I have so far this year lost 8 people:

Mrs Valeria Marak (mom)

Jim Marak (a cousin)

Tom Edwards (neighbor & childhood playmate, 58)

Sean Downs (a great friend & drinking buddy, 48, died 2 wks after cancer diagnosis)

Mrs Ringer (next door neighbor's mom)

Ron Collins (friend & member of our BB lg for the last 33 yrs)

Sister Winifred (my 7th grade teacher)

Pete Antimarino (FB coach extraordinaire & my HS gym teacher)

not like I was close to the last two, but I knew them

and it's only August, n' my best friend's mom & the drummer from the very first band I ever sang with both have cancer, very likely terminal

2017 has not been a good year at all

what I really came for was this…

Observation

If I didn't care for fun and such
I'd probably amount to much
But I shall stay the way I am
Because I do not give a damn

"…clowning is certainly a wonderful thing, unless you are a clown in which case it's a j*b." – Phil Austin

… overdue padded post…

… with my 1500th Phoenix post, I sincerely salute your loved ones and friends, they were better for having had you in their lives…

… occasionally I've commented that you're a good son, that your mom was lucky to have you, and other pleasant pleasantries…

… you had a distinctly profound and meaningful impact on the quality of her life…

ambulance across the street this morning – 2017 continues to suck

if I don't pad this post, who will?