My intentions have been to post once a month but will you look at that?…It’s been 2 months since my last post. And so it goes. I hereby declare I’m going to post when I feel like it to free myself of guilt!

Unfortunately, summer hasn’t started out so well for us….Mr. SOTSS’ dad passed away over the weekend from a rare and rapid illness called CJD and we’re really all just in shock. His dad was just shy of 72 but was quite strong and healthy up until 2 months ago when he started to show symptoms. He was still running a business and doing all the things. Neither of us ever expected this. We’re now navigating through unchartered territory with the loss of a parent (and me trying to to support someone who’s lost a parent). I’m grateful to have had a few years to get to know him and experience some memorable family sailing trips as well as two special trips to Block Island (off the coast of Rhode Island)โ€”first, for his wedding in 2015, and then two years later to celebrate his 70th birthday. I have to say that his passing has left me feeling that sense of urgency once again. Stop waiting and start doing….wait, isn’t that the tagline for The Home Depot? But really….we need to just tell our loved ones we love them as much as we can and go do what makes us happy on the regular.

Our captain at the helm.

Mr. SOTSS and his dad in Block Island celebrating his dad’s 70th birthday

My first kayaking experience was when we were in Block Island

Sunrise over the pond behind the house we stayed in on Block Island

On a brighter note there have been many awesome moments since my last post too.

Mr. SOTSS’s birthday was a quiet one this year but we celebrated with ice cream which is always a great way to celebrate ๐Ÿ™‚

Yes, I brought a candle to the ice cream shop and sang Happy Birthday to him right there on the sidewalk. ๐Ÿ™‚

His youngest daughter just graduated from middle school and his oldest daughter just turned Sweet 16.

My lame attempt at decorating. But hey, I used 16 cupcakes total so A for effort!

I have also discovered that our yard has some lovely flowers growing. We had peonies a few weeks ago and now we’ve got hydrangeas.

Freshly cut Peony bouquet

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