Monthly Archives: September 2010
The 1st, 2nd Game of the 3rd Season
Upon arriving home, we stumbled back into a life fully underway – soccer season was no exception. Having already missed a handful of practices and the 1st game, we showed up at practice not exactly sure what to expect. This season, as it turns out, the coach is an old college-mate of Steve’s and he and the rest of the girls were welcoming and ready to bring Stella into the fold.
This year, she was finally able to move up to the next age bracket, and the girls (no more co-ed) are bigger and seem more ready to get to business playing some soccer. It’s still swarm-ball type soccer, but there is certainly some actual ability beginning to peek through. Some of these girls are showing serious promise.
I have been unable to figure out, however, why they all run with their tongue out?
(click photo to see the entire set)
Stella starts the 2nd grade.
We are now the proud owner of a 2nd grader. Our model happens to come complete with the Virtual Teenager Upgrade, as witnessed by the conversation held after her first day:
Me: “Soooooo, how was your first day?”
Her: “OMYGOD, Ruby had this TOTALLY cute shirt on.”
Me: “Wow. So how did you like your teacher?”
Her: “It had a heart on it like right here on the shoulder and then this happy face and it was all plaid and-”
Me: “Um, so who is in your class with you?”
Her: “What’s for snack?”
Me: “Good talk, Stel. Good talk.”
What Could Have Been
Two weeks ago yesterday, I received a phone call that changed our lives forever. Standing in the middle of campus on my cell phone, I listened as Steve blurted out the crackly details: Fell. Shop. Scott. Forehead. Coma. Air-lifted. These words came at me in rapid fire succession. My only response was to shout back clarification:
“Are you talking about Scott?”
“Yes.”
“Is he okay?”
“No.”
I sprinted across campus to my office, blurted out a tearful explanation to my coworkers, packed up and headed home. From there, we gathered a couple changes of clothes, grabbed the kids and headed straight for the hospital, 9 long hours away.
As it turned out, Scott was far from okay. He had suffered what we would come to find out was a devastating brain injury, and we would spend the rest of the week realizing the true extent of what that term – devastating – meant: On Sunday, shortly after 10:15am, Scott passed away.
Throughout the course of those 5 long days, and into the week that followed, we were given a glimpse into Scott’s life that will forever bring us peace and comfort. Far from the oft-painted portrait of a work-focused loner, we stood witness to the countless stories of a guy who was a friend, a mentor, a confidant – someone who consistently managed to help people laugh, learn and grow. I will never in my lifetime forget watching his crew come into the hospital that last Friday night to say their good-bye, hearing their stories as they sat, swollen-eyed and stunned telling tales of how this perfectionist of a boss left such a deep imprint on who they were and who they had become as men. It was truly heartbreaking.
Within all the grief and confusion and unanswered questions, one of the aspects of Scott’s death in which I find the most sadness is the seemingly vast loss of potential. The loss of opportunity for our kids to get to build that relationship with him – to grow up in the shadow of all those great qualities. The loss of chances for him to have finally found that balance he needed between work, and friends, and family. The loss of all that could have been.
We will miss you so much, Scott. But you’ll be in our hearts forever.
William Scott Walston, age 44, passed away in Fresno, California, on August 22, 2010 due to an industrial accident. Scott was born April 22, 1966 in Fresno to Bill and Judy Walston. He was raised in the Ivanhoe-Visalia area, was a 1984 graduate of Golden West High School and earned a Bachelor’s degree from Whittier College in 1988. Over the years Scott worked in food production plants, such as Eagle Snacks, Stella Cheese, and Haagen-Dazs. Since 2007, he has been owner of Scott Walston Construction. In addition, he enjoyed reading, gardening, cooking, skiing, telling stories and spending time with his niece and nephew. In addition to his parents, Scott is lovingly survived by his brother, Stephen Walston, sister-in-law, Natalie, niece, Stella, and nephew, Porter, all of Eureka, California. He is also survived by his aunts and uncles, Wanda Ginner of Portola Valley, Ginny Massey of Tulelake, Stephen and Janet Bly of Winchester, Idaho, plus numerous cousins. An open Memorial Service will be Friday, August 27, 2010, at 3:00 p.m., at the Woodlake Presbyterian Church. For those who desire, the family suggests donations be made in his memory to your favorite charity or to the American Cancer Society . Graveside services will be private with interment at the Woodlake Cemetery. Arrangements by Miller Memorial Chapel, Visalia, CA.