The Last Hug

A year ago today was the last time I ever spoke to my dad, laughed with my dad, and hugged my dad.  I will forever remember this day, and how happy he was.  Even in the saddest of times, when I miss him the most, it makes me feel better to know that at least he had a great life. I value the fact that not everyone gets to have such a good last conversation with their loved ones.

On this Sunday, my family skipped meeting my parents at church because I had to fly out to LA that afternoon.  I asked my parents to swing by the house on their way home from church so I could see them before I left.  My dad came in the door with a huge smile on his face and a pie.  He said he brought the pie for Addison, but everyone knows she would never touch a piece of pie.  He was so chatty and silly.  He practically danced around the pie until I finally cut it.  He had the biggest piece!  After we ate, I gave him a belated birthday gift.  A sign that said “Life is short, smile while you still have teeth”.  He thought it was hilarious.  Sadly, I had to get ready to go to the airport so they had to head out.  I asked him to come over for memorial day for a cookout, I hugged him, he said he wouldn’t miss it, and that was the last time we talked.  He promptly went home and hung this sing meant for his man cave in their living room.  He dressed in all cammo (for reasons unknown), and text me a picture next to this sign.  This was the last picture he was ever in.

I often look back to that day, and I smile.  I am so lucky there are no regrets, and our last interaction was so silly and ended with a big hug.  After we lost him and talked about this day, we found out that dad had taken this pie from church!  There was a section that has baked goods for those who need something.  This silly guy took a pie from church, and i guess he needed it.  Don’t worry, I will bring a pie one day to replace the one he took.

The days, weeks, months to come were often sad.  Lots of tears have been shed, but I take great comfort in our last i interaction.  I would not have changed a thing about it.

Driver’s Seat Behind the scenes

Always, I am reminded how cool my job really is each time I am on a commercial set.  All the stress, all the issues, all my worrying is paid off by the exhilaration I feel on production.  It is so fun and interesting to watch an idea come to fruition.  My last shoot was no different! We shot in LA, we ate well, we laughed, and we created.

Enjoy the pictures and the final piece.

The final cheers

The Infiniti Q50

Dinner in Santa Monica. Those lobster’s don’t look organic

Shoot life

Shoot life

Creatives being creative

The ACD and an eagle

The amazing team behind the curtain

Final spot:

 

NY Autoshow

I recently had the luxury of visiting the NY International Autoshow (NYIA).  I always forget how beautiful and exciting life in the car business can be, until I visit an autoshow.  This

year was no different!  My company, Infiniti, revealed the new long wheel based QX50 and the all new QX30. The latter will be a new crossover for the north American market, and it looks like it will be super fun to drive!

Any autoshow visit isn’t complete until you see what you competition is up to!  Audi had the best Gray color car on the planet!  I feel in love with it instantly.

On his last day

Approximately 13 weeks ago I lost my dad to a massive heart attack, after being in a comma for five days.  I remember so clearly losing him and the struggle we went through to try and keep him alive.  We were so consumed with our sadness that we forgot to take time to think about how he lived.  He lived a happy life.

I remember so vividly the last day I ever spoke to him. It was Sunday May 18th.  R.J., Addison and I were all being lazy that morning and skipped church. I text my parents and asked them to come to the house after they were done.  Dad showed up acting very silly!  He had a cherry pie that he supposedly brought for Addison, which is humorous because she doesn’t like pie.  He was so excited about it and ate a huge slice.  I then gave him a sign that said “Life is short, smile while you still have teeth”.  He thought this was so funny!  We giggled with him and when we said our goodbyes I invited them over for a cookout on Memorial day, we hugged and he said “can’t wait.

Any other time, this story above wouldn’t have registered in my life.  Now it is ingrained in my memory forever.  What happened after this encounter can only bring a smile to my face.

My dad went home and hung this sign that I meant for him to put in his man cave in my mom’s living room for all to see.  He took a silly picture next to it while wearing cammo.  This is the last picture I have of him, and it reminds me that in the end he was happy!

As for the aforementioned pie.  We found out later that dad was walking out of church, and took the pie from the food pantry.  The sign above it said “take one if you need one”.  I feel like he needed that, and it was his last slice.  I do know that I now owe some individual a pie, but this makes for a better story.

I wrote this blog so one day when my mind starts to go I can remember my last day with my dad.  And remember, Life is short, smile while you still have teeth.

 

 

Questions from a smart little four year old

Today was a day of tough questions. On the way to school Addison said “mommy I don’t think I want to have any children. I don’t want to get stitches”. I asked her why she thought she would get stitches because mommy didn’t need any with her. She said “well then, how do they get the babies in your belly”. YIKES. I said we will discuss this much much later in life.

Creativity

This girl looked at her outfit today and said uh-oh I look like a boy today. I would like to note I didn’t pick the socks.

Christmas Cutie

Tonight is the night, Addison’s most dreaded nightmare…visiting Santa. At first she took the route of “I will not go and see him”. We informed her she couldn’t guarantee he knows what she wants, while she reminded us that she a. has an elf that will tell him and b. she can write him a letter.
So, like any good parent, we resorted to bribing her. She really likes one of my necklaces so I told her she can wear it as long as she lets me get this picture. She agreed, with two caveats: 1. She doesn’t have to talk to him 2. She can stand by him and not sit on his lap.
Now that we have a gentleman’s agreement, we shall see how this picture turns out.
Happy Monday.

Addison’s blog

I have decided to turn this page into the “crazy stuff Addison says” blog.  Maybe one day she will look back at this and laugh.

We just moved into our new house and Addison has been scared of her room. I asked her why and she is afraid someone is going to climb into her window.  Our new house has an eight foot tall crawl space, the main floor and then hers.  Nothing is getting up there.  So, I took her outside to see for herself that no one can crawl in, and she said “well, a witch can just fly right up there”.  Can’t argue with logic 😉

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was so wonderful. We visited my grandmother and family in KC. Still find it so funny we started this blog to help those with Hemongiomas. Funny how quickly we move onto the next big issue once one is resolved. One family member noted this weekend that you can’t tell she had anything! I am so Thankful for that.
Addison spent the night at her aunts for the first time last night. She danced and had a blast. They also went to a very cute train restaurant. She isn’t going to want to come home!