"Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because dawn has come."-RABINDRANATH TAGORE

So I wasn't quite sure how to go about this, since I've made it a point to try to be funny and entertaining on my blog, but it doesn't seem quite right not to mention something about the events this last week. I'm sure most of you know about the loss of Tami Earl. Sometimes I don't get how death is the most inevitable thing there is, but continues to shake up your world when it happens to those you love and are close too. All I know is that I will miss my walking buddy, anytime we went to a concert or on a trip Angie and Michelle would be cutting through the crowds like a hot knife through butter, but as long as Tami and I kept Nette in sight we where a OK to take our dear sweet time. . . .and we did!

I don't think I'll ever be able to eat Burshetta without thinking of Tami, or Gas station Hot Dogs for that matter.

I also think if I had to name the Hippest Mom I know it would have to be Her. . . .no other Mom I can think of would get their Daughter tickets to a Prince concert, go with her and actually enjoy it! I also don't know a lot of Mom's that can a) Handle listening to Hip Hop Songs like "Low" and b) dance along in the car with her daughter and her friends!

Girls' Weekends won't be the same, American Idol Nights won't be the same, Chicken Broccoli yummy ness won't be the same.

I'm sure glad I got the chance to peer into the lives of Bates/Earl family, Angie invited me over to her Mom's for family stuff a lot and I really admire how she managed to raise an amazingly bright and hilarious crop of kids that all get a long and love being around each other. And I look forward to seeing how Ang, Kim, and Lindsey carry on that cool Mom Legacy! As Sally Field says as her character Maline in Steel Magnolias "Life Goes On!"

I know it does and while we might be saddened by the changes and voids that are created by death, it's never a final and permanent thing, it's just like a really long vacation. . . .right? Anyway for that knowledge I say thanks!

I hope we all take some time to celebrate the lives of the people we love who have passed on and cherish the ones we still get to make memories with! We never know when our time is up, so make it count!!!

Boy do I sound like a Hallmark Card or what?

Anyway. . . .

Peace!