meet virginia

i was planning on writing a different kind of blog when i recieved an email from one lovely and loving jeremias telling me his grandaddy had died, detailing what sounded like a peaceful and tranquil end of over a century of life. so moved am i both by my sorrow for what he and his family have lost in losing the living presence of an old man who planted the seeds of the amazing j who we all know to be one of the best and sweetest of men to walk the planet, as well as a whole orchard full of apples in virginia. i never got a chance to meet his grandfather, just listened as he shouted over the phone and joked that the phone was unnecessary if he talked that loud surely his grandad would hear him all the way in virginia anyway.
i just want to pay tribute here somehow briefly to the amazing generous and loving spirit of the rhoades family.

to his mom and dad and sister who are all among the kindest and most loving, thoughtful, and tranquil people i have met yet,
to aunt nelda, who is one of my favorite members of the fam, much more energetic and boisterous but just as generous and compassionate, just as devoted to making the world better one balloon ride or fabulous meal or dedicated public service at a time..

...and most of all to the amazing set of miraculous coincidences that created the man i love and to the family that helped him to learn how to nurture and keep being the wide eyed sweet spirited loving thoughtful exquisitely beautiful creature that he is i just want to send my thoughts and thanks, as clearly its been a hell of a century.