Archie P. Buie, Jr. Happy Birthday

Archie Patterson Buie, Jr.

Today is my Dad’s 89^th birthday. Though he has been gone for two years I still find “celebrating” his birthday without him more than a bit painful/sad.

I miss him as much now as I did when he took off without us. Not that I/we don’t have good times remembering anecdotes about him because we do, lots of them, and I must say it does help to think that he’s making up for lost time somewhere, flying fast jets, catching huge bass, snorkeling for blue crabs, and messin’ around with some unsuspecting woman.

In spite of PTSD, survivor’s syndrome, multiple divorces and other of life's negatives, he did enjoy himself. He left behind many whom he loved, and who loved him. What more can one ask for?

For me, he was one of the bravest men I've known. He was also a “hard-headed cuss” that life had to “kick upside the head” every once in a while-or more often-to get him to pay attention.

So today, on his birthday, my celebration is about loving the man who was/is my father and all that he was and all that he gave to me.
Today is about being thankful for who I am because Archie Buie was my father.

I love you Dad. Fly high and catch a big one for me… 

Korea, fighter pilot

Married to my mom

With all his kids in the 1960's

With all his kids all grown up in the 2000's

Our "flower child" father.

Proud grandfather with co-grandfather

Happy times at Christmas

In his last year 2012/13

Thank you Dad, for everything.

Z is for La Zoom Bus!

Over the weekend, Saturday night to be exact, we were in Asheville, North Carolina to celebrate my brother and sister in laws’ birthdays/anniversary. They rented the La Zoom Tour Bus and chose the “Haunted Tour” for this event. There were 38 of us on board and because it was a private party we let loose and had a great time! Ask anyone on the streets that night how loud we were! Every time our "host" (a werewolf) said "Thomas Wolfe" we all howled, which happened every time we passed people on the sidewalks or partaking on the patios of restaurants. I love the idea behind this tour. We were treated to comedy, theatrics, history (sort of) lessons of interest, and a wild ride on an old revamped, artistically painted purple school bus.

If you have a chance to partake of this tour while in Asheville, it will give you a whole other side of that beautiful city than the “Biltmore” visit, which is also awesome in a different more serious way. I found it a wonderful subject to write about for the last day of the A-to-Z Blogging Challenge. What a way to end this amazing and insightful blogging challenge. I thank all of you who have graced my blog with your presence, and those who have chosen to follow me and keep up our relationship. I will keep in touch with those I’ve found, and because I’ve copied the list, will continue to visit all those that participated this year.

Here is the link for you to check out if you’d like.

http://www.lazoomtours.com/

 Photo of bus:

Stickware's Photo Stream

La Zoom Banner:

Asheville Fringe