I am leaving Carson in about 8 hours bound for the land of Aloha and as I sit here and try to think of something to say it becomes clear that I have the best family and friends out from all over the place. This has been a sad yet uplifting two weeks here in Nevada. I can see the best in my family and yet also see some sadness that I know in time will disappear. So all I can say is:
Ma: You are my rock and my best friend. I love you dearly and always will. Your life will only get better.
Kippie: What an Aunt you are. There is no better. You are one of a kind and I’m grateful to you.
UB: The best Uncle anyone could have. Hang in there with your knee. It’ll get better quickly I just know it.
Rod: You bring such happiness to Ma. You are one of a kind. Love you.
Timmy: What a brother. And a famous one to. You are the best. My love for you will always be there.
Lauren Anne: You my dear sweet one are great. I love you more than I can say. Thanks for all you did.
Renee: You are so calming on everyone and just a jewel. Love you so much.
Dean: No better cousin than you. You deserve the best and know you always have my love.
Julie: What a cousin also. I love you to death and you are the bomb.
Jane: No better sister-in-law. I love you to death and you keep us all focused.
Em: There is no better niece than you. You are one of a kind and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Love you
Connor: Love you so much. You make me think so much and keep us all on our toes.
Tyler: You are the bomb my boy. Keep care of your family and know you have my love also.
Dawn: Another wonderful addition to the family. The love and care you show is just wonderful.
Jamie: You my sweet girl are terrific. I love you more than you know.
Justin: Another great addition to the family. You are just great.
Indica, Kianna, TyTy and James: You all have such high standards to follow but I know you all will
My family
To everyone else: Misty, Heather, Angie, The Baxters and anyone else I forgot thank you so much for all you did. You are some great friends and part of our family and I’m so glad you are in our lives. To all my blogger friends thank you for all your wonderful comments and true feelings for me and my family. It means so much to us all and most who we have never met to take the time…well it goes unsaid that you are some great people. Bill, Kelley, Dee, Lisa, Manu, Myrna, Aunty Flavi, Ali’i, Kahili, Nelson…all of you also are so important to me and I dont’ know what I would do without you. OTS..thank you for giving me the extra week off.
Thank you all. I’m the luckiest person on the face of the earth. To put this in perspective, I’m not really that far away…The phone, the internet and the 777′s are real close and always at hand. Thank you again. All please be strong, take care of one another and by all means love each other. 
Aloha!
Hey, it’s just my opinion
A Hui Ho
It’s nice you had this time to share with your family. Sad that it had to be for a funeral — but that does seem to be what brings us all together.
Isn’t that the truth Melli…have to take the good with the bad
One year for each of my parents’ birthdays I wrote them a letter expressing how I felt about them. Another year, I made my mother a memory jar with 30 slips of paper where I had written things I remember from my childhood. They have said that these were the best gifts they ever received.
Nessa what a great idea. Treasures forever
Thommy
Thank you so much for your kind words. We come from the strongest most loving family I have ever seen. I wouldnt trade any of you for the world.
Here here Dean…
What a heartfelt letter Thom! Made me long to be all together with mine.
Shed the jackets and sweaters and have a safe trip home to Hawaii! Lucky you!
It is nice to be back weather wise I must say. I was beginning to look like a dried up shriveled prune.
And thank you for your comments Carletta 
Brudda it brings tears to my eyes. I love you so and we are all so lucky to have you. I miss you tremendously already and look so forward to your next visit!!!
p.s. GM I LOVE YOU and MISS YOU ALWAYS!!!
Until the next time
thom, i am crying as i write this. what lovely things you wrote about our family and friends. i already miss you so much i can hardly stand it. the two weeks you were here went by like a flash. i will treasure those two weeks forever. you were such a help to all of us during our sad time. it was so wonderful having you, tim, jane and the kids here and of course laurie and renee are always here for me and i dont know what i would do without them. as sad a time as it was it was so so fulfilling to me to have you all surrounding me and giving me such support. the love i feel for you kids is so deep and satisfying its hard to put into words. love and kisses, ma/mom/mama/grammie/julie/jj xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxo
With a Mom like you it’s hard to put all feelings into words. All we can do is try our best and Ma you so succeeded. Love you!!!
it’s great to see a family so close, even if scattered around the country. hope you have (had?) a safe trip.
and btw, i’ll be looking forward to your photos
Yes even though it was a short trip for most it was worthwhile, safe and very helping to every member of the family
I’m going to try and get all the pictures on my flickr account this weekend.
A Wonderful tribute to you Family Thom, Safe trip home, I will ask God’s Angels to get you safely back.
When you get back, you must post a picture of yourself in your bus (if you don’t have one twist Quilly’s Rubber Arm, I am sure she’d be more than happy to help),
If you search my blog there are pictures of me in training and after graduation. Month of July last year.
PS ~ I found some of my best friends are my blogging Friends who I’ve never met but feel very close to.
Thank you for your kind words Bill. I will try and get a photo by the bus. But I’m always the one taking them. Maybe one day I can get that rubber arm of Quilly’s to take a picture. Will work on it. I’ll look at your photos after your graduation. When we graduated we only had a group picture taken and the company keeps it. And isn’t it funny how the bloggers become so close to you and it’s all over blogs…amazes me
I hope somebody prints this out and gets it to those who won’t see it on the internet.
Good idea Dr. John
Thanks for taking the time to comment
Love your pictures. Even though I don’t see them here, Google Reader finds them for me.
Thanks Nessa. I haven’t posted them here. Only several. I’m going to put all the photos in my flickr account and hopefully will have it done this weekend and I’ll let you know.
You sound like a very warm and caring family man. Have a safe trip home Thom.
Oh and I’m glad that you are my blogger friend too. I love to get comments from you as well!
Thanks for your kind words Jientje…I’m home now and getting warmed up
I’m glad we have met at least through the blogs…as I told Bill it amazes me what friendships you make through blogging 
we just “met” this week thru the wonder of blogging and Wordzzle but I can feel a spirit in you that is kind and caring – that seems evident from your words and from your many friends here
thank you for visiting me, especiallt when you were dealing with so much
I look forward to sharing more thoughts and fun and photos – here in the land of the interwebs
Peace and Safe Journey
Dianne…thank you so much for your very kind words. I certainly do appreciate it and I to look forward to getting to know you better. I really enjoy your site
Mahalo
That was so nice Thom. I know I’m your favorite just like I am Grammies!!! Come visit more often! Love you!
Indeed you might be Em LOL Love you too and thanks for reading it