Been Gone Too Long

I’ve been away from this blog for what seems like an eternity, and after a great deal of talk with family and friends about resuming it, it’s almost time. My passion for baseball and the O’s, the Terps, the Mariners, the Sounders, Liverpool, curling, etc. has never wavered, but far more important things came up in August. My absence from the blog coincided with spending time with my family, both here in Seattle and back home in Baltimore. It was a terribly difficult Summer/Fall, as my Mom, Maureen Eiker, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August and passed away a mere three months later, and my wife, Shelby and I, lost our baby in early October. In between, we also lost a dear little kitty, Cassidy, who we had adopted four years earlier, so it’s been a long road so far and there is plenty of distance still to cover.

Mom knew how much I loved the blog, but I had a difficult time coming to terms with how to acknowledge the loss of her and the loss of our baby. Mom always encouraged me, much like ALL of you have, so I think the time has come to get back on the horse (there’s an OLD sheriff back in town, perhaps?). This however, is not to suggest Mom or the baby will ever be forgotten. It’s just that Mom would have wanted me to get back to this, and I want to as well. I think of her so frequently, and it’s still hard for all of us to believe she’s gone because it happened so fast. Please help advance the funding and research for pancreatic cancer and get involved, locally or nationally, at www.pancan.org

Not only did I have a Mom who was always so loving, caring and supportive, but I also have a wife with so many of those same qualities (and Mom knew this!). I could not have made it through all of this without you, Shelby, and love you so much. With the hope of a happy, healthy 2010 for all of our family and friends, the anticipation of Alan and Kate’s arrival of another wee one, and our hope of having a family of our own, I believe it is time to get going again. I can’t begin to tell you all how lucky we are to have such loving family and friends, and despite all of our loss, we know how blessed we are. Thanks for indulging me and man do we miss you Mom......

Earl