Straight Edge Life

Just woke up. I was up pretty late last night programming. Still got a bit left to do before I’m done but it shouldn’t take too much time. It’s been a weird week. Like most of my weeks it’s been a blur. But it’s also been a little bit sad. My mom died from cancer on August 31st. This week, not so many years ago. I think for the rest of my life I will take that day to recognize that nothing is, or ever will be, as important as my family. This year it has been more like a full week as I have spent the majority of this week alone in my office. And trust me, being busy with work can never be busy enough to push something like this to the back of your mind.

This place, this house keeps me connected with everything that I love about my family. Both my old family and with the family I hope to start in the future. I can never be thankful enough for everything my parents selflessly gave or gave up to protect my childhood and to raise me as well as they knew how. They taught me about all the reasons to become straight edge and all the reasons to stay that way. They taught me about all the reasons to respect the people in my life, all people, and to respect the world around me. I can only hope I will have the courage not to bend when it comes time to show these beliefs to my own children. The strength to teach, the strength to show my own children an even better life than I had growing up. More importantly, to teach them how to find their own ways of staying healthy and loving life.

Anyway… I’ll be offline for a week or so. Heading out on a roadtrip. Back to a few familiar places to take a few unfamiliar photos I hope.