Memoirs of an Emotional Yo-Yo

I’m starting to sympathize with yo-yos, emotionally speaking.

Last Tuesday my friend Jeff’s son Justin passed away. He was seven years old and he fought cancer for about a year and a half. I feel so terrible for his family. I wouldn’t wish that nightmare on my worst enemy.

Then on Wednesday my brother, my soon-to-be-brother in law, my girlfriend and I went to see Rush at the venue formerly known as Great Woods in Mansfield. I went from being completely depressed to being down right giddy in one day. The show was fantastic. It was my 10^th Rush show in 20 years. I wanna see them again, right now.

Friday was Justin’s wake. It was in Londonderry, NH from 4-8. I left work in Framingham, MA at about 4:15 and got to the wake around 7. Possibly the worst traffic I’ve ever been stuck in. It was completely insane. So then I wasn’t just depressed, I was royally pissed off too.

Saturday was Justin’s funeral. It was gut wrenching. The service itself was actually kind of uplifting. It was a celebration of his life. The played music from a few of his favorite movies. If it’s possible to feel better about a seven year old dying of cancer… the service did it.

Right around then the emotional roller coaster went from the bottom on the hill to the top of the drop. Jen and I went to Fenway to see the Red Sox take on the Texas Rangers. The seats were the best I’ve ever had. Hands down, no question. Box 39. 13 rows behind the Boston on-deck circle. We were close enough that had Jen came through on her promise to compliment Jason Veritek on his ass, ‘Tek would have heard it and been close enough to comment back without raising his voice. The down side of course was that Josh Beckett blew a four run lead and the Sox lost 5-4.

Sunday was spent visiting Minuteman National Park in Lexington and Concord, getting into the 4^th of July spirit. (yes we knew that the battle of Lexington and Concord and the “Shot Heard Round the World” actually happened in April of 1775, not July of 1776… but I digress) They had a reenactment of General George Washington’s taking command of the newly named Continental Army. As Nawal put it, it was fun and educational.

Fast forward to Tuesday night. The same group that went to Minuteman National Park; me, Jen, Larry, and Nawal, went to Canobie Lake park in… in… where the hell is it? I think it’s in Salem, NH but it might be in Windham. Not that it matters. The plan was to go and see their fireworks show, but we got there early enough to sneak in a couple of rides too. We went on the ferris wheel first. Sure it’s lame, but we’re all old now so it’s right up our alley. Then Larry and Nawal went on the Extreme Frisbee. Jen and I are of course sane and not suicidal, so we declined the invitation. Then we went to get in line for the Yankee Cannonball. The Yankee is an old wooden roller coaster and it was the first roller coaster that Larry, Jen and I had ever ridden, back in our youth. Sadly the fireworks show started so we had to put it off while we all oooh’d and ahhhh’d while celebrating the fact that we aren’t British. Afterwards we managed to sneak in one roller coaster ride just before the park closed. Nostalgia babie. It was shorter than I remembered (it was my first Canobie visit in about 17 years) but it was a lot faster too. Jen screamed the whole way, but in a good way.

So today is the 4^th of July. I’m sitting in my room typing a blog while the pouring rain washes out any hope of fireworks shows.

As per usual, here are the pictures. Three slide shows. First, a few crappy camera phone shows from the Rush show, then a bunch of shots from Fenway… be jealous of our fantastic seats. Then a bunch from the reenactment.

Enjoy, and never forget Justin Bissett: 2/9/00 – 6/26/07. Rest in Peace.

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