Recognize & Appreciate

With the holiday season officially upon us (it may be 2:41 in the morning but it's still Thanksgiving!) many people anticipate gathering and celebrating with families.  It's a time for rejoicing and reflecting, for remembering and relatives.  

And for some people, parts of that is harder than others.  

It's easy to get caught up in the haves and have nots and, in my case, the who and who nots.  It's darn hard to celebrate when it feels like half the members are missing.  
 
We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.--Frederick Keonig

And so I remember that I'm thankful for the courage my brothers have to go out and explore the opportunities and chase the dreams that take them far away on holidays.   

I'm thankful that it's hard on them to be away because it means we're a good family who cares about and genuinely likes to be around each other.

I'm thankful that we are all healthy enough to be out and about enjoying opportunities--whether it's eating turkey at Grandpa and Grandma's table or prepping to run a half Marathon in Kuwait.

I'm thankful that I have a job and that some of those tax dollars go to buying the Navy and Marine boys some turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy.  In a round-about way I am feeding my brothers today.

I'm thankful for the family who are pursuing opportunities closer to home--that means I get to spend the day with them.

And when I read back through my list I realize that it truly will be a good Thanksgiving indeed and that I'm thankful for family both near and far.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

What Uncles Are Good For

What are uncles good for?

They're good for lots of things but Cyril and Alana's uncles are good for being silly.  Absolutely nutty and it doesn't matter if a camera is pointed at the silliness or not.

They are good for copying you.

They're good for smelling weird.

They can manage you AND their beverage at the same time.

And they have good laps for holding their favorite niece and nephew!

We love you Uncle Tony, have fun in Rhode Island at Officer School!

Fall For You

Once upon a time I had a bunch of siblings who all lived under the same roof in the same house and (somehow) in just three bedrooms.  The mind boggles.

I still have a bunch of siblings but we not only don't live under the same roof in the same house anymore, but we don't even live in the same state, the same time zone, or even the same continent anymore!

Sniffle.

As autumn fully sets in and the days, nights, and afternoons are all a bit colder, the rain a bit more frequent, and the daylight a bit more scarce I can't help but think about all those times that we were under one roof and seriously driving each other C.R.A.Z.Y.  I kinda miss those times. Sometimes.  Okay most times.  Or sometimes most of the time.  See?  Residual crazy.

And I think about how some of those siblings are in places with lots and lots of sand and sun and therefore may be missing a time and place where fall truly is a season.

So for you boys?  Here's some fall for you.

 Oh and here's some family too!

 That's right...Return With Honor.

So Long, Farewell...

It happened before.  It happened again.  And we knew it was bound to happen yet again.

And it likely will again. And again. And AGAIN.

First it was Tony zipping off to the Navy after high school.
Then it was Paddy jetting off to Kuwait after college.
And now it's Gabe, zooming off to the Marines.

And while it is quite the challenge to have these siblings so far away, I could not be more proud of them and their choices.  

And to her Uncle Gabe who leaves today, Alana says:

Job Perks

I love my job.  No really, I LOVE my job.
But one of the things I most recently love about my job is that when the registrar is purging old files she runs across this:

And gives them to me. Don't you just want to squeeze his little chubby cheeks?

Number One

Not only did our hometown team get a shout-out on national television last weekend during the OSU-UCLA game, but we rather soundly beat the number one-ranked team in our league (West Albany) to take the number one spot in the STATE!  

Gooooo Silverton Foxes
Foxes are ranked #1!

O’Fest Road Race Series: Race #1--Sibling Submission

            We’ve always been a competitive and athletic family, so when the 2007 Oktoberfest rolled around, those of us with accommodating schedules signed up for the 5K Road Race. The morning was way too early following a hearty Friday night, but we somehow managed to make it to the starting line in time.  Gabe and Greg were still in high school and therefore in top physical condition, despite having played a tough road football game 12 hours prior.  Paddy was still a collegiate decathlete and therefore also in top condition.  I (Tony) was less than a year removed from Special Forces training, which set the stage for a high octane ultra-competitive event…

            Unfortunately for me, the running edge went to the other three boys, regardless of my valiant initial surge to the front.  The not-so-slow yet still steady pace of the other boys soon overrode my misguided effort and I found myself at the back of the only pack that mattered that day.  I matched their pace, but soon found myself falling back despite “encouraging” commentary from each Fennimore boy who passed me.  As I lost sight of them over the last rise which rounded Abbey Hill, I was determined to give a better effort in the second half of the race.

            Down the slope of College St as it enters town, my legs generated new energy and I looked into the distance for the other boys. Despite my vantage point at the beginning of a long straightaway, there was no Fennimores to be seen.  Somewhat crushed at the vanishing prospect of finishing ahead of them, I nevertheless finished my race at a high level in order to salvage at least a little pride.  As I huffed and puffed my way across the finish line, I looked around and couldn’t find the boys anywhere. Minutes later, Gabe led Paddy across the finish with Greg only seconds behind them. After everyone finished catching their breath, it was determined that these three boys had mistakenly turned back down Alder St too soon (where we had begun the race) and sprinted to the finish from the wrong direction, thus adding hundreds of meters to their 5K! They had to turn back the way they came and muster enough energy to finish 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th behind the inaugural champion, Yours Truly.  After stories were swapped and excuses were made, some minor bragging ensued, which prompted splashing with ice-cold water from water bottles, resulting in a high speed chase and water fight around the field, while exhausted racers gawked in disbelief at the reserves of energy which were on display.  This “controversial” victory spawned a series of races over the next several years.

            The result of this race demonstrates that strength alone is not enough to win the day; a true warrior must use his most valuable weapon: his brain. So stay in school, kids!

*Submitted by #14