Bridge, Bees and Beer

Merry Christmas friends!  Today was beautiful.  Lana spent the night here so she was right in on the Christmas morning magic.  We even bought her a new stocking and filled it with lovely surprises.  The boys were totally full of wonder and life and we enjoyed the giving and receiving of delightful gifts.  We enjoyed tea and coffee, cooked up some bacon and eggs and even popped a bottle of asti spumante and made up some mimosas and toasted Poppy and the way he has taught us all to love better.  We let the tears come.  It is so healing to fill our hearts with celebration and joy.  What a juxtaposition.

This time of the year, Stephanie and I always have enjoyed countless rounds playing bridge together with Mom and Pop.  It was hard for me to realize that we'd lost the fourth member of our bridge club.  I've gotten pretty good at it.  We'll just have to teach someone how to play- probably Benjamin- he's a pretty sharp little dude.  But I'll always cherish the bridge memories.

Maybe you didn't know that Al was a bee keeper.  I learned a tad about bees in the last 16 years.  I grumbled about them when they swarmed and needed attention.  It always felt like a distraction to me.  But Pop loved those silly little buzzers.  He loved the life of bees and especially harvesting honey to give away as gifts as well as enjoy ourselves.  I'll always think of Pop when I see bees.  

Pop and I working the bees together in 2010. He never wore gloves- I wondered if he actually liked getting stung!

We've decided we're going to keep the bees.  I've got some things to learn and that's just fine.  But I'm going to keep them- it'll make Pop smile, I just know it.

Pop helped me learn to appreciate good beer.  Years ago he used to brew his own, so I inherited some of his old brewing equipment and it's become a fun past time of mine. I think it was Ben Franklin who said something like "beer is evidence that God loves us and wants us to be happy."  Pop enjoyed good beer.  I wonder how many beers I've enjoyed with him- I lost count. 

Pop and I at a London pub for fish n chips and beer in 2007.  We were on our way to Kenya.

Soon we're going to invite all of you to come and celebrate Poppy's life with us.  It's what he wanted!  Stay tuned for a date and time for the Big Party.  Details coming soon...