Bruce Edward Hoffman
16 June, 1968 - 21 September, 2006
"Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince,
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!"
-Hamlet (V.ii.370-371)
"Bruce Edward Hoffman, 48, died on September 21, 2006. A native or Waynesboro, VA., he is survived by his wife, Catherine; and two children, Virginia and Bruce Jr. of Richmond; mother, Betty (Mrs. Henry A.) Hoffman of Waynesboro; brothers, John and Richard; and sister, Margie Johns. Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 26, at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, corner of Forest and Patterson. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions would be appreciated."
-published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch
It's difficult to think of a world without Bruce Hoffman. He had an incredible sense of humor, razor sharp wit, always quick with a comment and appreciative of a good comeback. I know that his life hasn't been easy. There were things that weighed heavily on his mind and in his heart. His life wasn't the happiest, especially over the past few years. He was often left feeling frustrated, so much so that he wouldn't be able to sleep or eat, but I saw him do his best to force himself through those times. He cared so deeply about others and never wanted to hurt anyone. He loved his family, wanting nothing but the best for them. Each hurt that they experienced cut him ten times more deeply.
I have had the pleasure, the honor to know him for only 7 years, but I can not think about the past 7 years without thinking of him. We met at karate, training together during that time. We didn't spend much time outside of classes, but we took time to talk to each other. He was a great sounding board. He happily took time to listen if I had something to say. There were a lot of things that I didn't feel comfortable telling to others, but I never felt that way talking to Bruce. He was happy for my successes and always willing to listen to my problems. He may not have an answer to them, but it helped that he would listen.
Bruce was a friend in the true sense of the word. He celebrated with you, mourned with you, the first to make you laugh. He was always willing to make himself the butt of a joke and it always made me realize that it's all right to be silly. He worked hard, tried even harder. He knew he wasn't perfect, and he never claimed to anything other than human. I will miss him very much. This human, this person, this friend. I am thankful that my life has been touched by him. That my life has been changed for the better by knowing him.
25 September 2006
22 September 2006
Thought of the Week
I love comics. Sometimes they say just what needs to be said in a simple, direct way. I admire that.
Let's Review
Okay, I know that a couple of weeks ago I posted that I had a big weekend coming up and I would write about it afterwards. Well, it didn't happen. Just one of those things. I was going to spend the weekend remodeling my bathrooms. Like all things that are intended, that didn't happen. Here's the rundown instead. It's still pretty fun.
Friday was pretty low key. I think I went out for a little bit, but nothing exciting. Not exciting for me to remember 2 weeks later, anyway.
Saturday: Was told at the last minute (okay, told on Friday, so I actually had a day's notice) that I was to meet with my family at Olive Garden for dinner to celebrate my mommy's birthday. it was a lot of fun. A lot of family, and the kids payed for dinner for a change. Had a good talk with my baby brother waiting for our table.
Last weekend was pretty fun. Hair appointment. Meeting with a make-up artist about wedding stuff.
This weekend. It really will be crazy. A ton of stuff to do, but I really can't talk about it until the weekend's over. I'll try to remember to write about it! Hmmm.. I really don't write much, do I? Not very interesting, eithet, but I'm having fun!
Friday was pretty low key. I think I went out for a little bit, but nothing exciting. Not exciting for me to remember 2 weeks later, anyway.
Saturday: Was told at the last minute (okay, told on Friday, so I actually had a day's notice) that I was to meet with my family at Olive Garden for dinner to celebrate my mommy's birthday. it was a lot of fun. A lot of family, and the kids payed for dinner for a change. Had a good talk with my baby brother waiting for our table.
Last weekend was pretty fun. Hair appointment. Meeting with a make-up artist about wedding stuff.
This weekend. It really will be crazy. A ton of stuff to do, but I really can't talk about it until the weekend's over. I'll try to remember to write about it! Hmmm.. I really don't write much, do I? Not very interesting, eithet, but I'm having fun!
11 September 2006
Thought of the Day
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Benjamin Franklin
Did you remember this anniversary? Was it in the front of you mind or did it take you by surprise? 5 years ago. Do you remember where you were when you first learned? What were you doing? What do you think we've accomplished, learned, 5 years later? 2001.09.11 That day is burned in my mind along with the day that Challenger exploded.
I remember. I missed all of the stuff on the radio and didn't hear about the planes hitting the towers until after I was in the lab. When I arrived in the lab, my PI (principle investigator) was a little harried, his wife was frantic. I had no idea why. Their eldest daughter lived in NY at the time. She saw the towers being struck from her office at work. I was listening to the radio in the car at the time the 1st tower was hit, but it wasn't on the radio. Everyone thought it was a fluke. Planes hit buildings in NY on occasion. I was walking down to the lab from my car when the 2nd tower was struck and coverage was everywhere, but I was walking, no radio, no tv. I didn't know. Then I walked into the lab.
No work was done that day. I was stunned, but it wasn't personal. It didn't feel personal until the Pentagon was hit. One of my cousins had been working in the Pentagon. I was so scared. I couldn't get in touch with him. I called my mom, brothers, anyone. I needed to know that he was okay. He was. Just stuck in DC for over 5 hours because all of the subways were shut down and he couldn't get out of the city.
My other cousin, his sister, worked (and still works) for JP Morgan. I knew that they held the largest lease in the towers, but she was based out of Philly. No reason to think she was in any danger. She was supposed to have been there. They were expecting her in the NY office that day. I learned that, and I thought I was going to go crazy. Impossible to get through to anyone. I learned she was supposed to be there and no one could get in touch with her. We didn't know where she was. I hit the floor, on my knees and prayed. She missed her train. She walked into her office in Philly, and her co-workers wondered what she was doing there. Then the planes.
We were sent home. No one was working. We were all listening to the radio, watching an old black and white TV, all of the computers were on news sites.
September 2001 was a crazy month. I moved into my apartment. Twin Towers and Pentagon. My mother told us she had breast cancer to be followed by surgery and chemo.
5 years later, what have we learned? Do we live better? A little worse? Does time dull the memory until a new event locks us down again? Are we winning or have the terrorists won? In my opinion, which counts for very little, terrorists what to change your life. One act of terrorism can change numerous lives, but they really win if they can make everyone afraid. So I ask again, are we winning or are they? How much are you willing to give up for a little secuity? No liquids on a flight unless they're provided to you by the attendants? Can I pack lip gloss in my carry on? What shoes should I wear so they're easy to take off. How early do I need to get to the airport so I don't miss my flight? 2 hours? 3 hours? Is it even worth flying? I would take me less time to drive. Should I be worried about going down the road? Of whom should I be afraid? Enemies foreign? Domestic? The person sitting across from me? Should I even leave my house? What should I be willing to sacrifice for security? Are we really more secure?
The people who lost their lives simply because they were working. Walking on the street. They had no idea. They weren't targeted specifically. They were incidental. Then there are those men and women who willingly put their lives in danger, too many who lost their lives to save others. Are we serving their memory the best way we can? Would they shake their heads at what we have done to ourselves. What has truly changed our lives more? Let's face it. Attacks are part of our country. We are the superpower. It should be expected. Not tolerated, but expected. What have we done to ourselves. Terrorists remind us to fear, but only we can build the cages, hide, and continue to live in that fear. Are we honoring those who lost their lives in the best way we can?
-Benjamin Franklin
Did you remember this anniversary? Was it in the front of you mind or did it take you by surprise? 5 years ago. Do you remember where you were when you first learned? What were you doing? What do you think we've accomplished, learned, 5 years later? 2001.09.11 That day is burned in my mind along with the day that Challenger exploded.
I remember. I missed all of the stuff on the radio and didn't hear about the planes hitting the towers until after I was in the lab. When I arrived in the lab, my PI (principle investigator) was a little harried, his wife was frantic. I had no idea why. Their eldest daughter lived in NY at the time. She saw the towers being struck from her office at work. I was listening to the radio in the car at the time the 1st tower was hit, but it wasn't on the radio. Everyone thought it was a fluke. Planes hit buildings in NY on occasion. I was walking down to the lab from my car when the 2nd tower was struck and coverage was everywhere, but I was walking, no radio, no tv. I didn't know. Then I walked into the lab.
No work was done that day. I was stunned, but it wasn't personal. It didn't feel personal until the Pentagon was hit. One of my cousins had been working in the Pentagon. I was so scared. I couldn't get in touch with him. I called my mom, brothers, anyone. I needed to know that he was okay. He was. Just stuck in DC for over 5 hours because all of the subways were shut down and he couldn't get out of the city.
My other cousin, his sister, worked (and still works) for JP Morgan. I knew that they held the largest lease in the towers, but she was based out of Philly. No reason to think she was in any danger. She was supposed to have been there. They were expecting her in the NY office that day. I learned that, and I thought I was going to go crazy. Impossible to get through to anyone. I learned she was supposed to be there and no one could get in touch with her. We didn't know where she was. I hit the floor, on my knees and prayed. She missed her train. She walked into her office in Philly, and her co-workers wondered what she was doing there. Then the planes.
We were sent home. No one was working. We were all listening to the radio, watching an old black and white TV, all of the computers were on news sites.
September 2001 was a crazy month. I moved into my apartment. Twin Towers and Pentagon. My mother told us she had breast cancer to be followed by surgery and chemo.
5 years later, what have we learned? Do we live better? A little worse? Does time dull the memory until a new event locks us down again? Are we winning or have the terrorists won? In my opinion, which counts for very little, terrorists what to change your life. One act of terrorism can change numerous lives, but they really win if they can make everyone afraid. So I ask again, are we winning or are they? How much are you willing to give up for a little secuity? No liquids on a flight unless they're provided to you by the attendants? Can I pack lip gloss in my carry on? What shoes should I wear so they're easy to take off. How early do I need to get to the airport so I don't miss my flight? 2 hours? 3 hours? Is it even worth flying? I would take me less time to drive. Should I be worried about going down the road? Of whom should I be afraid? Enemies foreign? Domestic? The person sitting across from me? Should I even leave my house? What should I be willing to sacrifice for security? Are we really more secure?
The people who lost their lives simply because they were working. Walking on the street. They had no idea. They weren't targeted specifically. They were incidental. Then there are those men and women who willingly put their lives in danger, too many who lost their lives to save others. Are we serving their memory the best way we can? Would they shake their heads at what we have done to ourselves. What has truly changed our lives more? Let's face it. Attacks are part of our country. We are the superpower. It should be expected. Not tolerated, but expected. What have we done to ourselves. Terrorists remind us to fear, but only we can build the cages, hide, and continue to live in that fear. Are we honoring those who lost their lives in the best way we can?
08 September 2006
Here comes the weekend!
It's that time of the week once more. Friday afternoon. Getting things wrapped up at work. Going over plans for the weekend. Trying to fill some spare time, looking for some spare time among the plethora of activities that cram you days, or possibly just taking it easy and enjoying things as they come.
There are a lot of things going on this weekend, but I think I'll go through those AFTER the weekend's finished. It'll be much more interesting for me to review the aftermath instead of anticipating the activities.
My brother's wedding is coming up hard and fast. So many things to get done, and there doesn't seem to be nearly enough time, and I'm only a bride's maid! I really feel for my brother and his fiancee. There are a few things that are coming together, though. Did the whole hair thing last weekend. Thought we were just going to talk to the stylist and get some ideas, but she actually took the time to do the bride's hair as well mine and another bride's maids. We looked GOOD! Even took the hair out to dinner. Funny, isn't it? Didn't go out to a nice dinner to spend time with family and stuff. Needed to go out because of the hair.
There are a lot of things going on this weekend, but I think I'll go through those AFTER the weekend's finished. It'll be much more interesting for me to review the aftermath instead of anticipating the activities.
My brother's wedding is coming up hard and fast. So many things to get done, and there doesn't seem to be nearly enough time, and I'm only a bride's maid! I really feel for my brother and his fiancee. There are a few things that are coming together, though. Did the whole hair thing last weekend. Thought we were just going to talk to the stylist and get some ideas, but she actually took the time to do the bride's hair as well mine and another bride's maids. We looked GOOD! Even took the hair out to dinner. Funny, isn't it? Didn't go out to a nice dinner to spend time with family and stuff. Needed to go out because of the hair.
07 September 2006
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