Back in Portland

Max's celebration (as we called it) was a great success. He wouldn't have liked all of the fuss about him, but otherwise I think he would have had a great time.

All of Max's kids worked very hard on this. It helped to keep busy, if only to keep our minds off of the loss that we all feel.

The ceremony itself was very cool. It was in the church that Max and Norma met at in Woodbury, and the man who introduced them conducted the ceremony. He did a very nice job, overall. We had some very nice music for the ceremony, thanks to norma's friends. Aubrey (norma's son), Diane(Max's older sister) and DeAnne (a long-time friend of Norma and Max's) all read scriptures that were very appropriate. The pastor (Dwight Haberman) did a good job preaching. There was a part of the ceremony where friends and family were given an opportunity to speak about Max. Molly and I told a story together about a time a couple of years ago in Orlando that had the audience laughing. Several other speakers did an absolutely amazing job, and I learned a lot about Max that I hadn't known previously.

At the end of the ceremony we played "Spirit in the Sky" and "Turn, Turn, Turn" a couple of songs that Max liked and are kind of spirtual, and Asked the congregation to sing along. As soon as we started singing the sun broke through the clouds into the church and was very special.

After the ceremony we had a light dinner in the church with coldcuts, cake and pie.

All-in-all it was a very nice ceremony.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Josh Y. and Lindsey, over and over and over and over again for taking care of the cats and the house while we were away. They mowed the lawn, fed the cats (and bought cat food), cleaned the house (and our fridge) and turned on our heat the day we came back.. and probably much much more. We called on the way to the airport the day we flew out and begged them to take care of the cats, because we just didn't have time to do anything between the time we got the call that Max was dying and the time we caught our flight. They also, graciously, scanned a picture of Max on top of a mountain that we had here at the house which we blew up and turned into a 3x3 foot poster for the ceremony. It really set the tone for the whole ceremony and wouldn't have been the same without it. They are great friends and we will always feel in their debt for the rest of our lives for their help.

We're back in Portland now and are back to business as usual (well, not as usual, we don't have somebody to call up and brag to when we're doing very cool stuff)

This weekend is memorial day and so all of the local wineries are open for business. Linze's parents are in town (and have been for a week now), so they get to experience this too! We've alreay mapped out many of the wineries that we are planning on going to this weekend.. and all-in-all it should prove to be one hell of a drunk fest. I just know that it is going to be tough for Molly, since she has been hoping to get her Dad up to portland for this event, ever since last Thanksgiving, so this weekend will be a little bittersweet.

I promise to get caught back up with the rest of our friends very soon! Thank you to everyone who sent emails offering kind words these last few days... I haven't been neglecting you on purpose...