thoughts of pizza and game night

shared by Marlo R. Beall, her sister

Happy 33rd Birthday Cyn!

Last night, our family went to watch a women's college basketball game at UC Berkeley, between Cal and Kansas. It was a great game, really competitive and just an overall fun evening. I realized as we were driving home, that taking our girls to the game was a wonderful way to honor Cindy as we commemorate her 33rd birthday today.

This evening, our family continued to celebrate Cindy's birthday with a pizza and game night. We even sang "Happy Birthday!" and shared a Baskin Robbins ice cream cake. Watching basketball, eating ice cream cake and playing board games are all activities that Cindy enjoyed.

We always take the time to celebrate Cindy's birthday, usually going to church and visiting the cemetery. Attending a basketball game and enjoying a family game night hasn't happened every year, but I think this year will help us start some new traditions for celebrating Cindy's birthday.

So for all of you who are remembering Cindy on her birthday, thank you for thinking of her, keeping her spirit alive and celebrating her life. Please consider doing something yourself as a small way of commemorating Cindy's birthday.

Some ideas of ways to celebrate include

-baking cookies

-eating sushi

-playing basketball.. or badminton... or volleyball

-making and/or eating waffles

-wearing your contacts if you usually wear glasses

-wearing your glasses if you usually wear contacts

-reading a book

-staying in your pajamas all day

-writing in your journal (or starting one)

-taking pictures

-wearing a Snoopy shirt

-creating with arts and crafts

...or any other activity that reminds you of Cyn.

And if you do find yourself practicing a "random act for Cyn" please let us know, because we'd love to hear about it.

thoughts of eight crazy nights

shared by Marlo R. Beall, her sister

Although I'm not sure I agree with the practice of radio stations playing holiday music right after Thanksgiving, I did enjoy hearing one particular song while I was driving to work last week. That song was Adam Sandler's Hanukkah Song. I was excited to have just flipped to the station right as the song was beginning.

Cyn was a big Adam Sandler fan. She enjoyed all of his movies and actually owned many - if not all - of his movie soundtrack CDs. I know one of her all-time favorite songs was Grow Old With You from The Wedding Singer. So anytime I see or hear Adam Sandler, it makes me think of Cyn.

Well, as I continued my drive to work, I enjoyed singing along to the song. Later that day, I was watching the Saturday Night Live Christmas special, and was once again pleasantly surprised when one of the scenes that played was when Adam Sandler debuted his Hanukkah Song as part of a Weekend Update skit. I knew it was another moment of Cyn sending her love from above.