Just Keep Swimming....

So much tragedy has happened in the world in just the last few days. The attacks in Norway, the sad death of Amy Winehouse, and of course, in my own life, the recent passing of our beloved grandfather, Alderic "Pepere" Tardif. It is very hard sometimes to fathom just why people feel the need to solve problems with guns and hate rather than diologue and love. With regards to Amy Winehouse, however messed up her life may have been, her legacy will surely be her music.



But I didn't come here to wax nostalgia for Amy Winehouse, whose music I am not familiar with, nor did I intend to report on the situation in Norway, though it goes without saying that my thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and victims of the unspeakable tragedy.



My blog today is rather a celebration of life. The life of one of the most inspirational men I've ever known, apart from my father John, who is himself one hell of a dad. Pepere has done so much: from lumberjacking to raising a family of several children, grand-children and great-grandchildren. Some of my happiest memories with Pepe have to be the last time I saw him, which was Easter in 2008 (I think it was just before Easter, actually, might have been in March, but anyway, the weather was FANTASTIC!). I spent a few days in a very nice trailor (once Lorelei's, a very close friend of the family, God rest her soul) a few miles from where Pepe and my aunt and uncle lived. We went to church on Sunday, of course, after which we went out for Pepe for a birthday dinner at Sam Seltzer's (the restaurant has recently been taken over by his son, so I"ve been told), with almost everyone on my dad's side of the family, including my amazing cousin Tim, home from duty, and his wife Alicia and son. That was a wonderful evening. I also remember playing "Pay Me", a rather intricate card game which always involved Pepe (or always seemed to, anyway) winning the elusive dime at the end. Before my grandparents moved to Florida, they used to host Thanksgiving dinner at their home in Sturbridge, MA, about an hour to the west of Boston. Mmmmm, Meme sure should cook. And speaking of cooking, I have to mention the wonderful 4th of July parties we used to have at our house! They always involved Dad preparing enough food to feed all of America. They always involved no less than 15-20 people staying over at our house, and they always involved Uncle Dave hiding Meme's meatballs, a Tardif favorite and staple of our parties or eating way too many, leaving (I think one year he left a half a meatball for Linda...good times) Saint Espirit...or as Pepe pronounced it, heard and frequently repeated erroneously by me...Santa Spree! Yes, not all of us can be fluent in French like my sister. 0:) But anyway, these are some of my favorite memories of both Meme and Pepe. The last major family get-together I recall, apart from our combined graduation party (I graduated from Holy Cross in 2007, and a week later my sister graduated from our local high school, so we had one huge party), was our grandparents' 65th wedding anniversary. It was a wonderful party, though preparing for it was hell. That couch in our basement is never going anywhere EVER AGAIN in my lifetime. But it should be said that the couch and recliners in our living room are absolutely amazing, I look forward to relaxing on them when I come home for a brief two-week vacation in October. But anyway, it was a fantastic party, we had a volleyball court set up in our park outside our house, people were just chilling, eating lots of yummy food (including Meme's super delicious meatballs), playing video games in our basement (which has since become my room after my parents kicked me out of my room after I went to college, another funny story in and of itself), swimming and having a gay ol' time. These are the things I"ll remember most, just being with Pepe and the family.

In church today, reflecting on the St. Matthew's Gospel, Fr. Simon asked us who/what our pearl was. And to myself, I immediately answered: "my family". They are the ones for whom I lay down my life without a moment's hesitation. They are the ones I love and tresure more than anyone or anything in my life.

Of course, I'm sad. Unfortunately, this month hasn't been particularly easy for me, and now I just feel emotionally and physically drained. Luckily, on Tuesday I leave for TURKEY!!!! One whole of month of teaching kids and teenagers the difference between the present perfect and past simple tenses, one whole month of games like "Back to the Board" and "Wheel of Fortune" (always a personal favorite, LOL), and one whole month of swimming in the sure-to-be gorgeous Aegean Sea. I am wicked, wicked excited, because this couldn't come at a better time in my life. I really need a break, and while I can't take a proper vacation until October, this is as good as one, as far as I'm concerned. (Wow, I have to admire how many times I used as in that previous sentence, hee hee!) But as my mom says, in the immortal words of Dory, "Just keep swimming..." Incidentally, I really couldn't picture anyone other than Ellen DeGeneres playing that role....wonderfully funny person. As I was saying (another use of "as", haha), I'll be gone for a month but should have Internet access at camp, so keep on writing, drop me a line and I'll respond as soon as I can.

I'd like to close with Psalm 23 (my favorite Scripture passage). "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (King James version)

Thanks for all your kind condolences and prayers! Keep them coming, I will pass them on to my family, who I know will be very grateful! Love you guys, keep swimming and keep writing! Talk to you soon!


Peace and love,

Comrade Jon :)