thoughts of bruins and jayhawks

shared by Andrew Beall, her brother-in-law

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a proud Kansas Jayhawks fan. But I will also say that at the point in my life when I met Marlo, I became a UCLA Bruins fan too. I think I actually keep track of them more than she does. The only time I don't cheer for UCLA is when they are playing my Jayhawks. 

Last week, we watched the UCLA mens' basketball team play on TV against the MU Tigers. It was a fun game and thankfully the right team won. As we watched, it made me think of the time that Cindy took me to see the Bruins play my Jayhawks in Pauley Pavilion. It was quite an adventure.

When I mentioned to Cindy that KU would be playing UCLA, she said she would get us tickets and then decided she'd get us student tickets so we could sit closer to the court. I didn't quite realize what that would entail. 

The day of the game, Cindy told me she had borrowed one of her friend's student ID's. I was going to have to pretend I was a UCLA student with my borrowed ID. We waited in line to get in, and nervously practiced everything I was going to say as they checked my credentials. Security really did hold the ID up next to me and ask me what my name was, but I was apparently persuasive enough that they believed me even though I looked nothing like the darker skinned fellow on the ID. 

The Jayhawks were ranked #1 at that time, and the Bruins #11. It was supposed to be a good game, but my Jayhawks played terribly. I vividly remember sitting amongst all the students screaming for UCLA. And because I was sitting with them, I knew better than to openly cheer for the other team. Cindy laughed at me when I poorly tried to control my emotions. I remember that I would squeeze her hand instead of yelling when KU would make a good play, which there weren't very many of. 

In the end, it was a pretty frustrating game from my perspective. KU lost 87 to 77. The UCLA students stormed the court as time expired. Cindy rushed down while I stood in the stands and wallowed in my sorrows. 

Still, I had a great time with Cyn. I miss our adventures together.

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.