Monday, March 24, 2003

One Year of the Slat Rat Chronicles! I started blogging one year ago today. Peter thought it would be fun to do a top ten of favorite blog entries from the past year. So, I reviewed every one of my posts in the past year - definitely a chore. But it was also sort of compelling. I've had quite a year and there's something about going through the year day by day - the time just flows by like a river: my Dad's death, Jasper's death, trips, ups, downs, Alaska weather and earthquakes and when I first bumped into Phil, Niek, and Charles. But perhaps what caught me most off guard was reading comments left by my Dad - right up to a few days before he went into the hospital. Those comments are an incredible example of the wondrous humanity technology can sometimes provide. Enough mushy stuff. Without further ado, here's Steph's top ten bloggies from the past year: My Dad's Death. My Dad went into the hospital on October 4th. On October 11th (my birthday - typical of Dad), his brain started bleeding. On October 14th, I realized that a parent's process of dying is perhaps one of their last gifts to us. On October 15th, my Dad died. Jasper's death. Jasper was my best buddy for eighteen years and losing him a month and a half after Dad died was almost more than I could bear. My weblog December entries certainly reflect that. My first reference to Jasper's deteriorating health was on November 21st. He died on December 2nd. The Westchester Lagoon Ice Classic (definitely a happier memory). I announced The Classic on April 26th and the ice took forever to go out. It didn't depart until May 10th - exceptionally late. There were two winners: Erin Wheeler and Brad Yeary. There will definitely be a 2nd Annual Westchester Ice Classic. The Big Earthquake. On November 3rd Alaska was hit by a 7.9 earthquake. Did Phil and I panic? Absolutely not - we both blogged our way through it - much to Peter's consternation. After the earthquake, Alaska broke off the North American continent and floated South. We ended up off the coast of Washington State - where we've spent most of the winter. Henry II. On September 7th, the world's spiffiest red Turbo S Beetle came to live with us. On June 11th, I noted the arrival of a brand new blogger - Mom! My always fascinating, in a train wreck sort of way, health. Jasper's bath. Dad and his beloved Jeep. I took this picture on August 14th. Five minutes later we hugged and he drove away. It was the last time I ever I saw him. 7:19:48 PM    comment []

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