Last weekend Daddy Hogan (John, Johnny, Uncle Johnny, Mr. Hogan) turned 60!
We all gathered at the lake house, including our cousins Jen, Tim and Conner who came down from upstate New York for the celebration. It was a beautiful and relaxing weekend spent celebrating my dad and the family that he leads and loves.
Our dad inpires us everyday to take care of one another, put family first, and live a Christian life. His example is one of passion, honesty and determination. I often say that our family fights and loves harder than most people I know....and we would have it no other way. We feel things deeply and profoundly in a world whose overstimulation can serve as a sort of universal lidocaine.
As such, woven into the happiness of the weekend was a palpable void - MaryKatherine, my dad's "firstest one", is always missed but never as much as when we are gathered together, embibing and telling stories that would be better punctuated with her contagious laughter. But the gurgling laughter of a wee one seemed to make the ache just a bit more bearable. We experienced baby's first boat ride AND convertible ride! There was lots of eating, napping...and maybe just a FEW beverages. Neighbors and friends came over for birthday cake, and we got in quite a bit of boat time - decorated boat time thanks to the MacPeeks! There were deli runs and ice cream cones and music....
And all through it love....immeasurable amounts of love.
This piece will be called "Yentas Afloat" in my gallery show. :)
We didn't get a sunset, but I know that a few people were looking down on my dad from this sky...
Porch madness....if there is a max occupancy, we challenged it...
The fun isn't over - just interrupted by the work week!
Until next time....
