Eulogy for Art Grunder

Daryl HattonPersonal

This speech was given at my step-dad Art Grunder’s Memorial Service Monday May 12, 2014. Speaking notes are below the video. For those who don’t know me, my name is Daryl Hatton. I’m Darlene’s eldest son. From her, I’ve inherited a predilection to cry over sappy commercials on TV so we’ll see how this talk goes. Right now I wish I had more of Art’s emotional calm… My mom had a tough time being single again after her divorce. For a while that period seemed much like a harsh Prairie winter which chills to the bone and makes you wonder …

My daughter McKenna’s poetry

Daryl HattonPersonal, Poetry

Prepared in 30 minutes for a Grade 11 science course assignment. There was a list of required words for the poem. She nailed it. Volatile Here sat an ancient volcanic neck, It stood tall and proud; a stacked card deck. From its peak, a once known crater,  Not what it used to be, now much later. Below lay a dormant vent, A downward shaft, slightly bent. And even more so was the dike, Which sprouted like a warping spike. Abase the tunnel lay the sill, Flat but flowing like’ melted chocolate spill. And even deeper, it rested tranquil, The batholith, …

Ode to a Man, Obsessed

Daryl HattonHumor, Personal, Poetry

First Performed for my best friend Dave Mason In Front of Friends and Family On Robbie Burns Day January 25, 2003 We know not quite when this affliction first started, Our poor auld man Davie, his senses departed. At first it was hidden, that much must be true, For he married a lassie much like Nancy Drew. She watched and she tested, checked each little thing, Of the man she would marry (though she picked her own ring) Somehow he passed muster, each one of us fooled, Not then did we know, for Scotch how he drooled. It weighed on …

American Politics, Family Politics and my Philosophy

Daryl HattonPersonal, Politics

I had an interesting online debate on Facebook with my niece tonight. It is just 48 hours before the US 2012 election will be decided and we ‘got into it’ about the issue of race and the Republican party. I made a claim about the racial composition of the crowds behind Romney in his speeches not reflecting the demographic mix of the US because of the Republican Party’s heavy bias to ‘white American’. My niece took offense. She challenged me that bringing race into the issue was ‘cheap and weakminded’. She claimed it was not about race. She is so …

Breaking eggs

Daryl HattonHealth, Personal

The saying goes “you have to break some eggs to make an omelette”. Right now I’m feeling the cracking… I had a car accident in 1987 where I stopped a flying Camero with my forehead. It was a little hard on my body and particularly my neck / shoulders. I’ve been dealing with that continuously since then with mixed results . When I take care of myself, life is generally pretty good. When I fall off the horse, life gets a little uncomfortable. I get very dizzy, suffer a constant low level headache which sometimes spikes up dramatically, the pain …

Thanksgiving

Daryl HattonPersonal

I originally put this on the FundRazr blog but it is better here. I’m a lucky man in so many ways (including the fact that I know this). Today is the day to acknowledge what we are thankful for. Actually, every day is but we only put the label on this one. In that spirit, I’m thankful all the time for all these things (in no particular order)… My good health My good fortune My wife My kids My father and mother My brother and sister My extended family My hyper-extended family of close friends from all around the world My …