The past 3 weeks have been filled with family time as we gathered around Dad during his last bit of time on earth. During my 52 years I have always had both of my parents with me, so it will be an adjustment period for sure. After 13 days with Dad in the hospital, I left to go to another hospital with Richard as he had back surgery in Portland the same day Dad passed away. Richard is now slowly recovering and I'm getting rested up for school to start in a few weeks. For now, here is my picture tribute to my Dad....David John Drew.
Senior picture from Vancouver High School 1951
Amateur radio operator since 1956.... W7DPW ..... The airwaves won't be the same without him!! He spent much of his life communicating with others around the world.
Four generation picture with Grandma Drew, Jenny and I in 1986
With Jon just before he went to college.
Dad in his favorite spot in the house besides his radio room....HIS CHAIR.
With Jenny on one of her visits home after she got married.
Dad loved to take drives....here he is at Mt. St. Helens
Josh's last picture with Grandpa and Tink just before he went into the hospital
Our last family picture with Dad....even though he was very sick he was still joking around with us when he had the energy....teasing me about eating his food, thumping us with his finger (something he did when we were little), asking us what the meaning of zero was and teaching us trivia about the Great Lakes (really!).........
LOVE YOU DAD....WE WILL MISS YOU!!!
On the way to the beach we stopped in Astoria OR at the Maritime Museum. Did you know that where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean it is known as "The graveyard of the Pacific"?? Over 2,000 ships have sank and over 700 men have died because of the dangerous conditions that exist on the bar. 
We toured the Coast Guard vessel "Columbia" which has been decommissioned. Here is Josh laying in one of the 17 bunks used by the crew. Very tight space.
When we got to Longbeach on Friday afternoon....it was RAINING of all things!! It was long enough for Josh to do his favorite thing....DIG!!
Today it was nice enough he got to DIG some more. He played in the water and built big piles of sand to stand on when the waves came in.
At one point we counted 13 horses along the surf. We had a wonderful afternoon flying the kite and playing frisbee. 
Later in the day we rented a surrey, a double sided bike that looked like a cart. (camera died so no pics) Josh and I peddled all over the trail next to the boardwalk, and we met Richard for ice cream cones. He waited for us while we were riding. Josh and I raced go carts, the 3 of us played minature golf, we had clam chowder, Josh and I went on the bumper cars and bumper boats.....and if that's not all we ended up the day digging MORE on the beach while we watched the most beautiful sunset!!! THEN....we went swimming in the pool and lounged in the biggest outdoor hot tub you have ever seen.....and we just finished watching Wall E and eating popcorn. I think I'll sleep GOOD tonight:)
