Kraythur the Fool 🔜 Gamehole Con

Sometimes you have to let go… and start again

Image: www.instagram.com/milanicreative

A leafless tree against a partly cloudy blue Sky.

Hello March. Let’s do better.

Aloha Friday

The best way to multiply your happiness is to share it with others

Image: www.instagram.com/joycreatives...

May the tiki gods smile upon you!

Dawn over Aransas Bay, Gulf of Mexico.

Good Morning Bluesky.

Dawn.
Aransas Bay.
Gulf of Mexico.

I wish I could talk to my Father today.

Mahalo Carl.

If you knew my Father, or have simply been moved at all by my clumsy outpouring of raw emotion, raise a glass towards the nearest body of Salt Water. Give thanks to all of the old Sailors and Fathers we have lost.

My father is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, a daughter and Grandson he was immensely proud of, and myself. A fool who wishes he had spent more time in the company of his dad.

This morning, alone in his house while feeding my parents pets, I rung his Navy watch Bell Eight Times and broke into tears.

End of Watch.
Thank you for your years of Love and Service.

Aloha Dad.

My father the sailor was hospitalized on Christmas Eve. He slipped away from us on Christmas day surrounded by his family in an ICU room. His body finally gave up early on December 26th.

I do not know who I am without my father. But I do know that the best parts of me are in his image.

As is often the way of sons and fathers, I find that in hindsight I wish I had spent even more time with him. That I had recorded his stories. I always thought we would have more time together.

While a significant portion of my childhood was spent wondering when Dad would come home, we made up for all this missed birthdays, holidays, and life events when I moved back to Texas during his golden years. He was an ever-present positive and encouraging influence upon me and many others.

He would effortlessly make those he met feel appreciated, laugh, and at ease. He would start conversations with anyone & everyone. He treated everyone with dignity. He taught me that a man could, and indeed should, be kind to those around them. To meet him was to have your day made a little better.

He used to joke that when he was back at port he never spent a full day sober. He loved Hawaii. He retired a Master Chief after declining to be promoted to an officer. Once a Master Chief, always a Master Chief. He retired to Texas after 20 years of service.

His career took him around the globe, through all seven seas, and to duty stations near and far. The best years of my life were spent in Hawaii while he was stationed in pear Harbor. He was at sea for most of the deployment.

A photo of my father filling with his camera. He is wearing a Veteran baseball cap of the sort that was ubiquitous in his wardrobe until earlier this year when he stopped wearing them. No longer able to recognize the country he loved and severed for say many years. He never stopped shaking the hands of every veteran he met and thanking them for their service. In his last meaningful conversation with me he encouraged me to follow my dream of moving to Canada and expressed regret that I had put it off for so long to stay close to him. I don't know how to do that, but it remains my dream.

This is my Father. He was an old sailor, the kindest man I have ever known, and the center of my world.

He spent the best years of his life on fighting ships during the cold war. They played a cat and mouse game with Soviet Union ships and submarines across the globe.

An ICU IV “tree” now empty of medications. But a single red Christmas tree ornament now bravely holds vigil.

The Nurses station kindly allowed me to borrow one of their ornaments.

A small gesture of kindness on very momentous day.

Be kind to one another, eh?

An ICU IV “Tree” decked out with little bags of chemical hope.

This years Christmas tree is doing all it can. We tried to find an ornament.

I’m finding humor where I can.

Tell your loved ones how you feel. Let them know you are proud of them.

Short work week begins.

Be kind to those customer service and support folk eh? This time of year folks are all dialed up to eleven.

Thank you.

#kindness

So Mote It Be. :)

December has not yet broken me…

I too ruin someone’s Christmas each year. I salute them. I salute you as well. Someone has to apologize over things we have no control over. May as well be us. <3

I had my own Fukwitz list inspired by you!

Good Morning Bluesky

A blue foggy dawn on Aransas bay. With fishing pier and ducks.

Good Morning Bluesky.

Be kind eh?

Dawn
Aransas Bay
Gulf of Mexico

@gavlebocken.bsky.social

A screen Shot showing the Gävle Goat, a giant straw Goat constructed in Gävle Sweden each year for Yule.

It's back:

The Gävle Goat

www.visitgavle.se/en/gavle-goat

@gavlebocken.bsky.social (Unofficial but here on Bluesky)

My new annual Yule Time tradition. Will this years Goat monument make it to the New Year without burning down?

A cold grey dawn on Aransas Bay. With fishing pier.

Good Morning Bluesky.

Happy Friday to all who celebrate.

Dawn
Aransas Bay
Gulf of Mexico