Marc Statz and Sheri Swenson Bottini were married at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Swenson in Huntington Beach, California by Bishop Ed Ludloff.  Aaron was a miracle waiting to happen. 

 

Born in California on February 12, 1990.

And during that time he lived. He really lived!

Passed away on April 23, 2007.

In Aaron's own words, this is his resume.  He really wanted to get a job at Van's for the summer.

 AARON M. STRATZ

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

 OBJECTIVE

Seeking a sales position with an interesting company where I can gain work experience. 

 

QUALIFICATION PROFILE       

¨  I am a hard worker, as well as always on time.  Playing basketball for ten years has taught me to be a team player. 

¨  My participation in the past with student government has taught me responsibility and the importance of a job well done.

 

WORK EXPERIENCE

Stratz and Associates, Accounting and Consulting Firm                                                                               9/2004 - Present

RECEPTION, FILING CLERK

Interaction with different types of clients on a daily basis.

Ø      Clerical filing

Ø      Bill pay for clients

Ø      Knowledge of bookkeeping software

Ø      Telephone receptionist

Ø      Banking and errands

 

Miscellaneous Jobs                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1/2004-Present

Home and pet care for various family, friends and neighbors during summer vacations.

 

EDUCATION AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Student Government 2002, 2003, 2004 Talbert Middle School

Academic Achievement Award HBHS 2005

HBHS Basketball program:  Athletic Award HBHS 2004-2005, 2005-2006

2 years American Sign Language

Scheduled to graduate June 2008.

 

COMPUTER SKILLS

Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Microsoft PowerPoint, Quickbooks Accounting

Aaron wrote this in 2004.  Life was a bowl of cherries. I wish it would have stayed that way for him. 

 

 

 

 

 

Aaron-

Outgoing, wild, funny, and nice,

Brother of Ben Bottini

Lover of surfing, attention, skating, guitar playing, and crazy parties

Who feels joy when playing music, scared to death in dark, crazy when at a party

Who needs less school, music, and girls,

Who gives advice, encouragement, laughter,

Who fears ghost, spiders, ouija board, and bums,

Who would like to see Hilary Duff, peace, and righteousness,

Who lives right near the beach

-Stratz

 

Aaron wrote this Life Metaphor in 2004.  His music and his writings will live on.

 

 

 

 

LIFE METAPHOR POEM 

 

 

Life is like a skateboard. It starts off new and fun, you catch air and the wheels roll on the ground smoothly.  It seems like it will last forever by the way it rides.

Sometimes there are obstacles trying to stop you, but it doesn’t.

After awhile the wheels wear down and the bearings get rusty.

Before you know it is an old, junky piece of wood

So you try one last board slide and it snaps, it is over

And the new skateboard you once had is gone.

 

As it is Thanksgiving, I found this poem of Thankfulness that Aaron wrote in 2005 and thought I would add it to his website. 

 

 

 

 

 

Aaron Stratz

Mr. Anderson

English Period 0

November 22, 2005

 

 

THANKFUL

 

I am thankful for food and snacks

I am thankful for the shirt on my back

 

I am thankful for the sun, clouds and rain

I am thankful for my charm and brain

 

I am thankful for fun and sports

I am thankful for video games of all sorts

 

I am thankful for my house and cars

I am thankful for music and guitars

 

I am especially thankful for my friends and family

And of course for the world around me

 

 

I found this essay that Aaron wrote in his English class in January 2007.  It brought back so many memories.  It sounds just like him doesn't it?

 

 

 

 

Aaron Stratz

English Period 2

Ms. Atkinson

1/21/2007

Music in My Life

 

            The house lights dimmed, throwing the concert hall into darkness.  All sounds of talking and laughing stopped.  A single light hit the stage, highlighting the drummer and his set of Pearl Drums.  With a crash of sound and colored lights, the band began to play.  As the adrenaline hit my brain, I found myself lost in the music.  I thought to myself, “I want to be that person on stage and I want to make a crowd of people feel exhilarated.  I want to make my overpowering music on my own.  I want to share this feeling.”  I was thirteen years old and attending my first live concert.

            Ever since that night, I started listening to this new style of music,  a style influenced by old school rock bands I grew up with.  For Christmas that year, I asked for a guitar and got it.  I couldn’t wait to learn how to play it.  I wanted to put all the thoughts and words in my head to music.  I started lessons and practiced playing along with punk music recordings.  I used every spare moment practicing.  I had a friend, Kyle, down the street who was my age and one day we were talking and we found that we both had an interest in music.   As he had a set of drums and I had a bass guitar, we started practicing together songs that we both liked. 

            That year my mom moved her car out of the garage and Kyle and I set up our instruments.  It became a daily routine to play.  By this time, both of us had acquired electric guitars and microphones.  My garage became the place where Kyle and I wrote our first song.  It was called “Death to the Emo.” The song makes fun of Emo music, which is “I am so unhappy, I want to die music.”  I think it is pretty sad stuff.  How can anyone write songs about killing themselves and depression?   We also rehearsed other songs by bands we enjoy such as Misfits or Anti-flag.

            Within in six months, we did our first public performance.  With our good friend, Jeff, on bass we performed, “Bro Hymn” by Pennywise at the Talbert Middle School Talent Show.  We brought down the house.  I was so pumped up by our song I jumped up on my amp.  The lights were flashing and the response was overwhelming.  We were a hit!  There were approximately 300 kids there and every one of them was screaming.  What a rush!

            After our first taste of success, Kyle and I were even more dedicated to our music.  We continued to write more songs.  As that summer continued, I became more involved with the music culture here in Huntington Beach.  I attended local shows and concerts.  I met many people that felt the same way I did about music.  My friend from school, Casey joined Kyle and me to form the band, “The Adjusted.”  A local skate shop, Boomerang, sponsored a skate demo and we were asked to play as the starting act for the local band, “Spanger.”  I have never been so nervous in my whole life.  When we walked out on stage, I noticed that the audience consisted of older kids.  Most of them were in high school or college.  This was nothing like performing for my friends at a Middle School talent show.

            When it was our turn to play, I stepped up to the microphone to start the intro sound check song with Casey the drummer.  An intro sound check song is a short piece of music to test the instruments and sound system.  As I played, behind me Kyle was adjusting the amplifier outlets.  There I was playing my cords and the guitar went silent.  My mind raced as I tried to figure out if I had stepped on the cord or if the guitar broke.  I turned around and behind me, Kyle stood there with a dumb look on his face.  He had unplugged me!  It would have been an even more embarrassing moment but the audience laughed and got a kick out of it.  As a first gig, I feel it went fine overall.  Everyone has to start somewhere and I am sure we were not the only band that suffered from nervousness.  It may not have been perfect, but as a learning experience it was invaluable. 

            My music has done so much for me.  It makes me happiest when I have my guitar and I am writing lyrics that mean something to me.  In 2005, we had the privilege to play with the local band “Noise Attack.”  It was the longest time we had ever spent on stage and it was photographed and recorded.  Kyle and I added a new dimension to our music.  We produced a musical DVD “Live at Boomerang, The Adjusted.”  The show was great. All of us were more comfortable and I personally was more comfortable on stage.  For this show, there was more pressure on me, as I was the lead singer for each of our songs.   The show was a good way to advertise our band.  After that, we started playing with other local bands.  I felt that we were finally getting somewhere; our name was out in public.

            Last year disaster struck.  Kyle and I lost sight of what was important.  Other parts of our lives were taking a back seat to music.  We forgot what we were supposed to be doing.  School, sports and family were just not important to us any more.  Our families dismantled the band.   It took me three months to accept that there was no band.  Between basketball and summer school, I played my guitar and wrote songs by myself.  We were forced to take a break from our band and rethink about what was important in our lives.  It worked.  I now understand that music is just one part of my life, not my whole life.        

Any event that happens can change your outlook on life.  It can change the way you think and feel about things.  Just by chance, I happened to attend a concert which changed me.  Was it fate or was it meant to be?  My music turned out to be a way for me to relax and express myself.  The thought that I could touch people with my words and music makes me happy.  One day, it may be me, up there on a dark stage and with a flash of color and sound; I will be playing my music, showing and sharing my perspective on life, making a life change for someone else. 

           

 

Aaron wrote this essay on his brother's birthday in 2005.  I miss him and his writings and music.

 

 

 

 

 

Aaron Stratz

Period 0 English

9/9/2005

Mr.Anderson

 

 My Brother: A Role Model

 

            A person in my life that I have looked up to since I was a little kid is my brother, Ben.  My brother is one of the most responsible people I know.  The words that best describe him would be outgoing, determined and very funny.  Because he is outgoing and a good sense of humor, he has a lot of friends and gets along with people.  He showed his determination by recently graduating from California State University at Long Beach with a triple major in business and entering the business world.  I look up to him because he has accomplished things in life that I want to do.     

            My brother has been doing good deeds for the community and for other people ever since he was an Eagle Scout.  I remember for his eagle project, I got to help him tie red ribbons on all the trees on Main Street from Beach Boulevard to Pacific Coast Highway for the “Say No to Drugs” campaign put on by the Huntington Beach Police Department. He was determined that he would help the program by covering 5 miles to remind people to say “no”.   I was very young, but I remember how proud I was of him and so excited that he had asked me to help. 

I also think it is cool that Ben is so likable.  He is the most easy-going person anyone could meet.  This will help in his career in sales and marketing.  He knows how to talk to people and tell them what they want to hear.  Most of the people he hangs out with have been his friends for years.  He was voted an officer for his fraternity in college which helped him with his leadership abilities.

            Ben is the only person I know that makes sure he gets what he wants, when he wants.  He works hard towards his goals.  He has a good job, nice car, good friends and a career coming into place.  I hope that one day in my life; I will have those things too.  I want to be more like him.  I hope I will be willing to work as hard as he does.

            Ben has the girls, the ambition and he has a career.  I also like that he can party, have a good time and pursue his career.  I think this takes self-control.  I don’t think life could get better than that.  My brother has showed me that if you get your head on straight and put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything you want.  I thank him for showing me this.  I think this proves that you don’t need a super hero to show you how to have a happy life, but it is nice to have a successful older brother to look up to. 

 

I found this old essay of Aaron's written on October 10, 2002.  As usual, it is about one of his favorite subjects, his big Brother Ben.  We miss you so much Airbear.

 

 

 

My Brother Ben

by

Aaron Stratz

October 10, 2002

 

 

 

            Picture this; it is a beautiful, hot summer day.  There is a light breeze floating in off the ocean.  In the distance you can hear the roar of sports car engine.  A tall, good-looking guy pulls up in a bad, green Mustang.  There is a pretty, blonde haired girl in the passenger seat.  Sounds like a car commercial doesn't it?  Well, it is not.  It is my brother Ben.

 

            Ben is twenty-three years old.  He is six feet tall with blonde highlighted brown hair.  He has baby-blue eyes.  He is considered to be a good-looking man.  He weighs around two hundred pounds.  My brother works out at the gym regularly.  He played football and was on the track team-throwing discus in high school.  He just graduated from the California University at Long Beach.

           

            Ben is very funny.  He always is surrounded by people.  He could sell a ketchup Popsicle to a woman wearing white gloves.  He always knows the right thing to say in any situation.  Ben comes from a very nice family.  I should know because I do too.  Ben has many friends.  Most of them have been around for many years.  This tells me that Ben is a good friend to have.

 

            He lives in Huntington Beach in a very messy house.  I like to spend the night with him.  We stay up and play video games with each other, leaving dinner until 1:00 A.M.  His house is great because he has a pool table, foos ball, Play Station II, an entertainment center and anything else you can name.  I think it is funny that his house is so messy because his car is always spotless!

 

            I think I am very lucky to have a brother like Ben.  Even though he beats me up regularly, he also has taught me many things.  He is obedient to my parents and most of the time he teaches me what I need to know in life.  He taught me to never be unkind to people.  He taught me to not let people down, to always do what you say you are going to do. Never lie and always be nice to the ugly girls because they will probably be hot when they get older.

 

Aaron,

It has been exactly 9 months since you left us.  9 months, that is how long I carried you next to my heart.  You were the miracle your Dad, your brother and I prayed for.  I miss you so much, I can't even begin to explain the pain.  We think of you each day and I talk to you every day.  You are my son, my angel, my gift.  You are so beautiful, kind, as well as a bloody teenager.  I would do anything to have you home again.  I hope and pray you are happy.  I know God has a reason for taking you, please do what he needs you to do with a happy heart.  I pray daily for you to come home, but I know that is not going to happen.  I want to hold you, smell you, kiss you. 

I got a note from an old family friend at Christmas, and she told me that when she lost her son, 38 years ago, something in her died.  She says even after all the years, she still thinks and misses her boy.  In her own words she said, "No one can empathize as well as I can.  It has been 38 years for me, so I can tell you the pain never goes away, but hopefully you and Marc can help one another as Chum and I did."  Thank you Dottie, I remember the day Jeff died like it was yesterday, but God help me, I cannot imagine 38 years without my boy.  Aaron, please watch over your dad, your brother, Bo, Crumb and me.  We will miss you until the day we finally get to be reunited.  I love you Aaron, I love you.

Your Mom

Happy Birthday lover.  You would have been 18.  Sam did not want to birthday or turn 18 without you.  We had a BBQ here and at least 35 of yours and Sam's friends showed.  TMS Gang rules !   Kriste was there and took over 100 pictures.  I added 25 to the website on MySpace under my name and my space "Sheri Stratz" knowing the kids would go there first, but I will do a slide show soon for this permanent website.  It was so wonderful.  We all knew you were there.  I miss you so much.  I will get the pictures in the album here asap, and maybe later replace them with a video.  I miss you so much.  Love you forever, as will your family and friends.  You were the only one not in the pictures.  Everyone really, really had a good time.  I swear!!  I even did Goody bags and the kids wanted to know where the Pinata was!  You always did have one.  Look on Myspace, "In Memory of Aaron Stratz" in the meantime to see all the comments.  Your friends are so special.

Love you so much, Mom

Hey honey, well it’s been a year since you left us and I have to tell you it sucked.  We all miss you so much it sometimes feels like an eternity since you were here.  When I look back on the year, most days it really still seems like yesterday since I saw or touched you.  I always listen for the gate at 9:30 PM on school nights and 12:30AM on the weekends, expecting you to come home, hungry and ready to go to bed. You were really good about checking in, always.  I even listen for the phone on the weekends around 11, 11:30 expecting to hear from Natalie or Luka telling me you feel asleep and that they were bringing you home in the morning.  They always had a bed for you downstairs whenever you were with them and Natalia for the evening if you guys were not here. 

Your one year death anniversary was a dreaded occasion but I ended up surprised.  I expected a few of my friends to remember, but if you look in the albums, over 25 of your friends came here if they could, not counting the kids that called or e-mailed because they were working, involved with sports or out of town.  Gee came over at 2 in the afternoon, and as we talked the door bell kept ringing.  Your friends showed up in groups of one, two or three, but they all felt drawn here.  We ended up telling stories, watching videos, I even sent out for pizza.  Your favorite, Luparello’s with sides of Ranch dressing.  Kasey made two runs to pick up pizza cuz we ran out the first time through.  Gee and Cris stayed with me until the end.  

I was hanging on by a thread and I tried to take pictures.  I know I had at least one of each person there, but something happened, I am not sure what, but I am missing at least 10 pictures so only about ½ of the kids that came to the house are in the Album.  I’m sorry.  I can list every one of them, because they have kept in contact all year, they are the ones who write/visit/ or call.  Even the one’s who are gone from HB, they all remembered.  Watch over every one of your friends as they are entering a new phase of life.  I wish you were with them to do it also. 

I love you Boo, I miss you so much.  I really do not want to live longer than you.  It hurts.  Every morning, if I sleep, I wake up with a rock on my chest and then I remember what is missing.  It’s you.  I know you are here, and I know you are watching over us all, but I would give anything to hold you again, kiss you again, yell at your bloody teenage self again.  Remember you are loved, you have the most outrageous friends who will always remember. 

Mama Rosie was here.  She needed to be with people who understood why she missed you.  I love her, I know you have always loved her.  We talked about her a couple days before your death.  She loves and misses you.   (Remember when you told me you wanted to live with her instead of us?   I think you were 5.)  She helped form the loving person you became. You were not an angel, but you were not a devil incarnate either.  I tried not to be a stupid mother with her head in the sand.  I really get how hard it is to be a teen and I try to always tell it like it is, good or bad.  Remember when you thought goggles for snowboarding were not cool?  You ended up with 3^rd degree burns on your face and retinas? 

 I love you baby, I really do.  Your dad misses you something terrible and Ben and Bo are having too many bad days.  Watch over us, especially your brother.  He loves and misses you so much.  We all love you.  Be good, stay close until we are all together again.  My boy, my beautiful boy.  

Hey Boy...

 

Haley turned 18 today.  She is now officially older than you.  That was not suppose to happen.  You were always the oldest.  You were always the one to lead and comfort and encourage.  She is a Senior Princess for Homecoming this Friday.  She is in the top of the running for Homecoming Queen.  You should be there.  I know she wants you to be.  You could have been her escort, you guys were always so close.  Anyway baby, do a fly by...  Let her know you are there, please?  I miss you so much.  The pain is unbelievable.  Kiss Haley for luck for all of us.  We miss you.

Mom, Dad, Bo and Ben

Hey Baby Boy….

 

I wasn’t going to write about this, but I changed my mind, I can't forget it.    Friday night on 9/26/2008, you spoke to me.  Your dad worked late and I was still in the kitchen around 8:00 PM cooking, (what else do I do???).  I sat down and I know I closed my eyes, I don’t think I feel asleep, but I could of….  Anyway, I heard your voice, I did not see you, it was kind of like a phone call???  You were really excited, so excited and you were talking so fast.  I could hear you so clear, my son, my boy, “Mom, Mom, Haley made homecoming Queen!  She is going to have two escorts, not just one.  I think someone saw me in the stands, but don’t worry, I am wearing something really nice.  I am here to escort her.”  I opened my eyes, Woke up???  I knew I could not call Aunt Vicki because I knew she was at the stadium and probably could not answer the phone, so I ditzed around and finally called my mom, your Grama.  She and Grandpa had been in Hawaii for three weeks and were staying another  week.  She answered the phone and they were getting ready to go into a restaurant for dinner.  (Three hours behind us).  She said “I cannot believe that you called, I just hung up the phone with Vicki and Haley made Homecoming Queen and she and Ed were moving down to the field so Ed could escort Haley to the stand.”  I looked at the clock in the kitchen and it read 8:20 PM.  I figured I was just a nut case and vowed never to mention our conversation.  I didn’t even tell your dad or your brother.  Your brother already thinks I am nuts.  I wish he had faith.  He's been so mean and unhappy.

 

The next morning, Saturday early AM Vicki called me to tell me the news about Haley.  She said she wanted to call me the night before, tried, but time got away from her and it got late.  I told her I already knew because I had spoken to mom, at first I did not mention you.  I did end up telling her my dream, experience, hallucination whatever it was and she cried.  You remember you spoke with her in a dream a couple weeks after you left us, she posted it on this website, so oh my gosh, she believed me!

 

Haley called me later in the day Saturday, she had to wait to call until late in the day because she had to decorate the gym for the Homecoming Dance early in the morning and over slept.  She talked to her mom, your Aunt Vicki.  After Haley told me her story, I told her mine and I made her swear that she would not mention it to anyone because I did not want anyone to think I was nuts or delusional.  I so hope it was not wishful thinking/dreaming....

 

Bottom line, Hayley told me that when she was elected for the Homecoming Court they asked her for music and words to play when she walked either as a Princess or Queen.  The first version she did turned out to be too long, but in it she wrote and said that she missed you and wanted you near and named you as her angel.  When they asked her who she wanted for escorts, she said, “my dad, who has always been there for me”.  They told her  the other candidates  had two escorts each and was there anyone else she wanted.  She told them that she had two brothers, and as she could have only one more escort, she wanted her cousin Aaron, but he was no longer with us so she chose to go with only one escort, her Dad. 

 

Haley told me that in the car going to the field Friday night that she was at first really nervous, but then she felt you, you.....  She KNEW you were with her and as she said to me, “Aunt Sheri, I cannot explain the feeling, in the car, at the stadium, there was such peace and love, I knew he was with me.”  After we talked for a while, I made her swear not to say anything.  I told her that I believed that the veil between the dead and the living was really thin and that prayers can be answered.  She said “Aunt Sheri you are not nuts.  Aaron WAS with me last night, and I am so thankful that I have such a special angel watching over me.”

 

Who knows Bud, the timing, 8:00 on and after was right on….  She was there, Vicki and Ed were there, it was just like you told me.  I miss you so much and I am so thankful that you shared with me.  It was just like old times, you always, always told me what was going on.  Even when it was bad, you never ever lied except towards the end and I believe you did not want to lie at that time and felt bad.  I know you did.  I want you home and I am so scared that maybe I am holding you back from what you need to do in heaven.  I just miss you so much, I know it has been 17 months, but I still look for you each night, I think of you everyday and every time I hear from one of your friends…  They are so good about keeping in touch.  I love you, I love you.

--Mom

 

P.S.  I am doing Halloween decorations this week.  I’ll put your scarecrow on the porch just for you.  I know it was always your favorite holiday.  Everyone remembers your famous Halloween parties.  Come Trick or Treat me honey, I will have your favorite candy as always.

 

Cleaning out files on Air's computer, I found this paper of Aaron's from October 23, 2005.  He obviously was making notes about a paper to write that was assigned to him in AP English.  I have to share it.  I will write exactly what he did, but in red I will add notes to how it turned out.  I miss him so much.

 

October 23, 2005

 

POSSIBLE EVENTS IN MY LIFE THAT CHANGED ME:

 

1.  Adventures at Rosie's. Might end with her surprise party this year.  (Party was in February 2005, see photos in album)

2.  Running for school Prsident and winning.  (2001, great speech/rap based on Joe Walsh "Vote for Me" hit song, one of his dad's favorites).

3.  Going to Maui for the Magic Johnson Fantasy camp for basketball with my dad who played!  (Air met alot of the Lakers, played ball with Magic and his kids, he loved snorkeling, it was cool for the whole family.  P.S.  I was a cheerleader, can you believe it?)

4.  Peaches the hamster.  (Peaches died 5/22/2001 and Aaron held her in his arms as she died from Pneumonia.  It was very traumatic for both of us)

5.  Surf camp for 3 summers.  (He and Terin Marlatt went each year and Aaron always said he was his best friend cuz not once in 15 years did Terin ever, ever let him down.) 

6.  Basketball camp every summer for 10 years.  (Air's dad was usually a coach and they had great seasons especially 2002.  You know who you are Tight Blue and White.  Gee, you made it worth it for him to keep going. He looked up to you, literally--ha-ha)

7.  Boy Scouts.  (After the first 4 years I made him go.  His brother and cousin were Eagle Scouts and he wanted that but he was not happy in his troop in the last year.  I am sorry Air.) 

8.  Movie Production, starred as the young version of one of the stars.  (I have the tape copy if anyone wants to see.) 

9.  Family vacation to Kaui for G&G 50th wedding anniversary, older relatives and friends have died since then...Eddie Beslow, who taught me how to play cards and now our friend Joanne Ludloff who cooks good food and always fed me when I was hungry is dying of cancer.  (We did lose Joanne, and Aaron missed them both.)

10.  Anti-flag show, play guitar, 1st guitar at Xmas, 2 years of lessons.  (See other life stories and I know you know how it turned out.) 

 

If I find the essay he used these notes on, I will probably post it.  But, this is such a great place to remember Aaron.  As of this date, almost 19 months after his death, he is still getting an average of 7 hits a day.  Who ever is reading, do not forget to post.  I believe that as long as he is remembered, he is with us. 

 

Love you all.  --Sheri (mom)

Hey love bug….  Well it is January and dad and I are knee deep in tax season again.  Your website was down for a couple weeks while they moved it from Europe to the US.  I don’t know why I have not written before now, except I hate the thought of writing as I would rather talk to you face to face, hold you, smell you and kiss you.  Anyway Christmas was good.  Aunt Vicki, Lauren, Kenz and especially Haley wrote and said how much they loved it this year.  We met on the pier before dinner Xmas Eve under your snowflake and watched it light again.  We had a family prayer and then all came home and I made my lasagna.  Your name is still on the make a gift exchange and you drew Trent this year.  I copied your movie to DVD that Dan Michael made where you were the star as a young boy.  He loved it.  He remembered when he came home from his mission and attended the premier with us all.  Lauren got your name and she took a skateboard deck and covered it with your pictures.  It is hanging in your room with pride next to your bed.  Everyone mentioned that they felt you with us and we plan on keeping you near each year.  Family never dies.

As I am sure you are aware, I am active with the HB Youth Shelter in your name.  This Christmas was amazing.  Your family and friends were so generous.  We were able to supply Christmas baskets for all the kids at the shelter as well as extras for the kids under the protection of the shelter even though they are not in residence.  Phyllis down the street donated a dryer they needed and Sue and Russ donated a Play station II with about 30 games.  They did this in your name.  Phyllis also made sure that there was money to take the kids to Ihop for Christmas morning breakfast.  Aunt Terri, Kriste, Laura and Sue were here to help me wrap and decorate the baskets.  They all love and miss you so much.  It would take to much time to name the 30 some odd people who donated in your memory.  You know and love everyone of them.  Watch over them, keep them safe, you know who they are.  Scott sent $500 for the shelter cuz the Friedland Family misses you so and will do anything in your memory.

Your brother is doing fine.  He is kicking butt at work with his job in Home Securities.  He made manager this year and is busy putting a team together.  He is traveling all over and it is amazing how well he is doing.  I wish you were here to be part of it.  He misses you bad. 

Your dad and I have season tickets again to CSULB basketball and you must be so proud.  We finally have a team!  We have a great point guard who played with Nick during high school.  First string is made up of mostly Freshman.  Your age!  We ran into Scott and Nick Becker last week at the game and it was wonderful to see them.  Watch over Nick, he needs an angel on his side.  Anyway, dad and Scot Obler took the tickets tonight and I am watching at home.  There is a good chance we will beat Riverside and hold on to our no loss record.  Half time is over and I am going back to watch, love you baby.  Miss you, everything…. I talk to you each night, I hope you are here to hear…  Sam Griggs wants to party with you again this year for your birthdays.  We will stay in touch.  Come see me, I miss you so.

--Mom

 

Happy Birthday Love....

I know I am writing this a little late, (it's your dad's birthday today 2/26)  but for some reason, once again your birthday brought bitter sweet pain.  The day was great but the day after we all kind of hunkered down in depression.  Your brother, dad, Bo and I thought it would get easier, but damn..... it hasn't.  I must tell you that I was totally blown away again on your birthday.  Sam Griggs and I had talked back in January and she asked about having another joint birthday.  I did not hear from her again so I e-mailed her the Friday before the week of your joint birth date.  I did not hear from her, but I understood from some mutual friends that she and her boy friend broke up and that her mom was not well.  Watch over her and comfort her okay?  I figured that she was in no mood for party so I just backed off.  Anyway, your brother wanted and insisted on celebrating your birthday as a family so I made Beef Stroginoff planning on him, Amy, Trent, Blake, Jessie and 2 of Ben's friends who I know you would have loved, Grama and Grampa Swenson and the Oblers. 

The whole day babe and the 4 days prior I heard from everyone of your friends, family and my friends!  Who would have thought????  They wanted to know if we were going to do anything and those of your friends who were at school out of town wanted us to know that they were thinking of you.  I told most of them that no I did not think there was going to be a party for you and Sam but oh honey.... I got phone calls, text messages, e-mails and a number of your buds stopped by on your birthday as well and the whole week anyway.  I thought that last year was an anomaly.  I thought when we had the joint birthday party that it was a one time thing and people would forget and Sam would always have her own birthday.  Well, they did not forget!  I should have have had an open house.  I feel so bad.  I did welcome those who came.  I will always from now on plan on seeing some friend of yours on your birthday.  Anyone who wants to stop by can on your birthday or any other day and I will feed and entertain them in your memory, as I have been doing since your death.  As long as they care to remember, they are more than welcome here anytime.

Anyway,  not only did your brother, your cousins and his friends come to dinner, but Brian Giannone, Terin, Casey Cagle, Natalia, Kyle Obler and others showed up.  I saw Gee, Little Cris and Nick Becker the night before and they all remembered!  Gee and Cris came over last week and stayed and we talked about you, they played in your room and we ended up having dinner together.    The boys went and picked up Luparello's pizza.  Kyle Morrill was here and I feed him.  He was here yesterday again and I got to meet his girlfriend Crystal.  What a cutie!  Anyway, I was wrong... No one has forgotten and I am so touched.  I love you, I miss you and I would do anything to have you home again.  I am using the picture from your 2nd birthday party because it was the last time I made beef strogie for your birthday.  I pray you were with us this year.  You are missed and loved.  Haley and Kenz miss you and they too remembered you on your birthday.  I am sure there were others who remembered and did not write or call.  See your websites....  Help all those who miss you if you can and come visit if you can.  I miss you Boo.  I love you.

--Mom

Two years babe, two long stinking years.  Sure do miss you.  It does not seem that long.  It feels just like yesterday, it hurts like it was just yesterday.  Your brother is in Maryland on business for the next 4 ½ months and I really miss him too.  It was so hard talking to him 3,000 miles away and listening to him cry and there was nothing I could do but listen and wished I could hold him.  He misses you so very much. 

I must say though, you really are special.  My goodness, what did you do to have so many special friends?  I know you were kind, I know you cared, I know you always tried to help anyone in need, so once again, your family and friends came through.  The kids that were away at school called, e-mailed and posted on your various websites.  Grama and Grampa came and spent the night.  My friends called, wrote, e-mailed and stopped by too.  You should see the front porch.  Once again it and the house is covered in flowers.  So many of your friends came to the house, Rosie was here, she loves you so much.  Your old friend Sam came in the early afternoon and I am sorry he had to leave because he missed the other Talbert gang members who came.  Sam, Akaysha, Brian, Terin, Casey Cagle, Kasey B., Jeff, Gee, Cris, Natalia and so many others.  Caitlin was here.  She really misses you.  It was so wonderful to sit in the livingroom and just talk with them.  Their stories, their lifes, you should be with them.  Kriste dropped by, Jessie called and so many wrote!  Coach Baker wrote and wants a picture of you in basketball action for his former student picture board.  20x16 don’t ya know!!!! 

I ended up doing your dad’s Curry Chicken for dinner for at least 12.  Blake was here as well as Grama and Grampa, Scot, Meredith and of course Kyle.  Cris and Gee stayed also for dinner.  Natalia was here, did not eat much…  What a special girl, so beautiful, so kind, I know she misses you and I bet you miss her too.  Watch over us all lovebug.  We miss you, but we know you are watching over us and I know we all will be together again.  We love you Aaron.

Your Mom

Hey Babe, just a quick note to say that I had lunch today with Sue Gee.  We had a wonderful time and my, you are a favorite with the Gee Family.  I spoke to Coach Baker this afternoon and e-mailed him that picture of you the last year of Basketball that we used in the program at H.B. for him to use and post on his memory wall at his school.  Another good friend of yours.  He told me the cutest story about when he bought shorts that were hip and you told him no sweat, he was the coolest guy you knew.  We love you baby, we miss you.  Thank goodness you have so many friends!

Hey love.  Well tonight was the Shelter's Light a Light of Love Extravaganza and once again we donated your snowflake on the pier.  The day started with a wonderful pancake breakfast at the shelter, a taste of Huntington, a parade and then the lighting ceremony.  We are all so proud to help the shelter in your name.  Once again, there were something like forty people there.  Unbelievable.  You are so remembered and so loved.  Your friends were there again, your family as usual, Scot, Meredith, Kriste (oh heck you were there you know!)  and special thanks to Brian and Helen Ritter for coming with their adorable son.  Coach Rudy Baker showed up with a number of families from Grace Lutheran School.  The school took the shelter under their wing this Christmas and it was so wonderful to meet them.  Anyway, even thinking about it makes me cry cuz I miss you so much, so I am going to post what Aunt Vicki wrote on her blog because it really does sum up how we all feel and miss you.  I love you baby.  Look for all the pictures in the gallery under a new album called Christmas 2009.  Miss you something terrible.  You are the only one missing in the pictures. 

 

Aaron, my nephew was our beach boy thru and thru. We lost him way too early at age 17.
Our family tradition is to honor and remember him with a snowflake
on his very familiar Huntington Beach Pier every Christmas. I was thinking...how many hundreds...maybe thousands of times had he walked there?
This was a fundraiser for the local Youth Shelter my sister has
so lovingly become an advocate for.

 

And tonight was the lighting of the snowflakes.
We were all there when the lights came on.
And for a brief moment
I got a chill down my spine.

Vicki Walker

December 6, 2009

 

 

Hey love,

 

Merry Christmas.  This is the 3^rd Christmas we have had without you and we still miss you something terrible.  Everyone tries to stick to the family traditions, but we have added a few also. 

Once again on Christmas Eve, the whole family met at your Snowflake on the pier for a family prayer.  Everyone made it home for Christmas this year.  Aunt Vicki, Uncle Ed, Grama and Grampa, Trent and Brooke, Blake, Haley, McKenzie, Ben and Lauren, Casen and your new little 2^nd cousin Luci.  Benj and Amy were here as well as Dad and me.  We all knew you were with us.  After meeting on the pier we came back here for dinner and presents.  Meredith made dessert for us all!  She started doing that for us the 1^st year you were gone.

Our usual Make a Gift drawing was the highlight of the evening.  Kenz drew your name and made you the sweetest picture.  It was of a lobster and around the edges she shared a memory of once when the two of you were outside playing and that lobster crawled out of the storm drain.  You guys were so excited.  By luck of the draw, you drew Kenzie’s name.  For her you did a bubble memory frame.  In the large frame I put a picture of her looking up and in the small bubble frame a picture of you and her together the last Christmas we were all together.  You were sitting on the love seat in the living room and she was laying across your lap.  Behind those pictures I put 2 more just in case she ever wants to flip them around.  The large frame was one of you taken a few months before you left us, looking up at the small bubble frame where the 2^nd picture was the one taken of the 2 of you holding hands when you were about 6 or 7 and she must have been 4 years old. 

 

Once again the donations for the Christmas gifts for the shelter in your name were wonderful.  4^th Ward chose the HB Shelter for their Humanitarian projects this year.  How cool is that?  They donated not only gift cards for the bags for the kids but they did extra’s for the shelter’s use as well as toiletries for all them to use.  They are currently working on fixing all the bikes for the kids use as well as fixing the grounds for the pancake breakfast which was wonderful.  We also are trying to do a group thing for a privacy fence around the shelter grounds.  Pray for us.   Grace Lutheran School under the leadership of Coach Baker also worked on the duffle bags and backpacks.  The people I met from GLS were absolutely wonderful.  The kids even came here to the wrap the gifts at the luncheon wrapping party.  There were over 35 people or organizations, including Good Shepherd Methodist Church and every one of our family and friends that donated.  Cash, clothing, gift cards, toiletries, you name it.  Each shelter kid got pajamas, shirts, socks, toiletries, toys, watches, games, you name it!  We did have some things extra that went to the other kids and their families under the protection of the shelter.  We did good this year honey.

Special thanks to Coach Baker and the Grace Lutheran kids, they really were wonderful in the donations.  We could not have done as well with out everyone even in this Economic trying time.  We are blessed and everyone passed it on to the shelter cuz we love you and miss you.  I wish you were home to help.  You always did community projects even when you did not have too.  You were always giving away your new clothes, money anything you had.  You always shared.  I need you.  Watch over us.

Anyway, look for the pictures in the album name “Christmas 2009”.  We love and miss you sweetie.

P.S.  I am still mad that you are gone but I will love you until the day I die.  When we are finally together I don't know if I am going to slap you or just hold on to you and kiss your face.  Ah, kiss your face.  I love you.

 

Happy 20th Birthday Baby! 

You would have been 20 years old.  I wish you were here, cuz you would have had a blast.  As usual a number of your friends dropped by, e-mailed and called.  I ended up having an open house all day.  Most of your buds as well as mine are in school or working so lunch was about 8 of us but dinner ended up being 30 some odd people.  So many wrote and called!  See the pictures in your album called "Aaron Birthday 2 12 2010".  I had the camera out but I was so busy that no pictures were taken by me (sorry) until late in the evening by Kriste.  She and Butch were here.  What great friends.  Gee, Cris, Caitlin were here and Haley and her 2 friends Emily and Lauren came and spent the weekend with us, so they were here all day and all night.  Natalia was here in the evening but was coming down with the flu so the pics that Kriste took were taken late in the night and of those who were still here.  I am sorry baby, I know I should have taken pics of everyone and the beautiful flowers, cards and things people dropped off all day. Look after all your friends and especially your family.  Special thanks to Wayne and David Bartolme,  Katie Jacobs as usual, Nikki, Sabrina, Katrina, Natalia, Gee, Cris, Grama, Grampa, your brother Benji and Amy, Meredith (who did a wonderful dessert!) and Scot, Little Kyle, Vicki and of course our Haley and her sweet friends that plan to come again.  We really had fun. Sami was in England with her father for yours and her B day.  Wow, what a lucky girl.  She of course sent her love to you on your site.  Miss you so much.  Watch over cousin Lauren's Casen and baby Luci, Heidi's Caden and baby Bree, Nikki's baby Pantera and Jerry's new baby Aaron.  I bet you met them long before we ever did.  Be good honey and I cannot wait to be with you again.  Happy Birthday.  Love you as does your dad, brother and Bo.  Not a day goes by that you are not remembered. 

--Mom

P.S.  I could not help but use the picture of Grampa sleeping here on your birthday.  He was such a good sport all day and needed a nap before driving Mom and Vicki back to Temecula.  Keep an eye on him.....  He love you.

Hey babe....  You did it again.  I heard your voice.  As you must be aware, when I cannot sleep at night, I get up and read in your room so your dad can sleep without a light shining in his face.  Today is 3/26/2010 and 2 nights ago I heard your voice.  I was laying there, praying just kind of talking to you as I do, and I had on my mind that Meredith was worried about her school final in culinary and that she and I had to cancel our girl's day at the spa.  I was kind of telling you about it and then I picked up my book and figured I should go to sleep.  Then I heard you, that exasperated voice that most teens use when they lose patience with their parents, especially you and Benji when you lose it with me.  That voice, it was your voice.  "Geez Mom!!!!!!  She is going to Ace the test, tell her to go to bed!"  I set my book down and layed there for a minute, I thought that there was no way Meredith after a full days work was still up and then Crumb comes into your room jumps on the bed and starts meowing.  He wanted to go out.  I got up, put my robe on and walked downstairs with him to let him out.  As I got to the kitchen to open the door for him, I noticed that Meredith and Scot's kitchen light was on.  Meredith was up.

I let Crumb out and I went to the wall and looked over.  Meredith was in the kitchen.  I waved my arms to get her attention.  This was almost 12:30.  We both should have been asleep hours ago.  I talked to her, she told me she was having problems and could not find what utensils she need for the Culinary Final in the morning.  I told her what you said and we both kind of laughed and said good night.

I spoke with Meredith again this afternoon, as she is helping so much with the Youth Shelter work we are doing in your name.  As she left I asked her how the final went....  She said  "I think Aaron was right, I think I did good.  Before I saw you the other night, I was going to try to study another hour or so, but I thought, I am so tired so I went to bed instead."  Did you know that before she went to bed that night and got a good nights sleep before school the next morning, and when we left each other whispering not to wake anyone up in the dark of night, she told me "Tell Aaron thank you for me okay?"

 

Hey love...  3 years, 3 really long years.  You are gone and I miss you so much as do so many others.  Your death anniversary was just like the others so far.  I had e-mails, texts, notes, letters, flowers and cards.  Rosie was here, she brought you a black rose.  I know you know the story behind that.  She loved you and Natalia looking for black roses....  She loves you so much and misses you just as much as Dad, Me, Benji and Bo do.  Cris and Gee showed up, Caitlain tried but she was held up at work.  We ate nachos, pizza (Lupperello's of course) dinner, watched movies and they stayed the whole day.  It was so cool.  It reinterated what I loved about having teen age kids and their friends here.  We were always the house as you well know.  Gram and Grampa called, they are on their way to Rome!  How cool is that?  Watch over them.  Everyone called who are out of town (so many of your friends/cousins are away at college)  as well as family, they did not forget.  You know who they are, family and friends, you know who called, e-mailed, dropped by the house or wrote.  Talked with Jessie, Kyle Morrill, oh baby you know who remembered.  They all do still.  Look over Blake, he misses you.  I do not know what I will do when you friends move on.  I know it is the natural order of things, but we/you have had an extremely good run.  Haley and Kenz send love.  I love you, I miss you, I wish it would get easier.  I am still active with the Youth Shelter in your memory.  The number of kids we have helped is growing daily.  Thanks to you baby.  I used the picture of you and the Rosie kids for this posting.  They love you, we love them.  The pic was when you were 3 (for 3 year anniversary) almost 4 so that is why I used it.  I love you, I miss you, I wish you were home.  Please come home.

Hey Babe!  Happy 4^th of July.  Missed you of course.  Set off one of your remaining firecrackers….  I have one Picolo Pete left that I am saving for next year.  Brandon and Cris were here for my birthday (June 28th).  You have great friends.  I heard from a number of them that day as well as my own friends.  How cool is that?  Caitlin, DJ, Jessie, Madison, Natalie, Nikki, Kyle, Natalia, Bailey, Victoria, Sami Griggs my girl and Haley Parker.  I know I have forgotten a few, but they all know who they are.  You so rock in friends.  I figure that at my age, I am going to start counting backwards.  That is how I will deal with getting older!  I tried the forget the birthday thing, but so far it has not worked due to my and your friends and our wonderful family. 

Big news….  Kyle Obler got a tattoo.  Surprised the heck out of me!  Were you there with him?  He told me it did not hurt, thinking of you. I laughingly told him you were there whispering in his ear that it didn’t hurt.  He laughed.   Of course it was a memorial tattoo for you.  By my count, there are at least 30+ kids walking around in SoCal with your name or initials.  It continues to surprise me being waited on at the grocery store or in a restaurant by someone with your name on their wrist or arm.  I even got a picture of a boy (I don't know his name I wish you were here to tell me) skateboarding in competition with a full chest Aaron Stratz tattoo. Crap, of course honey, you know how I hate body art, but you must have done something right to have so many people care to memorialize your time here on earth. They all are around your age so still working to get thru school and I hope as they grow older that tats do not hurt them in the fields of employment they end up in and are working for.   I think I must be old fashioned. 

A couple weeks ago Meredith reamed me out for something, never explained, it was so hurtful, and I did not have a clue until the 3rd of July Pinot (wine) party at their house why she was so upset.  I had figured I did something wrong but it turned out the night she told me off with no explanation, that Kyle got the tattoo without her permission.  He waited as long as he could evidently, just 2 ½ months before his 18^th birthday.  I guess it easier to blame the dead kid’s mom then her child. He loves you.  I know he is younger, but you two were so close.  All holidays, all summers, the yearly remembrance and repetition of your traditions of every holiday,  you know what I mean.  I love you.  I will photo Kyle's tat to add to this posting.  It cost him alot.  It probably cost me as well, a friendship.  I love you baby.

Anyway, miss you.  Hey!  We got a recognition award from the HB Youth Shelter.  As you know I have been working hard for them in your name for almost 3 years.  I really miss working with kids.  Your friends, the school, the sports, you get it.  My life before you left us.   Last week Bo and I went and did a stepping stone for the walk of pride at the shelter for you as a donator of the shelter.  AMS for HBYS. (Aaron Marcus Stratz for Huntington Beach Youth Shelter.)  Watch over us all.  I love you so much and miss you so much.  Be happy, be productive in what our Lord has chosen you to do and why he took you from us so soon.  Know you must be happy, please be happy.  Both your brother, Bo, and I as well as your daddy look forward to the day when we will all be together again.  Love ya Boo.  –Mom

P.S.  Jessie is home for a month this summer.  She is going to be a surgeon!  DJ as well is home for the summer (looks like a 4.5 GPA in business)  and I have visited with Jessie (as she is across the street easy, saw Madison too).  DJ will be here next week as well as Caitlin and Brandon.    Watch over them all okay?  We love you.

P.P.S.  Your Haybay is in Manhattan as an intern with a major corporation that sets up fund raisers for big charitable organizations.  She said the same thing you did when she hit NY City (Manhattan).  “It smells.”  She is doing wonderfully and having a blast.  Loves NYU and Uncle Don Stratz is on her speed dial if she ever needs help.  (Could not let her go so far without a family member close)  You should be there with them.  Watch over her and Kenz.  Haley and Kenz are doing wonderful!  Kenz is a senior this year in high school and busy with Cheer, homecoming Princess and all things good.  Haley will be back at BYU; still rocking with a scholarship and a fantastic GPA.  Will see them in Kauai in August for Uncle Don McNab and Aunt Mickey’s 60^th wedding anniversary celebration.  Will write again then.  Love you so much it hurts.  I want you, I miss you, I am having a problem.  Can't believe you have been gone so long.  I still dream and I miss you so.

--Mama

I am so sorry lover, I have been having problems with your website.  I lost about 8 months of notes here on your LIfe Story which I am using to document your friends and family and how they love you and never forget.  I will check some of my old back ups and see if I can get what is missing and in the meantime, I do have pictures and memories to document for you starting with the 2010 Hawaii vacation, (stayed in your place and saw you in every corner) KK1 rocks.  the only one missing in the picture above is you.  But we all agreed, you were there.  Anyway, could not sleep and I miss you so much. It is not getting any easier.  If anything, I am reminded daily you are gone.  Christmas 2010, the snowflake lighting 2010 all in your memory, your 21st birthday 2011, another party. (your friends asked, I never brought it up, they did and of course you know they are welcome here anytime.  Pictures galore of everything.  Your death anniversary 2011, again your friends showing up.  You are so lucky!  More pictures.  Your dad said he would check what Last Memories Website did when they changed programs and get your pictures and videos back up.  It happened in February 2011 which of course is tax season and neither your dad or I had time to fight with them.  I contacted customer services and I should post their replies.  Not happy.  I have so much to add.  If I have to replace everything it will be a mess, but I can do it.  There is 6 albums of pics over almost 4 years and I would have to find them on my CPU and repost.  Damn Aaron you should be here.  I can't sleep, I make sure to think of you each morning in my prayers hoping that a memory will not side swipe me in the middle of the day.  They do, I cry, lay down, but I want you.  I know you are happy, I know you are in a better place, I know I will be with you again.  Just wish it was now.  Our heavenly Father knows when that time will come and I will wait patiently.  In the meantime, be a good boy, come see me if you can and watch out for your dad, Bo, your brother and everyone of your friends that are in this world that seems to be falling apart.  I love you Boo.  Forever.
Mom

Hey love it is me again.  I know you have been around.  You have been very busy with all that is happening in the family.  Thank you for being here.  Grampa Swenson is going thru Cancer therapy (drop by and say hi okay?) and Grampa Stratz had a stroke last week.  When he was able to barely speak, he let us know that you were there with him.  I think he is now a believer as so many of your friends and family have been visited by you in our individual time of need or thankfulness.  I am going to post a Celtic poem under Memories which I think says it all which we used when Aunt Vicki, Cousin Michale and Cousin Leslie and myself went back to Fox Island this summer in August. See above picture.  Saw you everywhere.  Missed you everywhere.  Memories.  Thought of you, Benj and Blake everytime I turned around.  I even started the old wood BBQ of stone from 1939 by myself.  Benj was so proud!  It was his job last time we were all there together.  I even had a picture taken of me on your swing to match the one of you in the livingroom. 

Will post pictures when I can in this website. I am going to add your Dad's e-mail thanking Grampa Stratz for sharing his story about being with you when he had the stroke, which he shared just as soon as he was able to speak.  He is paralysed on one side but working hard to get it back and get out of the hospital.  It has been a day to day struggle.  Thank you babe for being there for him. Pray and be there for him if you can.  Both of your Grampas need our heavenly father's blessings and help.  Your dad cried when you told Grampa Stratz that you missed playing basketball with him.  I know you said you miss and loved us and we all miss and love you too. I know you are close.  Just in another room.  So many stories in this website about people you had come to and gave hope.  We love you baby.  Forever...... 

Watch over Bo, PLEASE he is getting sick and he needs a miracle.

Here is your dad's e-mail to Grampa Stratz regarding his visit with you.....

To my Boy....  I know I have not kept up the life story.  Please know you are never not in my thoughts each day as well as your dad, Bo and Benji.  I never thought it would continue to hurt like this still after so many years.  It just is so hard to write to you when I just want to hold you.  Chris, Gee and Caitlin stopped by for your birthday and we talked for hours as always each year.  I even heard a couple stories you never told me.  Most stories at the time you did, but it was great to hear the new ones.  Your friends have not forgotten you, you should see the notes on my Facebook.  A ton!!!!!!!  All your friends remembered your birthday.  TMS rules!  Tonight is the shelter Wine tasting and I ended up missing it for the first time.  I am not well. The shelter I do in your name.  
 Allison Sepa's parents came as guests of my friend Maria & Gabe Casas. It is such a small world.  I know you know all this. 
I looked for you all night at Haley's wedding.  I know you were there.  I felt your presence.  Haley knew you were there also.  We love you, we miss you.  You would have been 24 years old 2/12/2014.  Happy Birthday my honey.  Crumb is back sleeping in your bed now that Blake moved out.  He even would sleep there with Blake.  He knows where his place is no matter whom he shares it with.  Sleeps with Benji when he is home.  He still thinks of his boys and that he is one of them.  I love you Air Bear.  I wish you were here.  Love as always from Mom