Death

This past week would have been perfect, I went up to New England to get my family, fell in love with the area, saw some leaves turn, and came home, and received a compliment from Mrs. Molly on how clean I kept the house. Even the baby did great on the plane, she and the other kids were very well behaved, and the three hour flight was actually pleasant.

Getting through the TSA checkpoint at Manchester, NH was quite an ordeal, but we made it through with minutes to spare to catch our flight back to dear ol' muggy Florida.

The kicker came Monday morning when I checked my e-mail at work. Two more friends died over last weekend. One of which was a very good friend of mine, the other was a super nice guy too, but I was never that close to. One died of a massive heart attack, the other may have died of some complications from his medications. (that makes five this year.)

Yesterday they buried my friend, it was requested that we show up in shorts and Hawaiian shirts. You see, even though my friend was in his mid-to-late 50's, he still surfed. He was a great man, who could crush your hand in a handshake and envelope you in a hug. He was a good man and I will miss him.

What troubles me, and makes me feel guilty is that I could not bring myself to see him layed out in a box. That's right I did not attend my friend's funeral. I just could not go. I struggled with the decision for days. I don't mean disrespect to him, or his family. But, he knows I miss him, I don't need to see him laying there, right?

He's gone, his shell is all that remains.

His shell is pretty empty too, considering what a Medical Examiner has to do to figure out cause of Death.

Sorry, for getting morbid, but that is what I'm feeling right now..........................

As for my friend, he had a saying that he used to say about work.

'One Dead Monkey Don't Stop The Circus'

How truer can that statement be? It was business as usual around here during his funeral, about 50% of the workforce went, but we still had people here working away. The job never stops, think about the next time you spend more time at work than at home. Do you really think you are that important at work? All of us can be replaced...so enjoy your life. Work to Live, don't live to work.


I love you Mike, I'll see you later Brother......................

TSA

This might be old news in Blogland, but did you know that the TSA actually E-bays confiscated items?

I flew two days after the new rules came out about no liquids on the aircraft. I saw perfume, lip gloss, all kinds of things thrown in the can. When I looked over at the TSA 'officer' I swear I saw a smile and $$$ in his eyes.

I wonder if the individual TSA 'officer' gets the money, or if it goes back to the Treasury?

By the look in Dude's eyes, I'd say it went into his wallet.

Sorry

Since my return from California some drastic things have happened in my life. Some good things and some bad.

I'll start with the bad. A guy I work with committted suicide. That is the second guy since the beginning of the year. The strange part of it is that he never showed any of the sign you would recognize. I really liked the guy, he wasn't the most gifted person in the world, when it came to mechanical things, but electrically he was pretty damn good. He would tell some of the funniest stories usually filled with the eff word (my favorite, you know!). He had me in tears from laughing at his stories. I will really miss him.


The good news is that I will no longer have to work those crazy hours any more. Remember that job I thought I was going to get? Well, another position opened up, and they made me an offer. So, no more getting dirty, no more 12 hour shifts, no more mosquitoes, and no more coveralls.


My family is up in New England right now, I leave on Friday to go and get them. They are up there visiting my In-Laws. Mrs. Molly has decided she wants to move there, apparently it's really pretty, and not muggy. I guess I'll have to bring a crow bar with me, so I can pry her out of the State.