Getting the Alter Ready

Its been a long time since I've wrote in this journal. ALOT has happened since then one of the things is I got married! I am sadly and officially a KATZENMEYER :( It was hard to part with Bunker. As much as a loathed Bunker it still sounds better then Katzenmeyer..well to me anyways. Bunker seems happier, and dumpy, also sounds like a person that makes really bad decisions but is really nice. Katzenmeyer sounds mean, it also makes me think of grey and bland soup. When I hear it escape someones lips I feel like I have to grab the word bubble immediately upon exit and draw flowers and happy faces next to it. Its not an association, Dave and his family are the nicest people around, its just the way it sounds. I was actually thinking of Dave's Dad today and it gave me a good laugh. He will always order the weirdest most different thing on the menu just to see what its like. Once I watched him eat almost an entire apple omlete which was just eggs, apples and cheddar cheese in awe. He also orders really girly drinks and when he orders beer he calls it "Buttweiser" not on purpose just because he cant really pronounce it and according to Dave for a long while he would wear Dave's childhood helmet when he went out biking which is really funny to think about because his dad has a bigger head then mine and that's really saying something. So obviously and argumentally the Katzenmeyers are colorful people just the sound of the name that throws my balance off. But it's nice to be called Mr. and Mrs. its also nice to see the two names lumped together like siamese twins. Its charming anyways.

I'm not going to dig into my wedding or go on and on about marriage or any of that goofy stuff. I'll say a few things though. People LOVE it when you get married. Its freaky. I don't know if its like that after the second or third but the first wedding you have people will be PUMPED and not just your parents like everyone you encounter ever. I don't really know why..its a life mystery that's as baffling as the Egyptian pyramids. Its freaky but also wonderful to see so many people happy for your well being. People will want to give you stuff, do things for you LIVE IT UP. Its also a time where everyone will get sentimental and cheesy, hold hands, have long endearing hugs, cry tears of joy and happiness so might as well live that part up as well. It will be like soul therapy in which you don't secretly have to watch legends of the fall to let it all out. Have fun! do what you want to do and others will follow and love it. I guess that's it. It was a scary jump I'll admit. It kind of reminded me of the first time I ever jumped off a diving board. I wanted to do it so bad because it looked cool and when it finally came my turn I wanted to run away and cry like a big ole baby. So my only words of wisdom, which is what I also got at the time...Just close your eyes and jump! Its not that bad, its a much softer landing then you thought it would be. Like when your little and you pile a ton of pillows on the ground and jump off of chairs. Your surprised its actually fun! and you kind of want to do it again and again and again...but hopefully that wont happen ;)

Recently two very special people in my life past away. My dads uncle George and my former pastor Dan Wee (pictured above). They both lived full lives and are resting peacefully I'm sure. They both had these amazing smiles and were amazing people. You can just tell by looking at a picture of them how nice they were which I think is amazing since a picture is so flat. George the only thing I knew was that he was really nice. Whenever he came around when my father was dying he just put me at ease, with saying so very little but just by looking at him. That's an amazing trait! Dan Wee will forever have a place in my heart. He taught me so much about how to be a good person and how to have an open heart. So many good memories. The last time I saw him was his going away party where I gave him a drawing I did of an angel but it was in the style of a precious moments. (yeah its super embarrassing but lurking deep deep within an attic are countless drawing AND paintings I've done of precious moments..so weird!) He graciously accepted it and the last thing he said to me was " We'll see each other someday, if it's not in this life but on the other side" which I then started to cry because I thought man that would be a total bummer. Which is the same thing I did when I found out because it really was a total bummer how literal it was. I guess in one way, as you get older you slowly begin to realize that hey the other side or whatever there is will be pretty cool someday, I mean some of my favorite people are totally there hanging out. I'll be able to give them high fives and we'll all be able to dance like Gene Kelly. On the other hand you wish they were still around where you can say to yourself hey someday I'll call in the meantime I'll just Internet stalk them to get updates and be super happy for them.

I bet your wondering about my nephew Steve? Well he is still hanging in there like a monkey. He is just waiting for a new heart. Last Friday was Organ Donor awareness day, a day which reminds everyone to check off YES on the donor box for your ID and possibly think about your kiddos becoming donors. I know people don't think about it much but it is the most remarkable gift to give somebody. Everyone is just waiting, being as patient as can be. I miss Steve, so I've been trying to be as patient as I can but I would really like to see him.

I think this summer I am going to try to make it to the black hills as I have never been. I would like to see Mount Rushmore it looks funny. Its weird getting older, more mature. When I was really little I thought I would be a journalist or a photographer for national geographic and Id travel the world to exotic places. I'm not old, I'm also not a spring chick anymore either but I would like to see some places across the great sea if I could just to say I did it. Some places seem better in photos though just so you can dream about them anyways. Its just funny how it shifts slowly like the plates in the earth. When your younger you want to eat the whole pie but when you get older although maybe you want to eat the whole pie your more then happy with just a slice and find yourself very content with it.