Author: mateogalluzzo

Fourteen

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14 months. Today we travel.  
Our last vacation as a family of four occurred several months before Owen died. We went to Disney World. Owen liked Thunder Mountain the most. We rode it 4 times. 
We have a vacation tradition in our house. We always purchase new shoes for the kids prior to any such adventure. It started with our first trip to Disney World as a family in 2007. 

Owen liked Pumas. In late February of last year (the 22nd to be exact—because dates are important) we ventured to the company store in the Southside. We purchased both kids these funky velcro Pumas for our trip. They remained Owen’s regular shoes for the next few months. He wore them to the hospital. 

In the lead up to this trip I decided to honor him and that tradition (absent the velcro): 

 As a note of serendipity, Owen’s 4 year old cousin showed up to the airport this morning sporting a new pair of kickers (velcro Pumas, of course): 
 
Smiles & tears. Smiles and tears. 

forever

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we went away on the anniversary. while it was certainly tough to be away from our friends, family, & the dog, it was a welcome respite and opportunity for reflection (and needed distraction).

moons ago i came across an interesting recording of Bob Dylan’s “forever young.” it’s been on repeat in the back of my head for the past year. like every vacation, i stuffed my ukelele in my backpack. i recorded this version on august 10.

may your song always be sung, mr. o.