles of how not to be, I have at least a million more examples from Laurie of how to love someone through actions. I have never doubted that Laurie loved me, and although she says it often through spoken word, she says it a million different ways through her kind, thoughtful actions, and sometimes through her very brave, tough love, kicks in the butt. ;)

~ Kathleen

Remember my graduation ceremony in St. James Cathedral? You and the rest of the audience were told to hold your applause until all the graduates had been called and received their diplomas. But, of course, as soon as my name was called, you cheered. Dad wasn't happy. I remember when Tim Lee offered to drive you home from the Battles' house, and you were a bit nervous about riding with him so asked me to follow you in my car. But Tim waited for me to leave the house first. So about a mile from the Battles' place, I pulled over and pretended that I had a problem with my rear tire. Tim pulled over, and it didn't take long for him to realize I was protecting my sister. You loved having Spinnaker sleep in your room, but hated to get up early in the morning to put him outdoors to do his business. On several occasions I saw your door open just wide enough for Spin to get out into the hallway, and then the door shut. Of course, he came into my room and I had to put him out. Thanks for that. I'm still allergic to early mornings. One of my clearest memories of childhood is when you woke up screaming in the middle of the night. Seconds later Dad sprinted into your room to protect his little girl. I love that you unapologetically followed your heart and love to Alaska with Rich. I so respected your courage and longed to be that strong. You have inspired me. And I am in awe of the way you are all in when it comes to loving your kids and husband. You leave it all on the field.

~ Tom

Rich is the light of my life.  He is funny and smart and loves wholly.  He believed in me before I believed in myself ~ he makes me a better person.  When we were first dating, I said something in a self-deprecating way and he would not tolerate that.  If it wasn't a positive, it didn't need to be said.  I love his smile and his laugh and his sense of humor.  When I first met him, he had long, blonde hair and a beautiful smile.  He looks the same to me today!  He writes me poetry and draws and paints pictures and sings little ditties and make up rhymes!  He has a thirst for knowledge and has a fierce love for his family.  He is willing to put aside the things he loves for the ones that he loves.  Takes on new loves for the sake of his kids.  He LOVED playing football.  But, his kids were going to play soccer, "the beautiful game", so he went to the library and checked out books and videos and he studied!  He took clinics and earned licenses so that he could be the best coach he could be.  20+ years later, he still has his notebook of drills and practices.  He is just waiting for his little buddy, Oliver, to be old enough to play so he can coach again!  When I first met Rich, he played the guitar for me and I thought he was "a dreamboat"!  When I went to Central Washington University, he was the one person I "knew" there in town.  He knocked on my door the first Sunday morning I was in Ellensburg and I practically tackled him in a hug I was so relieved to see a familiar face!  He worked at Frazzini's Pizza Place and was the pizza delivery guy!  My friends and I spent an amazing amount of money ordering pizza just so he would deliver to our dorm rooms!   When we were in Bethel, AK, we lived in a one room cabin with a "honey bucket" for a toilet! We walked on frozen rivers and I flew with him on some of his flights to the outlying villages ~ seeing moose, bear and musk oxen!  He let me take the controls sometimes and even made it "my airplane" on a take off!  One Saturday, as just the two of us were flying over the tundra, he said, "Ok.  I've had a heart attack.  What are you going to do"?  As serious as a heart attack myself, I said, "I guess I'm going down with you"!  At that point, he had not let "me" land the plane!  He took me to a gold mine and we rode snow mobiles and panned for gold.  The gold nuggets are in one of his drawers!  I saw my first sled dog race and he taught me all about photography.  I remember driving from Chicago to Columbus, OH in 1996 and we talked about all of the things we wanted to do.  The children we wanted to have ~ how we were going to raise them!  How easy it all seemed then!  On our first anniversary, he brought me a dozen roses using the color scheme from our wedding!  We have lived a wonder life laughing, working, loving together.  

~ Laurie

Dad... there are so many good times that you and I have had. The one that sticks out to me as I look through my memory jar is of all of us in the ICU where Kyle was and I fell apart but you were there to catch me. You held your almost 25 year old boy in your arms because he legs were giving out. Though there was nothing to say in response to my repeated question of “why?” you held me there and you held me up. I’ve admired you constantly since I was born. I am so very thankful for you in my life and I am the man I am today, because of you. I am excited that I am more and more like you every day! It’s good to be good looking ;).

~ Corey

One time, when Corey and Emily were little, I was visiting from Seattle. The kids had just finished their bath and Rich had Emily wrapped up in a big towel; he was drying each toe, one by one, telling Emily why it was so important to dry each one. I remember feeling so much love in that moment; his love for his kids, and my love for him because of his ability to show his love for his kids.

Laurie & Rich stayed at our house when my parents went to the Caribbean, and one night we watched Terminator. I thought I was going to die sitting in the same room with Rich watching the sex scene!

One time, Rich, Ronnie, and Laurie took me to see a Thunderbirds hockey game. It was awesome! I remember it being important to Rich that I sit next to Ronnie so I could learn about the game from a pro.

Rich is the best Santa EVER. He rocks the Santa hat on Christmas morning and puts a lot of thought and care into handing out the gifts at a pace where everyone can see what someone got; LOVE THAT. And he spends so much time and energy on picking awesome stocking stuffers! I love that he is so thoughtful and loving.

When you’re with Rich, he makes you feel like you’re the most important person in the world. He’ll spend hours over coffee talking with you.

Rich makes the best pancakes! I remember the first time he made me gluten free pancakes. I am the biggest Gluten-Free-Grinch there is, and I loved those pancakes. I actually prefer them now!

One day, during a period when things at Rim were particularly stressful, I was standing in the kitchen at Laurie & Rich’s house, and Rich was sitting at the table. I was pouring my heart out to him, and Rich’s eyes filled with tears as I sobbed that day. It struck me in that moment that he loves me like I love him. He’s my brother; not my brother-in-law. We’re family, through and through.

~ Kathleen

We've done some great hiking together, brother. One of my favorite memories is of going to Dog Mountain. About half a mile in, the trail splits. The sign there points to the right and says, "Difficult." Then it points to the left and says, "More Difficult." Of course, two former football players that we are, we chose the trail on the left. Grand ass kickin' hike. I remember when you and Laurie flew Cathy and I to Roche Harbor, I think it was, to meet Mom and Dad on the Tomfoolery. Great fun. I've also had a great time talking books and music with you. I'm so impressed with your hunger for knowledge and the hours you devote to exploring a wide variety of topics. I have watched you over and over again express laugh-out-loud joy at being a father to your kids. I've always loved that about you. I've watched you treat my sister like a queen, like the love of your life. Thank you for that.

~ Tom

Corburger! It was hard to pick out just one memory or story- there are so many little things that together make our relationship so special: just hanging out on the floor of our rooms; sharing music and going to concerts (including your shows!); high school dances, and soccer games. I remember going downtown with you to get your lip pierced and we both nearly fainted watching that giant needle puncture your flesh haha and then to go home, where mom and dad were not enthusiastic about your new fashion choice. I also remember when you were in the hospital how you'd ask us to help you escape, despite the fact you could barely walk!

 I have always been able to talk to you and confide in you; I appreciate the texts and emails I get from you throughout the week that keep me looped into your life.  I miss getting coffee with you and catching up in person. I remember when Oli was first born and over coffee one morning we were both amazed that you were someone’s dad - it felt so strange to know you as my brother and attribute that word to you. But watching you with Oliver, there’s no better pair :)

The speech you gave at Kyle’s memorial was beautiful, well thought out and gracefully delivered. I want you to know how proud I am of you. It was moving, an amazing reflection of the brother and friend that you are: strong, positive and faithful to the idea that we’re all connected in spirit, even if we can’t be together in person. I will never forget how brave you were that day, for all of us.

~ Emily

Dad, when we went to get our Christmas tree, I got to help you cut it down. I didn’t want to help carry it back to papa’s truck because it was too heavy and I wanted to carry the saw that we just used.

~ Oliver

Once, when Corey and Emily were little, I was in the kitchen making chocolate chip cookies and Corey and Em were standing nearby. I heard Emily ask, “where’s your penis, Corey?” Corey pointed and said, “here.” Then Em asked, “where’s my penis?” Corey shook his head, and said, “you don’t have a penis, you have a ‘gina, like Mom!” Emily cried, “but I want a penis, like you!” Corey looked very smug and said, “you can’t have a penis; you have a ‘gina like mommy and I have a penis like daddy!” It took a lot for me not to laugh in that moment!

One of my favorite memories of Corey when he was in the hospital was in the first few days there, when he was still in the ICU. He wanted to go home so badly, and he’d say things like, “Kat, grab your keys and let’s get outta here!” Laurie and I were in the room with him (it wasn’t a private room; his bed was curtained off from the other beds). He wanted to go home so bad that he kept making attempts to leave. Laurie had asked him what she could do to make him more comfortable, so he asked for another pillow. As soon as she turned away to get a pillow, he tried to climb out of bed, probably thinking I’d just let him go.

Seeing Corey walk for the first time after his accident was…indescribable.

Corey has learned some awesome things from his dad: expressing affection and talking with anyone are the top two!

Before he could say my name, he called me Kant-seen. I miss that.

Corey will randomly text me to tell me he loves me. That always makes my day!

Corey has so much passion! He puts so much of himself into the things he does: drawing, playing guitar, soccer.

Corey can sit with anyone, no matter their age, and be comfortable talking. He has a gift for making those he shares himself with feel like they are the most important person in their world for the time they’re together.

~ Aunt Kat

Our time together in Ireland and Rome stand out to me as a highlight not only of our relationship, but also of my life. It started with finding each other in Dublin almost by chance. After searching for you for a few hours, I was about to turn the corner out of Temple Bar when I heard you call my name. You had looked up from your computer to see me passing by. Galway and the storytelling and Hooker beer. Accepting friendship and shots of whisky from the Scottish football fans as we waited for our flight to Rome. Coming back to our room across the street from Kahlid's restaurant and telling you that I'd just been propositioned by a prostitute! Experiencing the Coliseum, St. Peter's, the Vatican Museum, and the Sistine Chapel with you. Add these memories to all of our hiking adventures and wrestling matches, and you've got several books worth of stories.

~ UT

My favorite memories of Oli are definitely our jam sessions. They usually consist of Oli on the mandolin and me on the guitar or we're both on the piano. Either way, we jam hard. We rock out and just bang on those instruments, mostly making noise but having fun while we're at it. And while I am just playing scales as fast as I can or arbitrarily slapping the keys on the piano, he always seems to be very intentional about the music we're making because he has lots of ideas and stops us often to tell me what to do next. It is really fun to see what his mind is creating; from what I have heard I think he is going for something along the lines of Folk Metal.

~ Ryan

I have watched you grow up to be such a young generous, respectful, and caring man! I still can’t believe you are 4 ½ years old that still blows my mind! I cannot wait to see you continue to grow up and continue to adventure into this wonderful world we live in! I just want you to know that I love going and watching you play soccer and watch you just run around, kick the ball, score, scream, help people up when they fall down. To me that reflects what a great person you are and you are going to continue being when you get older to being as old as Nana and Papa! I love you so much Oliver and I’m very proud of you!

~ Eric

Oliver is a happy little boy ~ so good natured.  Smiling and laughing. We were playing in the front yard and he tried to get a sip of water from the hose and then he burst out laughing when it went all over his face.   He loved playing the piano with papa ~ he would sit alongside Papa and it would make him laugh that they plunked the keys together! He loves to play soccer and chase in the backyard.  When he played soccer this year, it was so great to watch him get excited and cheer on his teammates when they scored a goal!   When he was little, he would go to B's football games with Nana and Papa and he would cheer on the boys, saying, "Good job guys"!  He would even cheer for the band!  He loves to play the marble game!  He tells Nana she "boofull" and loves his matchbox cars.

~ Papa

I love chasing you and wrestling you, but you wear me out, mister! In fact, whenever I'm coming over to see you, I bring an extra shirt because I know I'm going to get all sweaty when we play. And then I need to take a nap! I remember one time we were playing with a soccer ball, and you and I were both saying, "Mine! Mine!" Then I wrapped my arms around you and said, "My Oliver." Immediately you responded: "My Tom." You just melted my heart. Then when we were at the hospital with Kyle's family and friends, you brought joy to a lot of people who were feeling sad. You did that by sharing your race cars with us big boys, racing them on the floor and crashing them into each other, the walls, and elevator doors. You did that by giving lots of great hugs. And you did that by just being your loving self.

~ Apple Tom

Traveling with Emily has always been so memorable. We had a ton of fun in Ireland with Grandma Mac and we did a bunch of really cool stuff but I specifically remember staying with some wacky people in Dublin. Experiencing it with her and sharing our thoughts on it was really entertaining because she says a lot of things I don't always verbalize. They were straight up goofballs and while I felt like I had to be neutral and nice about it, she was just straight forward about how she felt which made it all so much more relaxed and enjoyable. I don't think I appreciated her bluntness as much when we lived together, like at 7 am on the way to school, but now it is something I love her for. We had a lot of laughs about our experiences in Dublin and all over Ireland, but it also got us into a lot of more serious conversations. It was a really special time.

~ Ryan

Emily....My Sweet Angel Girl.  She came when she was ready and that was my first clue to her personality!  Her way ~ in her time.  Our girl is a watcher.  So quiet when she was little, but she missed nothing.  Those big, beautiful eyes.   When she was little and playing with her brother, I would sometimes notice that she had crawled away and I would find her behind the couch or under the table.....timing herself out! She needed to do her own thing in her own time.   She always wanted to be an original!  If she was doing it and someone else copied her, she'd change directions ~ whether it was something she was wearing or some activity!  She danced ballet and was so precise and worked so hard.  She played soccer, 'cause that's what we did!  One day she said, "I don't want to play soccer anymore.  I want to do something that's just mine".  She began to swim and then took on crew!  When she went to a new school and some girls from her soccer team told her she shouldn't be playing with a particular girl.   She told them, "I am playing on the bars.  If you want to play on the bars with me, fine".  When she was dancing ballet and in the Nutcracker in 2nd or 3rd grade, I asked her if she was scared.  She said, "I'm a little scared, but I am going to do it anyway"!  That's my girl.  I thought her so brave when she went to live in Spain ~ something she talked about for years.  She traveled all over Europe ~ exploring and absorbing and learning.  She has a thirst for knowledge ~ She wants to know, she has a need to

know.  She is her father's daughter!  She wants to understand and do.  If she could be a student forever, she would be!  She will be!  She has a wicked dry sense of humor, again like her daddy!  Emily loves.  Fully and fiercely.  She has high expectations for herself and for others.  Emily is sunshine.  I am so blessed to be her mother ~ I am so proud of the woman she is and so excited about where she is going.  I am so grateful that we will be traveling together.

~ Mom

I have great memories of riding beach cycles with you at Manzanita and wandering into the cave at Hug Point. We've also savored great eats at Wanda's Café in Nehalem. Every time I've gone there since, I've thought of it as our place. I remember working with you on a few of your high school projects; I got to witness how hard you work, how critically and deeply you think, and how much pride you take in your work. You are an impressive scholar. One thing I love and respect about you is something I've seen since you were a girl. You jump into the family and friend goings on, including card games and movies and feasts. Then, when you've had enough of the chaos, you quietly slip away to your own room. And then there's our time together in Cadiz. Your host parents invited me for coffee, and you translated our conversation. I was so proud of you, so impressed with your abilities…even the moment when you told me in Spanish rather than English what your host father had said! Then we took off for dinner and a bowl of sangria!

~ UT

Well we shared a room for 13 or so years…. Shit that says enough about you and me! Haha kiddin! Man when I think back to all those years we spent in that room messing around, fighting, laughing, crying all that stuff, I just think of how close we really are and sometimes we don’t realize it! To be honest you and I are probably the closest out of all of us kids just because of age and well sharing a room for more than half our life. Ha god I always remember, for some reason I wanna say its in the summer time, but we always would have competitions to see who got to pick the music we got to listen to. Of course I would never win because you always picked a better song then me… to this day I still feel that I beat you a majority of the time you were just older and stronger so I just never challenged it! Anyways I love you and I’m proud of you man! Stay true and DO YOU BOO BOO, DO YOU!!

~ Eric

A tour guide supreme much like your Uncle Michael.  What a thrill to be invited to join you in Ireland for two weeks.  Our glorious few days with Em when we kissed the Blarney Stone and went down ancestral ground; the Dingle peninsula.  Then off to Killarney where you encouraged me to ride a bike after 60+ years; our wonderful salmon sandwich in Limerick, our trip to the Aran Islands and climbing the Burren followed by the Cliffs of Moher.  And then I must say having my meals prepared for two weeks was next to heaven!

~ Grandma

Listening and watching as you play pieces of new songs for me, I'm blown away by your talent. Then seeing you and Corey and your band perform shows, especially at the Roseland, wow! Top that off with sampling one of your songs in my 100 Ways audio program. Fantastic!

I remember our snowshoe trip to Mt. Rainier when you stood next to a road sign that was buried so deep in snow that your head was level with the top. Then we skied, sled, slipped, and tumbled down the steep, powdery slope. That was so much fun.

I remember camping there one summer, cooking over a campfire. Then we hiked off-trail along a stream bed. Our feet got soaked, but we saw a lot of beauty and had a grand adventure.

One winter you, Eric, and I dug out a snow cave near Mt. Hood. Why? Because it looked fun, and we had wanted to try that for a while. So we took off our snowshoes and took turns using them as picks and shovels. Finally each of us took a turn sliding inside our tiny cave. You two fit much better than I.

I also have memories of so many rich and wonderful conversations about what the Little Prince would call "matters of consequence." Over coffee or pizza or whatever, we talk about matters of heart, mind, and soul. I love that we went to the Buddhist temple together and had a conversation with the folks there. And recently I've been having so much fun doing outdoor, garden, apple-picking, and sustainable living stuff with you and Rebecca.

~ UT

One of my fondest memories of Eric was the time I went down to Washington, D.C. from New York to meet up with Laurie, Rich, and the kids.  We did a lot of cool things that day.  Most of those things I had done before, but two of them were really special.  The first was visiting the National Archives to see originals of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  I remember giving the kids a little background the on the drafting of the Declaration and the process that took place in drafting the Constitution.  Eric was rapt with attention.  The other highlight of spending time with Eric on that trip was visiting the National Portrait Gallery.  We all spend a couple of hours walking around looking at each of the portraits of each of the 44 presidents (well, there were only 43 portraits hanging because Obama's has not yet been painted).  But I remember saying to Laurie and Eric, "You know, I have never been here before in all the years that I lived here.  And, I'm kinda surprised.  It's not nearly as cheesy as I thought it would be!"  I also remember telling Eric about Ronald Reagan when we were standing in front of his portrait.  I was such a child of the '80s and a huge Reagan fan growing up, and sharing that with Eric was really special.  Good times!

~ Michael

Eric has a great sense of humor and is so entertaining when he regales us with his stories or, with his brother Corey, recites lines from a movie, accents and all!  He saved the day when we were on Lake Roosevelt, houseboating.  He "reminded" us  what the refueling procedure was to keep the motor boat pulling all the inner-tubers around the lake! Watching his last home game, during his lacrosse season, was pure joy. He worked so hard in that game!  Nothing was more beautiful than in the hour after he was born, holding him and just staring at one another.  I told him, "good things will happen for you, Eric".  

~ Dad 

When you were about five, I was kneeling in front of you, tying your shoe. "Tom," you said, "why do we grow old?" I nearly choked on my laughter because I knew that your question was inspired by the balding spot on my head. Before I could come up with a good answer, you moved on to another subject.

I remember sliding down a snowy slope near Paradise when we went snowshoeing at Mt. Rainier. It was a beautiful blue-sky day. On the way home we stopped to watch the moon rise over the mountain.

As a baby, you brought joy and levity and a much needed distraction to us when we were watching over Grandpa in the hospital.

Watching you hug your mom and dad across the years with such tenderness has always made me smile.

During one of your football games at River, I was the first in the family to realize that you had scored a touchdown by blocking for your ball carrier all the way to the 1-yard line and then recovering his fumble in the end zone. I was beside myself with excitement and pride!

I have many tasty memories of making pizza together at your house and my…many…apartments and houses.

~ UT

We loved to play with Lincoln Logs as much as we hated putting them away!

Mom used to make us clean our room together- Ugh. Where did all those little parts come from Michael?

Michael liked playing with Star Wars figurines with neighbor Mark- I hated it. We both enjoyed making bows out of sticks and twine, so we could shoot mom's green garden stakes!

Michael had his Reagan/Bush stickers on his bedroom door. Good choice Michael!

Michael was put on restriction for smoking Mary Jane with David Mat's. Shortly thereafter, I got thrown in the Auburn/Kent 'clink' for climbing the back of a Drive-in-movie screen. Idiots!

Michael and I delivered papers for the Seattle Times. We shared many cold and wet Sunday mornings together!

I remember all of Michael's friends flying in to see him graduate from Law School! It was a great day. So proud!

Michael visited me in Pullman for the Apple Cup. We drank beer in Moscow, Idaho, and watched the game together. Cougs won!

Michael is a proud member of the 12th man! He knows more stat's than anyone I know! I can hardly remember who played in the Super Bowl last year. Michael is a savant.

Michael and I left a Seahawk game early because we thought they were going to lose. They ended up winning and dad was pissed that we left. Idiots! Michael will remember the details.

I love going to Hawk games with Michael!  We watched a UW/ND game in South Bend, then traveled to Indy to watch the Hawks/Colts game in the same weekend.

Michael had a lot of porn mags under his bed in high school! I liked 'em.

~ John

I remember when I was in the 6th grade my whole family for spring break went on a trip to Washington D.C., and on maybe our 2nd or 3rd day we met you at the holocaust Museum and I remember walking up to you and the first thing you said was “ Holy fuck its fucking cold”. To me that was one of the funniest things I had heard come out of one of my uncle’s mouths. Another thing about that trip was how spot on my mom was about you and your knowledge and your more in depth background knowledge about all the places we went to. That stuck with me for a while just realizing how much information someone could have inside their head, and to me that was so cool. So with that I have really tried to have that same type of knowledge and back ground knowledge of fire fighting. Anyways, I love you Uncle Mike!

~ Eric

In recent years, you gave me some of my most memorable moments, precious time with you.  In 2004, our trip to New Orleans was spectacular; one I'll never forget. Then when you were living in New York, you played tour guide.  What an exciting time with Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral with you and Juan, followed by my one and only Broadway play, "Lion King'.

~ Mom

Among my favorite memories of you is one from the time I visited you in Washington, D.C. You were the legislative director for a congressman whose name I don't remember. After picking me up at the airport, you took me to your office. I stepped back and watched numerous people from the office consulting with you on various matters. I could see how much they respected you and needed your insight. I felt so proud of you. Then you took me to the House Chamber and we watched a vote together. When you were in college, I loved watching and listening while you and Dad talked about politics. Both of you so passionate and knowledgeable. He was so proud of you and your dedication to political action. "Michael's going to make a real difference in the world," he once told me. I witnessed your dedication and discipline as you pursued your law degree. I was never as good a student as you are! Now I'm getting a kick out of your passion for the Seahawks, and I realize you know much more about football than I do.

~ Tom

John....or Johnny Sunshine!  I get the biggest kick out of this kid.  When we were young, he was loud and determined and sure and a pistol.  He always had a twinkle or a smile or a smirk ~ a laugh.  He was the tough guy and the sweetheart.  He would ALWAYS say goodnight and ALWAYS said, "I love you" and occasionally he'd "beat up" a neighbor kid!  He never woke up to Ozzy Osborne's Crazy Train, but I did!  He would get up late on Sunday mornings and ask for a ride for his paper route and promise to "pay you back"!  I always imagined he had a golden touch.  When he wanted to do something or learn something ~ he did.  He was charming and as loyal as they come and if he gave his word you could count on it. When he decides something is important to him, he goes after it with such gusto.  He played sports with utter abandon!  He would play football in the house, crash into a wall or the hearth and head to the ER.  He would play on the blacktop and have "road rash".   I remember watching him play football in high school and he got plowed like I hadn't seen before.  And he laid there.  Just laid there.  I stood up in the stands and wanted to run out on to the field.  Eventually, he got up and walked off the field.  Not long after, he was back on the field.  I remember when he (I think) broke his finger during a football game or a practice and he chose not to have it looked at by the Dr because he wanted to play in the next game.  To this day, his little finger is a little bent!  He takes his job so seriously and he loves to share his experiences with his niece and nephews.  I remember the first time we visited him at station 1.  He took the kids all over the station and showed them the different rigs.  He let them sit in the front of the fire truck and put on the turn out gear!  They loved it and felt so special.  When he experienced things on calls, he would call and talk to the kids.  Guide them.  Shield them.  He is so smart and so earnest and fiercely determined to help others.  I admire him, I am awed by him and I feel privileged to be loved by him.

~ Laurie

Uncle John – I remember the times you met up with me while I was at UW for lunch and/or dinner - it was nice to talk to a fellow student and you always tell it like it is! I appreciate the encouragement. Thanks for sharing stories about your experiences with the fire department, too. I enjoy hearing your perspective.

Remember that time when we rented a beach house on Long Beach for Thanksgiving? I walked up the stairs to the kitchen and somehow the turkey had caught fire! You were there to put it out and saved the meal!

I LOVED that time we went out on your boat on Lake Washington! You and Tom kicked my butt, swerving around the lake at high speeds and driving into the wake, trying to throw me off the inner tube!!  I got knocked off enough times to start the swim season with some pretty impressive bruises :)

And remember that time we went snorkeling in the British Virgin Islands?! Oh yeah, we haven't done that together yet, but we always said one day we would and I'm holding you to it!!

~ Emily

One of my favorite memories of John comes from the past 10 years, and not decades ago, though I have many fond memories from what seems like many moons ago.  But John and I started to txt one another during the 2005 Seahawks run to our first Super Bowl appearance.  It was a very special time, and built a fantastic bond.  And now, as we make another Super Bowl run, everyone has joined in, including close friends and all of Laurie's kids.  It's a real special bond for me.  When we lift the Lombardi Trophy (perhaps this year, but soon for sure), all of us will join in the celebration…and we'll think of Dad.  Especially of Dad, who would go to Mass at 8 AM when the Seahawks played in the Eastern time zone.  So that is my special memory of John -- creating a bond through our football team and bringing everyone into the fold for the celebration!

~ Michael

I remember having a great time camping with you at Ohanapecosh and hiking to Glacier Basin at the foot of Mt. Rainier. I remember that when I was away at college, you wrote me letters you about your football exploits. I loved those. One of my favorite memories happened during one of my summer's at home from ND. Dad woke me up around midnight and asked me to drive to Auburn to get you out of jail. I am so impressed by all that you accomplished in the houses you have renovated. It was fun seeing all that you learned and the confidence you showed. I'll never forget you saying that each room you renovate tells a story. You're an artist, John. I treasured our conversations about spirituality, especially the topic of life after death, and about our romantic relationships. You always encouraged me to be true to myself.

~ Tom