This is for all the Lonely People

I've been leaving Angwin around 8:30 AM everyday for work, but today I decided to go in early. Even though it was hard to get out of bed and get ready for the day, my mood suddenly changed when a song came on the radio. K-Love is usually left on in my car 1) because I love the music and 2) it is one of the only stations that comes in loud and clear no matter where I am. I was surprised when I heard a familiar tune by America being played on a Christian radio station this morning. The song is called "Lonely People," and it's a message to anyone that's been hurt in a relationship to not give up on love and try again. My dad often played their music while I was growing up, and I grew attached to this rock-folk group of three.

So, why was K-Love playing the song? It turns out Dan Peek, one of the "Americans," passed away on Sunday. Before he died, he became a Christian and left the band. He then wrote new lyrics to "Lonely People." Here's the song...

It's amazing how God knows exactly what you need to hear, when you need to hear it.

Lions and Tigers and Giants! Oh My!

With only one day to spare in San Diego, Aren and I decided to make the most out of it by going to a Padres game. As luck would have it, our boys, The World Champion San Francisco Giants, were playing the Pads that weekend. On Sunday morning we packed up my bag (I had to catch a flight back home that night), a baseball mitt and sunflower seeds (not my choice) and headed to Petco Park. We were pleased by the convenient parking and reasonable pricing that AT&T Park fails to offer, and the park itself is gorgeous.

The game started at 1 PM, so we arrived at 11 AM to watch batting practice. On our way to left field, a kind Padre's Fan Photographer took out picture. We were sporting our Giants jerseys, but he didn't seem to mind. He probably knew the majority of the pictures he would take that day would be of Giants fans. There were so many! It almost felt like a game at AT&T except I wasn't freezing. Here are the pictures he took. I had to buy them, naturally...

After we said "Cheese," we made our way to left field. As if acknowledging our presence, the pitching staff made their way to the field. We were a mere 30 feet from Brian Wilson who was wearing ear buds while he played catch. We assumed he was probably listening to "Jump Around," his theme song. Aren was completely determined to get a ball, so after a few minutes of, "Hi Jeremy!" and "Hey Ramon! Can I have the ball? Please, it's right there!" and "Brian! Brian, it's me! Hey Brian, can I get that ball? Please! Oh okay. I still love you!" Jeremy took pity on the poor guy and tossed him a ball. As much as he wished it were a fly ball, he'll take whatever he can get.

Brian and Jeremy warming up.

Brian Wilson: The Most Interesting Closer in the Game.

The view from our seats. Not bad at all!

Petco Park is nice n' pretty.

Proud Giants fans.

Brian shutting it down.

The Giants won in extra innings. Shocker! The game ended around 4:30 PM and my flight left at 9 PM, so we decided to kill time sitting in a Starbucks...

JUST KIDDING!

We went to the San Diego Zoo, of course.

With only a couple hours to spare, we quickly grabbed a map and planned out our route. On our "Must See" list were: orangutans, gorillas, pandas, tigers, lions and snakes. (For Aren - not for me.) We did a pretty good job considering the time crunch we had.

On a side note, it also happened to be an "Out and Proud" night at the zoo. There was a rave set-up next to the exit and we were joined by a lot of guys wearing... interesting clothing. The best was a tube top, booty short combo.

One lonely orangutan looking out over the water.

His siblings were doing somersaults and swinging from ropes up above.

I have never seen a panda this well at a zoo before.

Aren just got through watching Pablo "Panda" Sandoval at the game

and now he gets to see the real deal. Hence, the excited face.

Vanna White status. "Solve this puzzle and you win a brand new panda!"

Our yellow lab, Bear, is named after a polar bear.

He looked just like this when he was a puppy - just a million times smaller.

I get really excited when I see a llama. I even do an impression of Tina the Llama from

Napoleon Dynamite and it's pretty spot on. I was stoked to see this cousin of a llama.

I keep asking Aren to get me an elephant.

No luck yet, but I think I've almost convinced him that it's the right investment to make.

This camel was getting ready to spit on us. We just know it!

So, after a fun filled day of baseball and a spontaneous trip to the zoo, Aren rushed me off to the airport just in time for my flight. I landed in Sacramento around 11:30 PM and immediately crashed in the car. (Obviously I wasn't driving.) I got up early the next day to start the work week again. Wahoo! I wouldn't have changed anything though. The weekend was perfect.

One Funeral, One Wedding, One Job

My grandpa's funeral service was this past weekend. On Friday we drove out to the National Cemetery in Dixon where we had a small and intimate ceremony for Papa. The whole family was there:

Grammie, Uncle Greg, Aunt Ruth, Sterling, Greer & Ela

Uncle Ron, Alec & Shelby

Dad, Mom, Nick & I

and Papa's youngest brother Kay Don, whom I met for the first time.

Everyone was there, but Papa. There was an emptiness felt when I watched everyone sit down for the ceremony inside a small chapel on site. We were joined by a couple of pastors and Mr. Vance, who led out in the message.

Since Papa served in the army for two years, he was honored in a military fashion. There was the playing of "Taps" and unfolding, refolding and presentation of the American flag to Grammie. Overall a very nice service. We took a family picture afterwards. A large portrait of Papa was in the background.

During the service I found myself thinking, "Am I really sitting at my Papa's funeral?" It was a day that I knew would come, but I still wasn't ready. A funeral is the most formal goodbye you can say, and it can't be taken back. At least when I say goodbye to my best friend, Kait, who lives states away from me, I know it is not a forever goodbye. Funerals are so final and so forever, but I am so happy to be a Christian and to know that their is life after death. I will see Papa again. So, in a way, a funeral is the formal goodbye to someone on earth - but the realization that you will see them again.

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The next day we held a memorial service for him at Carmichael Seventh-day Adventist Church. Weeks of hard work by my Grammie, uncles and mom went into the program. Sterling, Greer and Ela played Nimrod on their string instruments. It truly is one of the most beautiful pieces ever composed. Alec and Shelby played guitar and sang a song by Regina Spektor I had never heard before. Here are some of the lyrics...

It started out as a feeling

Which then grew into a hope

Which then turned into a quiet thought

Which then turned into a quiet word

And then that word grew louder and louder

'Til it was a battle cry

I'll come back

When you call me

No need to say goodbye

Just because every thing's changing

Doesn't mean it's never

Been this way before

All you can do is try to know

Who your friends are

As you head off to the war

Pick a star on the dark horizon

And follow the light

You'll come back

When it's over

No need to say good bye

You'll come back

When it's over

No need to say good bye

Shelby is such a talented singer. I was so blessed by all my cousins that performed.

After that came a life sketch written by my mom and read by her and her brothers. A couple of Papa's associates stood on stage and talked about what a wonderful, kind, "Gentle Giant" Papa was. What followed was an amazing slide show, but I can't even call it a slide show. It was his life in pictures with his favorite song being sung in the background. It brought me to tears when I saw him holding me as a baby and our trip to Canada. My uncle Greg did a fantastic job on this movie that he entitled "Seasons." You can watch it here:

I was lucky enough to take part in the program directly after the movie. I composed myself and got up on stage with my brother. We read excerpts from Psalms 57 and 84. The pastor concluded with an uplifting homily. Overall, a truly beautiful service that Papa would have loved.

A reception followed the service. We spent hours talking with people who knew him. I was touched and proud of my Papa when I heard stories of how he encouraged them, mentored them and inspired them.

~--------------------------------------------------~

The next day was much different for me. A funeral and a wedding are quite opposite events when you look from the surface. One is a somber event filled with tears, hugging and condolences. The latter is uplifting and heartwarming. However, both occasions are held to celebrate life. One is the celebration of a life that has ended and the other is the celebration of a life beginning.

My friend Lisa got married on a beautiful piece of property in the Napa Valley. I could tell a lot of energy and time went into making everything perfect that day. The wedding was so gorgeous and the bride didn't look too bad herself!

Lisa and Tyler tying the knot.

The gorgeous bridesmaid and friend, Chelsea.

Lisa and I.

Almost our entire high school graduating class was there.

Chelsea, me, Tauva, Lisa, Jack, Sho and Nathan.

~--------------------------------------------------~

Preparing for Grad School requires one large element: money. I knew I had this long summer break to earn some dough before I head down south and spend all my money on books, rent and food, but I didn't have a job. Picking up 10 hours a week in the gym was not going to cut it.

After praying, looking and asking around for employment for a month the perfect job was placed in my hands. I was asked to come in and intern at St. Helena Hospital. I get to work on a substantial project for the CFO that will later be sent to the corporate office for review. This job requires a lot of hours (which I was willing to dedicate) and a lot of hard work (which I am willing to offer). I feel the pressure weighing down on my shoulders, but I welcome it. If I succeed at this, I could end up impressing my future bosses. Not only am I adding to my resume by doing a job that I love, but I am networking and making the money I'll need in order to start my life down south.

I thought I had run out of time, but God's timing is always perfect. I can always depend on Him.

Not only is His timing perfect, but his plan is so much better than mine. I couldn't have dreamed up a better summer job.

~--------------------------------------------------~

On another note, I'm flying down to San Diego in 3 days!

I literally cannot wait to see my bud.

'Til next time.