… my brother and my uncle Buddy‘s birthday… neither are on this earth to celebrate.

My uncle Buddy died of a drug overdose when we were in our 30‘s and my brother died from complications of the flu almost 9 years ago. As children, we were all close knit, but as I got older I began to develop a different set of standards I wanted to live by. I could no longer live with myself as one who accepted wrong as a condition of being a part of the family. It took me years to make the final break, but with Jamie and Buddy gone that path away from wrong behavior became easier to take.

Anyway, I just miss them.

Today I am going to Chur. Supposedly it snowed there yesterday, so I am hoping I see trees holding large, white clumps of snow. Snow always slows my mind and I become entranced by a beauty that is hard to describe. Things seem quieter, calmer, and my worries tend to be less significant. I know they will be where I left them, but for a little while I am able to focus on the beauty of nature in a new outfit and forget that I am worried, scared, and/or upset.

Hopefully I remember to come back and post pictures of Chur. For now, here are a few pictures from Monday from Lucerne and Mt. Rigi…