This past Sunday the world lost one of the great ones, Glen Umphrey, one of the happiest most positive people on the planet. I was lucky enough that Glen married my Aunt Jane (that’s the two of them in the pictures, on their wedding day and then more recently) when I was just two years old so I got to grow up with him in my life. When we were kids he would take us clamming, to the dump, running errands – whatever he did it was an adventure. He’d make up songs. He had pet names for all of us, he made you feel like you were the only one in the room. He’d try anything once. He took up downhill skiing in his 70′s because he just wanted to try it. Who does that? He was a character, a practical joker and a teaser and not above skirting convention now and then. We loved him all the more for it.

He was married very happily to my aunt Jane for 55 years. They were always my vision of a great marriage. The fact that he was 17 years her senior never mattered a bit to anyone, least of all them. Together they raised 4 kids, and they loved spending time with them, their grandchildren and everyone else in the family. They loved being with each other most of all.

Glen loved everything especially life. He could not wait to do whatever he had planned for the day. If it was snowing, he loved it because he could snowblow, one of his all-time favorites. If it was raining he’d find something to love about that. If it was sunny, well he could putter in the garden that he and my Aunt so dearly loved. He tended to his house on the Cape. Tinkered a lot. He loved photography and had a great eye. Everyone in the family has at least one piece on their walls, selected, matted and lovingly framed by Glen. He did a lot with his life. Ran a successful engineering business for years which he eventually turned over to one of his sons. Made and kept many, many friends. Once retired, he and my aunt traveled a lot, meeting friends in faraway places and having adventures that most of us only dream of.

I always worried about losing him when I was little because I knew he was older but he even showed us all how to grow old with zest and dignity. This is such a sad week but a celebration of such a wonderful man. I’ll miss him forever but I am so grateful that we all had him for as long as we did. To quote a friend, I will continue to salute him by walking in his positive footsteps and being the light for those around me, as he was certainly a beacon for me.

I can clearly see him in heaven, joined by his son Mark, who we lost 3 years ago, his brothers and sisters and all his friends that he out-lived. He’s probably having coffee with his buddies, swapping jokes and stories. I can hear that great booming laugh of his and I know that he’s OK and at peace. It’s us who will miss you, Glamorous Glen (my pet name for him), more than you know.

(click the link for more images!) Sweet baby Alexis was such a happy little girl at her 6 month session – full of smiles and personality and such a pleasure. This is a sneak peek for her mom & dad and a special shout out to her Grandma Karla in Hawaii so she can see what a beautiful little girl Alexis is growing into!