Thereās a beauty in decay. For me, itās the often the memory of what once was and the way itās consumed by nature to be made into something completely new and alive. Thereās also a beauty in restoration. Itās just always a question of whether certain things are worth restoring.
My Uncle Quency painted this spool wheel over 40 years ago. I remember the first time seeing it on a stand in his apartment in Trenton. I immediately fell in love with it. The little detailsā¦ I was always finding more and more things on it. As a kid it was fascinating, and I would stare at it for hours. He kept it on a stand that allowed it to spin so you could seamlessly move through the scenes. Itās depicts nations and the earth. Her politics and her animals. As a young adult I tried to buy it from him, but no goā¦ š (story for another time) But it had an overwhelming impact on me.
Decades later when Unc came to visit me out here, he brought it and gave it to me, I was elated. I wanted to hang it, but wanted it to spin, so others could look at it and enjoy the details. I finally figured out a way to do itā¦ Iām super proud and happy to have it hang in my home, so that my kids and guest can enjoy it too. ā¤ļø
Thank you Uncle Quencyš¤šæ
(It looks high, but itās a low ceiling)
PS - ask me to see it if you come by.
Favorite thing on the propertyā¦ I will never not love it. It reminds me that Spring is upon us. It also reminds me of my mother and reassures me. In the short time Iāve lived here sheās grown so much. šø
Juice
I donāt even know where to startā¦ you were a good man. I canāt count how many times Iāve made big life decisions by thinking, āWhat would OJ do?ā Often times I describe you as my āmentor,ā but saying that now feels dismissive.
Itās true you were my mentor, but you were also my friend. My confidant. You were my 2nd father. You were my accountability. You made me want to be a certain type of man. The road trips, the late nights training, the early morning classes, the film sets. The Po boys.
You had a way about you. People either understood it and appreciated you or they didnāt. Fuck em if they didnāt. Your kindness and care and desire to see everyone around you do well is unmatched. The proof of that is in the impact you had on so many people. You were a force. A sun with your own gravitational pull, and I was just happy to be in your orbit.
I canāt count the amount of dogs you helped. Things that people wouldnāt think worked always worked for you. The things you showed me, will live on. Things that donāt always make sense, but do.
I owe you my livelihood and hope to borrow a quarter of your strength and integrity. I will keep adding to your book āDumb Ass Shit.ā
Thank you for making me get in the suit even though I hated it. Thank you for trusting me the way that you did.
Itās uniquely humbling to watch a proud man succumb to the end of life. It stings. Just know you leave behind a legacy. Your skills and standards are carried by hundreds of people out there. I could write chapters about you, but I think the most important thing for anyone to know is that you were a good man. I love you OJ. Give Dude and Chaos a pat for me. ā¤ļø
This kind of growthā¦
Itās not flashy
Itās not loud
Thereās no Rocky montage
Itās a slow recalibration.
You show up.
You handle your responsibilities.
You lift heavyā¦ heavy.
You build with friends.
You parent
Even if you donāt feel the š„ā¦
You keep moving.
Strength isnāt always intensity
Sometimes itās just steadiness.
Sometimes itās choosing discipline when the spark is low.
Itās rebuilding without bitterness.
Storms donāt always break you.
Sometimes they better you.
Onward and Upward 06
Eamon has had āDoggieā since he was a Baby. Heās traveled the world with us and sometimes makes time in his busy schedule to even do drop offs with me. Heās represents so much love to me. I hope we never lose him. ā¤ļø
