Afterglow 2011 - Day 3 Monday

I know that this moment was really hard for everyone. We had all been through so much over the past few months but at least I can say that we all went through it together. And that's why Afterglow is the perfect time and place to time and place for this. There's not too much I can really say about this without all of the emotions of that day rushing back to me. But maybe in a weird way that's a good thing. I don't want to forget how I feel and I don't want to feel nothing. I always want to care and in a way I always want to cry. That keeps it real and part of my life now.

This place is chock full of traditions, and I'm going to keep bringing them up year after year to hammer them home and force you to know them. I don't know if Dale rocks the Dale's (his old school neon sunglasses) back home but it wouldn't be right if he didn't do it here.

Can you tell that someone didn't want his picture taken? I can't say that I blame him because no one there was looking or feeling their best. But I did it anyway because like a true journalist I have the need to document everything be it good or bad. And I'm also not going to shy away from telling the entire story of Afterglow 2011.

Fish Them Chairs Out of the Water started a few years ago. Maybe more like 4 or 5 if memory serves me right. Timmy and I were hanging out over by Cabin #5 (Uncle Greg's cabin) and goofing around. A couple of chairs were sitting on the dock and Timmy and I pushed or threw them into the water. We started to walk away and Uncle Greg shouted out from his cabin the now infamous catch phrase, "Hey! Fish them chairs out of the water!!" So we had to wade in the water and pick up the chairs. And we've been playing this game ever since. One of many traditions.

We didn't really do much this morning and everyone was just kind of bumming outside either inside or right outside the cabin. Some people had a late night to blame but all of us knew that we all had a long day ahead of us. Monday is a very busy day at Afterglow.

The entire burial and ceremony lasted well over and how and people started to trickle away. A handful of us couldn't leave. I feel almost bad taking pictures like this one of Brian but it captures reality at it's rawest moment. You can feel Brian's pain as he stands there solemnly by the tree immersed in his own thoughts trying to process it.

But today was no ordinary Monday. Forgive me if I am overly emotional here because I'm crying while I type this. Today was the day that we buried Timmy's ashes here at memory point at Afterglow. We had him cremated and figured there was no better place in the whole world the would be a better resting spot than this one overlooking the lake. All of the family (including my Dad who had made the trip up) and half of the resort came for the ceremony. Jenny put together a booklet filled with poems, prayers and pictures and we all had a chance to reflect upon how much we love Timmy and what he meant to our lives. I hate to call it beautiful, but as you can see from the picture on the left it was a perfect day. After covering the grave we decorated it with some artifacts and stood in silent reflection. It was very difficult but it was the right thing to do.

We didn't want to leave Timmy all by himself. This whole thing is something that I never imagined going through. That having been said I didn't know how to react so I just stood their by his grave and did nothing. But you can only really do that for so long until life has to go on. But even today I can sleep soundly knowing that Timmy's soul is at peace and his body is resting in the most beautiful place on Earth. We should all be so lucky in the end, I just hope to God for me and you that it doesn't happen for a very long time. I can't stand any more heartbreak.

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