Two Funerals And A Party

Allen has had a rough spring. His dear friend, Dan Brown, died in April of complications from diabetes. Allen has worked for Dan and his wife Barb for nearly a decade. He is more often than not in their house doing some sort of project. Over the years, they became very close. We've been to both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and many parties at the Browns' home. Allen has become a part of their family and he was there for them at the end of Dan's short life. Dan was one of a kind and his death is a huge loss.

Dan and Allen last Christmas

On Memorial Day, another of our friends, Ken Glidewell, was in a motorcycle accident. He died from his injuries on Tuesday morning. The loss of Ken, on the heels of Dan's death, has been very difficult. It is all so surreal.

Ken playing music

And to make things just a little better, I get to wear this for the entire month of June.

Unbeknown to Allen, I have been planning his 40th birthday party for months.

The Invitation

I wanted to throw him his first birthday party ever and wanted him to have a birthday that "didn't suck." To get him to his party, I told him we were meeting a few friends for dinner, Ken and his girlfriend being two of the friends. The night Ken died, Allen told me he didn't feel like celebrating his birthday. I had to fess up, and we decided to go ahead as planned. Ken's funeral and Allen's party were on the same day. It wasn't the party I envisioned, but it was nice for everyone to join the celebration.

Allen and his sister Natalie (right) and her best friend Natalie

Allen, Kim, Lisa and Doug

Devon, Jana, Kelly, Larry and Eric

Tom, Jackie, John, Chris, Heidi and Doc

Allen, me, Sabrina, Kirk and Laurie

The Crew from Oxford

Allen and John

The Cake

Allen opening gifts with Robin's and my help

The band that was setting up was really sweet. They sang happy birthday to Allen and then invited him to sing a song with them. Allen loves to sing.

Allen singing "Some Kind Of Wonderful"

Happy Birthday, my love. May the second half of the year be better than the first.