Not to be a downer but....

This last week I have had a lot of experiences with death. I came to the weird realization that WE ALL DIE. I know it sounds crazy that I just realized this, but a few patients I saw this week helped this lightbulb turn on. I had one patient that was in the hospital, because she had become extremely anxious and stressed. She was worrying that her husband was going to have a heart attack and she said she just couldn't handle seeing one more family member die. Then, I had another patient that died after a routine surgery. Basically, I came to the conclusion that you die early or you have to see people around you die. Either way...there is no escaping it. This is good motivation to live your life the way you want, so that you won't have any regrets.

Addendum to a Great Month

Man, I didn't realize how long it had been since we had last posted, or that we hadn't mentioned so many things until I looked through our pictures. While we were in Harrisonburg, we put up my parents Christmas tree, which was pretty big, and pretty fun. My dad and I spent about fifteen minutes trying to get our tree off of this spike, it was pretty funny though, we must've looked like idiots. We also went over to Billy and Laura's house twice, once to decorate Christmas cookies, and another time for a scrumptious dinner. That was actually my first time to ever decorate Christmas cookies, at least that I remember; I think I did a pretty good job. We also went to the Museum of American Frontier Culture, which is pretty nice. You can walk around through different homesteads like Scotch-Irish, English, German, Early American, and soon to come, and African farm. This particular visit was a guided tour through the different Christmas traditions that were held by those who came to America. We only have one picture and I look like a doof, but that's okay. Then, right before we went to Utah, we went to a live Nativity at the Church of the Brethren right near my parents' house. We went with our friends, Jerry and Grace, and it was pretty neat (but unbelievably cold). Unfortunately, we don't have any good pictures of this. Here are some of the good pictures from these other memories, though.

A Great Month

It's been a while for the Sedwick Family post, sorry. Heather wanted me to do one of the posts so that our blog had both of our voices, and actually, I wrote a post earlier, but it didn't go through for some reason. Anyway, we had a rocking good Christmas break. While Heather had to do some things for school in the early part of December I was off for the whole month, which was pretty great. I slept and worked out and went to auctions and read for the first part of Dec. while Heather worked on some folic acid surveys at my Dad's office. I'm happy to report that she is finished with her research and only lacks her technical write up, then, she only has 4 more months of PA school and she'll graduate, and then, her boards, and then, she'll be my sugar momma.

On the 17th of December we flew out to the land of Utah, to hang with the Schmidt's. We got to do a lot of family activities, like chill with Bakay and Grandma Jo at their apt., CHRISTMAS!!, family ski trip, the annual chili and family get together at Canyon Road Towers, and the Coventry Cove Seniors breakfast (also annual). We also saw the Schmidt side of the family, mostly Richard and Jo's kids, Rosemary and Darren and his kids, and Bob and Virginia. We also had our second annual santa swap extravaganza, where we all draw names and go try to buy the santa presents (now deemed team presents) for members of "opposing" teams. Don't worry, there are no point totals or wins, it's just fun.

Skiing was a blast, however, I had a negative powder experience. First of all, I'm not that good. Second, my skiis kept popping off as we went down this steep mountain face. I wouldn't have minded the experience so much, but I hate holding everbody up. The groomed trails and more traversed powder weren't as bad, but the fresh stuff in the back country killed me. I wish though that I had some off the pictures that we took on howard's camera, because I had some great icicle growth on my beard.

Coming back, both Heather and I feel like we'd like a second vacation, just to get some sleep! But so far school has been good, and Heather's time away hasn't been so bad, but it's crappy to have her be away for a week at time. We'll only see each other on weekends for the next two months. She'll appreciate you're comments and emails while she's gone. Anyway, thats our great month in the 5 minute version.

Rebels

Just to share something new. We have family that fought in the Civil war-on the Confederate side. So as they said on a recent episode of Psych, I guess we can buy a gunrack now. Honestly though, I think it is pretty amazing to have that sort of history in the family. This is a picture of Richard's 3rd great grandfather George Sedwick's gravesite. In the family graveyard. On a side note, it is kind of weird to walk around in the area where you know you will be buried on day.

Chopping wood

Last year Richard's dad said we neededto help chop the wood, I was NOT looking forward to it. I seriously lack the upper body strength required to successful chop wood using an ax and it is cold outside. However, the Sedwicks introduced me to a fantastic way of chopping wood. I love doing this. Just put it on the machine pull the lever and it does all the work. Now that is something I can handle.

Auctions

When Rich and I were in Harrisonburg we enjoyed one of Mammie's favorite pastimes: going to the auctions. The auctions are great. You can find all kinds of crazy, useful, junkie and collectible things. We have furnished much of our house with auction finds. This is a picture of us at the auction, you can sort of see what it looks like in the back-boxes full of stuff that you bid on. If you want one thing in the box you have to buy the whole lot. At this particular auction the most unusual finds consisted of a belt buckle that had two pigs doing the...ahem...hibidity dibity with the inscription "Makin' Bacon" and the other was a large wall plaque from the West Virginia chapter of the KKK with a person in the whole KKK costume (unbelievable.)

Thanksgiving and Murder Mystery Weekend

Well another fantastic year of stuffing myself silly. I just love all the foods and it seems so sad to stop eating. As you can see we had lots of great food and good friends on Thanksgiving. (Sorry the picture is sideways...I couldn't figure out how to change it.

The day after Thanksgiving we left for the Murder Mystery Weekend. It is a Sedwick family tradition. Every year we drive up to Pennsylvania to a rustic resort. There is a murder mystery where you eat dinner with the actors, then people start dying and you have to figure out the who and the why. This year's theme was a high school reunion. We had a prom, pep rally and flag football game. Since most of the action happens during meals we spend tons of time eating way too much. It was great fun as usual. Nobody in our group won, but we were definitely close. This is a picture of Rich and I at "prom."