Crazy Uncle Dave's Sports Pages
A Quote to Start Things Off
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Pictures of Memories I
Snow kidding! These "kids" now range from 17 to 23
Friday, December 30, 2022
A Poetic Ending to a Semester of Subbing
Thursday, December 29, 2022
Friday, November 11, 2022
Keith Roller Played With a Full Deck and the Cards He was Dealt.
My brother Keith was born on this day in 1970. He passed away in April of 2013 at the age of 38 from a heart attack while in a nursing home in Elgin. He died a few weeks before he was scheduled to return home to his wife and kids.
Today, he would have turned 52. There is really very little significance to a 52nd birthday, but a few years ago I manufactured a little significance by referring to it as the full deck birthday. This is because a card deck traditionally has 52 cards. Today would have been Keith's full deck birthday.
My brother had social, emotional, physical, and mental health challenges on his brief time here, One could say that the deck was stacked against him. To judge him for his challenges, as many did, would be not only unfair but would rob you of knowing one of the kindest, smartest, funniest people you would ever encounter.
In his short life, he graduated college, fell in love, married and fathered 2 children who he showered love on. While it seems cruel that they hardly remember him, his legacy of kindness, passion, and creativity continues in them.
I was an older brother to Keith, I was also his youth group leader when he was in high school. I guess I was something of a model and an example to him. In many ways he was an example and even a teacher to me and although his life on earth is over the memories and the lessons continue.
Earlier this year, I started 2 sonnets with the same line: The time were given is quite brief. It started as just an exercise, It became much more than that when the 2nd poem became about Keith. As today is not only Keith's birthday but also Poetry Friday. I thought I would share it again here.
Death of a Brother
14 lines after 13 years
Monday, October 24, 2022
A song about Middle School
Sunday, October 23, 2022
These Blogs Are So Last Year
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Does Grief Last Forever?1 year ago
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Growing Up1 year ago
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