This week, the wine world lost a great man. A man who had a passion. But there was a cause that fueled that passion. While I never personally met the man, it affected me for some reason…
Why, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because he inspired me to remember that while my life may be $h!t, there is ALWAYS someone who is going through something worse and I should be grateful that I have what I’ve got.
This man, who I never met…his name was Robert “Budge” Brown. Those of you in the wine world are most likely familiar with him. If you’re not, he’s the founder of Cleavage Creek Winery. Snicker all you want at the name…there’s a passion and reason behind the name, which I explained in this post.
On Wednesday, May 18th, 2011, Budge went to be with his beloved wife, Arlene.
Rest in peace, Budge. May you enjoy eternity with Arlene. With your contributions, and your generous heart, you made the world a better place…and you left this world making a difference, which is something few can say. Hopefully your message to “Live to Love Life” resonates with everyone who reads this.
I said “men” in the title. Yes. Plural.
Memorial Day marks one year since I lost my own male role model. He taught me to…you’re all going to laugh, but I don’t care…drive my car like a Sherman Tank that’s been modified into a snowplow in the snow (seriously…I drive like a freakin’ mad woman in the snow, but in a good way)…bull$h!t with the best of ’em…not give a flying $h!t of what someone thinks of me and…most importantly…know what’s important and never forget it.
This man?
My Grandpa.
We all miss you…every day.
And it’s funny with the May 18th date…not only is it my Grandma’s birthday, the same day that the wine world lost a standup man, but it was also the day that merely a year before, those of us in my family realized that my Grandpa would have never come home to his chickens, cows, dog, truck and, most importantly, his farms (the homestead he was born on and still is in the family to this day and the farmstead he raised his own family on). It’s basically the day we realized that he’d be miserable if we didn’t let him go.
And oh, yeah…May 18th also marks a little anniversary of a teensy mountain in Washington State blowing it’s top in 1980.
So to Budge and the 57 souls lost/angels gained on May 18th, 1980, and my Grandpa, who earned his wings on May 31st, 2010…a simple song from the country group Alabama called “Angels Among Us”…
I was walking home from school on a cold winter day
Took a shortcut through the woods, and I lost my way
It was getting late, and I was scared and alone
But then a kind old man took my hand and led me home
Mama couldn’t see him, oh but he was standing there
And I knew in my heart, he was the answer to my prayers
Oh well I believe there are angels among us
Sent down to us from somewhere up above
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live, to teach us how to give
To guide us with the light of love
When life held troubled times, and had me down on my knees
There’s always been someone to come along and comfort me
A kind word from a stranger, to lend a helping hand
A phone call from a friend, just to say I understand
And ain’t it kind of funny at the dark end of the road
That someone lights the way with just a single ray of hope
Oh well I believe there are angels among us
Sent down to us from somewhere up above
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live, to teach us how to give
To guide us with the light of love
They wear so many faces, show up in the strangest places
To grace us with their mercy, in our time of need
Oh well I believe there are angels among us
Sent down to us from somewhere up above
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live, to teach us how to give
To guide us with the light of love
To guide us with the light of love
[- From :http://www.elyrics.net/read/a/alabama-lyrics/angels-among-us-lyrics.html -]
