Happy 29th Birthday Oliver!

Dear Oliver,

Happy Birthday! Can you believe how the Rockets pulled out a win against the Jazz last night? It was crazy. I love watching the Rockets, because it reminds me of how we used to go to games together growing up. I remember driving to the Summit with you and watching playoff games vs. the Suns and even getting to go to the NBA Finals together. I blame you for my sports addiction, by the way. I grew up always watching you cheer so hard for your teams, and I've always wanted to be more like you. While we didn't always get along - and I'm sure that I could be pretty annoying when I was little - I always felt safe when I went places with you. You would take me to the video arcade and teach me how to play video games. Of course, you were always somehow better than me. Whenever I needed advice about school or whether I should buy a new bike or something, I knew I could ask you. You loved teaching so much that you gave up pursuing a job with your Chemical Engineering degree and instead taught High School kids science. You followed your heart and gave me the courage to follow mine.

When you got sick, you refused to let the cancer beat you. You fought back with all you had and taught me to never lose hope. I learned about faith from you. Even as you saw yourself dying, your body withering away since you could no longer eat, you continued to praise God. We didn't quite understand why you got sick back then, and maybe we never truly will, but you accepted God's plan, whatever it was. I was stubborn and angry, thinking things weren't fair. But when you told me that you weren't sure if you would survive anymore, you didn't say it with despair. I'm sure it hurt you inside, even with all the physical pain you were going through, but you were certain that this would not be the end. I know I'll see you again one day. We're just here on earth as a temporary assignment. Though some may feel you only spent 28 years here on earth, we're all here for but a blink of an eye.

Thank you for the daily reminder that we should live each day as if it were our last. We should love one another openly and smile each day through our imperfections, our struggles and our pain. I love you and I miss you, but I am glad to call you my brother forever.

Love,

Darwin

The Oliver Cruz Memorial Site

Han Mae's Birthday

This weekend I succeeded in at least two things: taking a lot of pictures and playing a lot of basketball. I'd say that any time I can say both of those things in the same weekend, it's been a good weekend (though switch basketball with soccer and that's a great weekend).

Saturday I played in a 3 on 3 tournament with some friends from work at the Pro Club (aka the "Microsoft Gym"). Originally we wanted to play in the co-ed division so I asked my friend Emily and she got her friend Kitty to play with us. But, when they e-mailed us the tournament schedule, we saw that there were only 2 teams with girls on them. So there weren't enough teams to sign up for the co-ed division and they combined us with the men's league. Well, Steve, Eric and I thought we'd be up for the challenge.

Overall, the competition was pretty good for us. We always played with one girl on the court and two guys. Other teams would sometimes guard Emily or Kitty with a giant 6 foot+ dude for some reason, while a shorter guy would guard one of the guys. We ended up going 1-3 in the round-robin tournament. We should have won 2 games and could have won 3 but the ball didn't bounce our way you could say. Still, we had a lot of fun and considering our size and gender disadvantage, we did pretty well.

Here's a picture of our team. Yes, I am aware that I look like an idiot.

Later that day I went into downtown Seattle to Wasabi Bistro for my friend Han Mae's birthday party. We had most of the back room reserved, which was good since we had like 30 people there or so. I was official photographer for the night, and I took way too many pictures to post here, but I'll post a few.

It was a night for Wasabi.

It definitely complimented the white salmon sashimi. Oishii desu ne!

David, Randy, Nancy, and Han Mae. Some of the first people I met in Seattle when I first interview here about a year ago.

The birthday girl and me.

Flowers! For me? Aww, you shouldn't have.

Singing "Happy Birthday"

Hmm, what should I wish for?

Yeah, that's a good wish. Now if I can just blow out all these candles, I mean candle.

Don't we all want to be a princess? I know I do...

A homemade present - isn't that sweet?

Downtown Seattle at about... it looks like 10:55pm.

The guys chillin' out later at the Triple Door - a jazz bar.

By the end of the night, you could tell Han Mae had a good time, especially with Clara and Ann by her side.

We weren't able to go out dancing because of the crowd, but I obliged her a last dance of the evening.

Han Mae was the first person I met in Seattle when I came to visit over a year ago. Our mutual friend Derek G (who was in my fraternity in college) introduced us at a Swing Dance night at the Century Ballroom. She was nice enough to show me around some last year and she also introduced me to Quest Church. Thanks Han Mae, and Happy Birthday!

For your enjoyment, the rest of the 119 pictures can be found here.