Oh, David. You have one of those million-dollar smiles. The kind that is so infectious, you just cannot help but smile at in same.
I can only imagine the long line of people that lined up for him, law enforcement is so supportive of their own, aren't they? When someone is liked as much as he was, even more. I can understand the closeness, Irish twins almost! Even though I have lived mostly away from home, it feels like we are never far apart.
David and Christmas are legendary! He could put some elves to shame. Do they still carry on at his house? It sounds like today went nicely! It might not have started out the same as what was planned, but, frequently, the alternate plan (or happening) works out even better. I hope your Mom did well and there were lots of memories passed around. I have a brother David too. He is the second to last child.
The Chinese food sounded nice! Oh, that was from my page!
The photos are the best part. They can be shared with us, so we can see exactly why he was the best brother ever. I still cry at pictures, but, it is different now. I like to give pause to some moments, but, mostly treasure the ones I have. You were lucky to have such a cool brother, much like he was so lucky to have you. ❤️
Happy Birthday, David!
He DID have a great smile and an unusual laugh, that made it impossible for you not to laugh too !
He had been in the department so long and some of that time over the rookie training school, so nearly everybody knew him there, one way or the other. They certainly do stand together.
David's wife Tammy sold their house a couple of years ago, so there is nowhere to go back too where he once was now. It was big and every room, nook and cranny was filled with years of memories. That can be good or sometimes it can make it hard for you to become strong and carry on..... so she let that one go and bought another in a development where her previous husband had bought land for their two daughters to build on. Now her lot is back to back with one daughter, with a nice stand of trees in between for some privacy, so although she lives alone, it does not feel TOO alone. I was so happy for her and we all still keep in touch.
Our afternoon did turn out splendid I must say and you are right, plans, changed plans or no plans.... when family is together, something good always seems to come out of it.... at least with ours it does.
Sesame chicken with vegetable fried rice, broccoli and beef with pork fried rice... and a few spring rolls of course. I "thought" I ordered chicken broccoli and I swear I think I did, but when I got to Mom's, it was beef broccoli instead. Fortunately, it was still very good.
Although I think of David frequently, I don't delve into all the photos frequently because it is so emotional. It gets better and better and I love having all the photos. Brad, David's son, who now wears his badge and just made Sargant a few months ago (and is creating a legend of his own) put all of the photos David had taken that were on his computer(a vast amount through the years) and other external hard drives, put them on new external hard drives and gave each of us siblings and Mom a copy the first year after David passed. It is quite the treasure trove as David took photos of EVERYTHING. Now we all have copies.
Happy Birthday to David indeed !
I am so happy that David's wife Tammy is still in touch. Sometimes, I have heard that it can get different after one passes on, but your family reminds me of my own. I like that she moved near her daughter. That will be so wonderful when they have kids.
Family is family. and I am blessed to have one that is wonderful. I can't imagine life without them. Big families sometimes don't agree, but, we do agree we should take it to heart.
I am doing a copy of a video I did of my parents before my dad got sick. It tell their story, how they met, everything about their life and little tidbits about their philosophies. I am still editing it and hopefully can add some of my favortie pics of them at the end. If I cannot manage to figure it out, I have a photography place here that can do it. I won't wait to long, it is hopefully for Christmas.
That was amazing that David had the foresight to put it all together. What a guy he was. Honestly. I won't keep you as you have got to be exhausted emotionally from the entire day and leading up to it.
Sweet Dreams, girl. I have gotten nothing computer done since Friday really.
I am happy that Tammy still wants to keep in touch too. We treasure it for now, because we understand that if she ever remarries (and why wouldn't she?).... we might lose some of that contact. That is the way it is most of the time.
I understand good family.
Your video adventure sounds wonderful. I hope you get it all worked out.
Have a good evening !