| Allison Sepa |
| Kyle Morrill |
Pirate Day
Arg!
Remember the old days when pirates were cool and not so mainstream? I do. We did. Back then we called our garage band: The Bayonne Pirates,
As I think back to my favorite pirate day, I think back to how creatively bored we used to be, long before the days of places to be and things to do. Unscheduled randomness spearhead by expressions of interest. This particular Pirate Day I am thinking of was particularly exiting. Of course we covered the normal Pirate Day grounds: dressing the part, drinking root beer, and getting girls to come over to celebrate with. But we went above and beyond that day. We built our own boat, taping a giant caterpillar pool toy to plywood on top of skateboards, and road it all around town. I took off my happy face boxers at one point and put it on a stick, creating our official pirate flag. We must have look nuts riding on that thing.
Well we spent the day cavorting about on our ship, laughing, seizing any opportunity for entertainment or chaos. Towards the end of the night, Aaron had the greatest idea. We ditched the group and went back to his house for awhile to procure a good chest for burying treasure. We ended up with a cardboard box. I added some of my treasure to the box, such as my then Snapple cap collection, and other random things in my room. He did the same. Then we had the great idea of going to all our friend’s houses that were celebrating with us and stealing crap from their rooms to add to our treasure. That would be the proper pirate way, we thought. So, we got into as many rooms as we could, stealing the most random and embarrassing items and adding them to our collection. We cruised our ship down to the park by our house, digging the deepest hole I have ever dug. We didn’t stop digging until we hit the concrete bottom of the sandbox. We buried it. Then cleverly added about 50 “x-marks the spots” all around the park, in the grass, the sand, and even on the picnic table. We called to see where our buddies where. They were all still celebrating together and had been wondering where we were. We told them of a treasure chest filled with personal items and began stalking them, slowly giving them clues. We left clues all over and would speak of land marks around them (because we were stealthily following them), and it started getting to the point where they were pissed. But they eventually found the park. It was hilarious. It was late already, but they were out extremely late digging. It was so funny. And when they eventually did find it, they also found someone had already got to it and stole most of our treasures, including my Snapple caps and happy face underwear flag.
Those were days so simple, so innocent. I would do anything to have those times back, but unfortunately, those days have been stolen by the progression of time and growth. But they will always remain one small memory within an ocean of experiences. They offer nothing new, only the comfort in knowing that, at one point, you had someone to share and create new memories with.
| Aunt Vicki |
Tuesday May 22, 2007
For Marc and Sheri
I woke up crying early this morning,a kind of happy crying and aching crying all at the same time. I swear I had just talked to Aaron. I could still see in such detail the color of his skin, his eyelashes, his eyes that were so brown they almost seemed black and I even felt his spiky hair on my face as I hugged him. I was in a hallway and there he was. I threw my arms around him as I said his name and he seemed like his happy, goofy self. I said, "Your family really misses you Air." He looked down at his bare feet and I sensed his deep remorse. I felt bad for having said it. He said, "I know, I’ve been there a lot. I really blew it Aunt Vicki." I just looked at him looking at his feet, and changed the subject. I said, "Where are your shoes?" He said, " I ‘ve been down at the beach a lot with -------, -------, and -------. They were names I didn’t know. (Has he made friends already?) He opened a door to his left and I looked in and saw Benji’s bed with Benji, Blake, and Trent asleep on it. He said, " I am going to bed now Aunt Vicki."
And he turned to walk in. I said, Goodnight Aaron, I love you." He looked back at me and said, "I know you do…"
I don’t know why I dreamed it, but I am grateful I did. I believe it was really him. I believe that each of us can experience these kinds of things
| Aaron's Mom |
I miss you Boo. The following poem gives me comfort because I know that this is the way you feel. I love you and I always will.
By Henry Scott Holland
Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral
London 1847-1929
Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other, that we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference in your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect.
Without the trace of shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was: there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval.
Somewhere very near.
Just around the corner.
All is well.......
| The Aaron Stratz All Girl Chorus |
A CHILD’S PRAYER
Sung at the Memorial by the members of
The Aaron Stratz All Girl Chorus
(All Singers)
Heavenly Father, are you really there?
And do you hear and answer every child’s prayer?
Some say that heaven is far away.
But I feel it close around me as I pray.
Heavenly Father, I remember now
Something that Jesus told disciples long ago,
“Suffer the children to come to me”
Father, in prayer, I’m coming now to thee.
(All Singers)
Pray, he is there.
Speak, he is listening.
You are his child.
His love now surrounds you.
He hears your prayer.
He loves the children.
Of such is the kingdom, the
(Split Group)
Heavenly Father, are you really there?
Pray, he is there.
And do you hear and answer every child’s prayer?
Speak, he is listening.
Some say that heaven is far away,
You are his child.
But I feel it close around me as I pray.
His love now surrounds you.
Heavenly Father, I remember now
He hears your prayer.
something that Jesus told disciples long ago,
He loves the children.
“Suffer the children to come to me”
Of such is the kingdom,
Father, in prayer, I’m coming now to thee.
Heavenly thee.
The