NOV 4, 19 .. A SPECIAL, HAUNTING, MEMORIAL TO A LOVED ONE

Patti and I together share this most special moment and this most special memory. 

As the two of us, at ages 83 and 79, enter the 'end game' of life, the poignancy of such a Memorial reaches deep into our hearts and souls. We are at the stage of life when we are losing friends around us, so this Memorial is not some distant concept to be concerned about many years from now, this Memorial touches us in the here and now.

It is located in front of a very small church in Royal Oak, Michigan, where we own the home I was born into and grew up in. It is but a few blocks from us. The small church is in the home of a former High School classmate. So the small church is really personal to me.

Think about, treasure the below words. Hold those you love very close to your heart, we never know when we will lose them. 

Much Love..

Patti and Cap

DEC 10, 18 .. KYZYL .. WHAT AN HONOR IT IS ..

Today I was honored to have been asked to address just a few of the students at the Medical University of the Republic of Tuva, here in Kyzyl, Southern Russian Siberia.

These students had expressed an interest in the subject of alcoholism and I was asked to give a talk and to share my own personal experience.

In the below photo, you are looking at the very future of the Republic of Tuva, its youth.

To the above, bright eyed, enthusiastic youth of the Republic of Tuva :

I am so honored to have spent 90-minutes with you. I salute you and wish you all the very best as you strive to make positive changes in the Tuva Republic you love.

Cap

NOV 29, 18 .. IRKUTSK .. THESE PHOTOS DESERVED THEIR VERY OWN .. VERY SPECIAL POST

These Wonderful .. These Joyous .. These Special Photos deserved their very own special Post.

In yesterday's Post, I showed you photos of my walk to .. and my photos of .. The Irkutsk Circus.

While I was doing my photo shoot of The Circus .. Suddenly .. Out of nowhere, appeared Sparkey*. Please see my Post Script below after I sign off at the end of this Post.

And, equally suddenly, also out of nowhere, appeared a young girl who was absolutely enamored with Sparkey*.

And out came my camera and away I went .. Snap Snap Snap ..

The photos speak for themselves.

It was love at first sight.

"Would you like to dance with me?'

"Oh YES! I would love to dance!"

"Here is how we will dance together you and I."

"You can't see me!"

"Oh yes I can!"

"Thank You for dancing with me!"

Then it was goodbye forever.

IF ever in this lifetime I would have wanted a 'motor-drive' on a camera, it was while the above dance was being performed.

"Thank You So Very Much to the people of Irkutsk who are responsible for such a fun and joyous event." Someone had to come up with the idea of having Sparkey* there to entertain the children.

With Joy .. With Love ..

Cap

*Post Script : I did every trick I know in the book to try to find out just who the above character is to no avail. I Googled Cartoon Characters. I Googled Television Characters. I looked at (yes count them) three hundred and fifty characters to no avail. I even Googled Russian Cartoon Characters. This I knew : It was NOT Mickey Mouse. So I decided to call him Sparkey. He had a real spark for life and joy.

JUL 25, 16 .. PURE LOVE ..

Yes, I know, some of you have seen this most special photo over on babakaps.net.

Patti and I saw this scene as we entered a meeting here in Royal Oak Michigan. 

I get emotional just publishing it again here on Blogspot.

Love from Patti and Cap