Tuesday, March 18, 2008

How Time Fly's...

Today is the one year anniversary of Mark's passing. As we all know to well time stands still for none of us.



I am putting up one of my favorite pics (I know I've posted it before) because it reminds of a very nice two days we spent hanging out together and traversing NYC. We went from Brooklyn to Alphabet city to central park and the museum of natural history. Quite the journey for me but a pretty typical day for Mark. I know he wasn't necessarily feeling his best that day but he did not let that stop him from doing and going the places I wanted to go. That was pretty typical of him, I know he went out of his way to stay close with our family, my kids and myself because he knew his time with us would be shorter then that of others. I am very thankful that he did because he left all of us a lot of special memories and laughs that we can use to keep his spirit alive. Finally I think the blog is a great tribute to him and his spirit. It has made us laugh, share, think and probably a few have been tempted to bang on the keyboard but most of all it has shown us that something positive can come out of even the saddest of times. Mark did that right until the end. SWM has said many times, and I agree, how he wold have loved the blog I only wonder who he would have riled the most (KCM?)...

9 comments:

John Mulligan said...

Great Post Gary.

joyce said...

gary,

we will never forget mark. And now with the blog we will never forget anyone. i know mark would have been enjoying this bloging & posting.. if he was here you most likely would be out of your administrator job. ya think??

nice post,gpe!!

Zombie Mugg said...

Mark wasn't born in the city but you wouldn't know it. His knowledge of the city was unsurpassed. He was a wealth of information from the subway to libraries, museums, to cheap eats. He always knew about an event taking place in the city from a war protest to a Memorial service for Jerry Garcia. If it was happening in the city Mark likely knew about it. He was the consummate tour guide.

Anonymous said...

mark was our tour guide many a time, he would say come down to the city because there is always something to do, always something going on, we had fun

Red said...

After seeing the pics on the rocks that SWM put up got me remembering about my one and only rock climbing experience I've ever had.

Yes, Mark was my guide and I imagine we were up in the Gunks too. As some of you may recall, I was physically gifted in my younger years kinda like a red Arnold. Almost as gifted as UO, but that is debatable... Anyways, I was tough. So I took up Mark's offer to climb, and I soon realized there are varying levels of tough.

Mark walked me up to a rock face that was literally staight up, a full 60 ft high. He harnassed me up to him, my life in his hands and encouraged me on. Within ten feet I knew I was in trouble. It isn't really that high but within ten or twenty feet most newcomers choke/freeze or quit. I was seriously contemplating that and Mark knew it, expected it. Some would mock or poke a person at such a moment. Not Mark, he waited for me to get a grip and helped me remain calm. His words were positive, humourous and informative. Slowly, I took another step up, then another then more. All along the way coached by Mark and upon reaching the top overlooking the hudson river valley I got a few moments alone to reflect and absorb the view, then when I was ready I repelled down the face, a walk straight down the face. With Mark on the other end of the line...

I never went rock climbing again, but am grateful to have done it and more grateful to have had such a great coach, Mark truly would love the blog and I cannot think of a better way to honor him than by doing what we do...

Keep on bloggin!!!!

John Mulligan said...

Great Comment Chris!

helenmary said...

thank you chris for that post it made me cry buy happy to to know he had spent that time with you. i guess thats what you McCauleys one of a kind mark like us was very lucky to have such wonderful loving cousins each and everyone of you are quite special. God bless your the time you spent with mark God bless your memories. They touch our hearts.

ame said...

3/21/08- what a beautiful tribute to my gentle baby - mark- i will treasure all your comments, pictures, marks very last note- he was so looking forward to that little truck- the cost to fix his chevy was too expensive-

I feel your right- you administrators would not have the job- and john i think mark would have had a lot of fun ribbing you-
In florida we celebrated March 18 with dinner and mark's favorite homemade cake- moist devil food chocolate with chocolate cool whip icing and the beautiful video made with love by andrea- "in memory6 of Mark" lastly when mark's headstone was put in at St Denis the wrong color was ordered by Lori McHoul which is there now however the correct color stone -canadian red like his fathers which is ready but will not be exchanged until that new york weather improves.

helenmary said...

hi mom welcome abord!! nice words and i'm glad you took the time to visit the blog the stories from the McCauleys make our hearts happy!! come bak often!!