Justin is the only person I shared my personal retreat with. I used to go to a friend's cabin in Soquel, near Bass Lake, CA. It had gas lamps, and no running water. You had to bucket flush the toilet. It was rustic and isolated, with a swing on the big front porch, and I loved to go there solo even though it was a little bit spooky to be on my own down a dirt road in the middle of the forest. I knew Justin would love it like I did.

So Justin came out with me one time and immediately started telling me how it looked like a setting for Friday the Thirteenth. I told him to "shut it!" as I didn't want to be scared out there! We had a great time that night sitting in front of the fireplace after making a great dinner, just talking about everything and nothing, the way we did. Then, there was a sudden scurrying and scratching noise above us! We had a good scare and a laugh, and figured out a squirrel had made it into the ceiling. That squirrel startled and woke us all night long, and I blamed it on Justin for talking about spooky things. 

I wish we'd had more adventures together. We always talked about living closer because we really loved each other's company. We were family through marriage, but even more so, family by choice. In fact, Justin was my uncle's wife's brother. We figured this maade us related "somehow" but could never really figure out what he would be to me. Uncle? Cousin? Cuzuncle I suggested? He decided to be my "Carbuncle" and we always laughed at our silliness. I love you. I miss you. I keep coming across things I want to share with you... Did you hear today? Same sex marriage is legal across the nation. Pretty cool. Cheers, my dear.

Justin always loved to dress up when he was a little boy.  I remember so many of the things that he used to put on.  One time, when us kids decided to have a penny arcade in our backyard, we dressed Justin up as a woman clown with balloons as boobs.  He loved it!  He would dress up as a pirate, a scholar, and a cowboy.  Every week, he would walk in the livingroom with a new get up on.  He would take things from our parents closet along with things that us kids had.  He was always such a hoot!