A Call for Recipes for the Ned "Superman" Cookbook!

As people know, Ned loved to cook and he loved to eat!  Although we can't see what he's cooking in this picture, he is in my mom's kitchen at Christmas doing something amazing to the mushrooms, asparagus, the turkey or the potatoes, or all five. 

Cousin Debbie Snyder Rotter has initiated the Ned "Superman" Cookbook and we have set a deadline of July 15th to get all the recipes in. Everyone must think about their favorite recipes to submit - as many as you would like. This could be a family favorite, something that you made for Ned, something that you would have made for Ned just because you know he would have loved your good food!

This will be a beautiful cookbook with pictures and dedications. It will be something that you will want to proudly display in your kitchen, use it as a great excuse to talk about Ned when guests are over and give as gifts during the holiday season. Let's get it done!

Recipe submission is simple:

• Go to www.typensave.com
  
• Click on the "Login" button at the top of the page
  
• Type in your name under "Contributor" or whomever is contributing the recipe
  
• Type in "Superman38" for the login and "chywc" for the password
  
• Click on "Add Recipe" at the bottom of the page (in small print)
  
• Use the pulldown menus to type in the ingredients, the recipe instructions and notes.
  
• Feel free to write something in the notes about why you are submitting the recipe
  

Alternately, you can type in the recipe and email it to me at snyderstade@sbcglobal.net and my 11 year old daughter Jasmine can submit it for you ;)

Or, send it to 4925 Clarke St., Oakland, CA 94609 with a check for $15 for administrative costs (just kidding). 

I Dream of You...Wish You Were Here

I went to sleep last night looking forward to dreaming of free flying across the land the way that people dream when we are children. When I was a child, I used to have these kinds of dreams. I had a special white shirt (in my waking life) with thin multicolored stripes on it almost like a pixie stick candy wrapper, the colorfully striped paper sticks with the sugar in it. In my dreams, I would put on this shirt and take to the skies, using my arms as wings.

Last night in a short dream I didn't dream about flying, but we are on a mountain road, winding our way around through some kind of canyon that was spotted with oak trees. We stopped, not sure of where we were going, but sure at the same time. We hiked down to a kind of boathouse near the river. Ned was there getting some boats ready, digging out some oars from some storage closets, getting us  lifejackets, whatever it was that we needed.  It was so wonderful to see him. He didn't stop from what he was doing to say much but he smiled and said a few mumbled words. 

I just stood there and watched him flurry around all the while telling him that he had actually died. I remember saying it to remind myself of that fact. He didn't seem to pay attention. I woke up shortly after that with a sense of calm happiness for having had him in my dream. I hope that I get to dream often and maybe that will help me look forward to sleep.

Thanks Logan for talking about dreams and for playing Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd on my dad's guitar. You really should get your own guitar again.

P.S.

I feel terrible that I am behind on the cookbook and t-shirt stuff, but July 7th (one month after Ned's birthday) is my deadline, so please be patient with me. Matt, thanks for the wristbands - Ned Superman Snyder wristbands are available too! I'll make a proper post when it isn't 3 in the morning!  

Klaus

Ned's dog Klaus followed him in leaving life on Earth.

I just came across my last birthday card signed by Ned for Vicki, Shaan, Klaus and Rufus (the cat). He was very much a part of the family. This is a picture that Ned took of Klaus sometime in the last several months.

It's Been a While

Here's a picture of the last time that I saw my brother. It was in January when he took us flying in the plane.  What a surprise - he's on the phone!  Maybe he was talking to you! 

We only lived an hour and half away, and we made tentative plans to get together, but in February Shaan was sick and in March I was sick or busy or something. I feel sad about that and wish that I had made more of an effort. We should have seen each other more often. 

I am thankful that I talked to Ned the night before the accident. He called me and we talked for almost an hour. That's what I tell people and that's what I hold onto - his happiness, his enthusiasm on Thursday night, April 17th and how much he loved his life. I know that each one of us has to find something that we can hold onto. Maybe your last conversation with Ned wasn't that great. I was lucky. But maybe you didn't call him back or maybe the conversation was strained or frustrating. But you have other memories and ways to keep his spirit with you.

This morning I went to the store to get a couple things and when I pulled up this song - one of Ned's songs - came on the radio and I just had to sit there in the car in the parking lot during the song and cry. It felt terrible and was a relief at the same time. It's a really redemptive song.  Maybe it will help you in your grieving to just let it go and forgive yourself for whatever you didn't say or didn't do.

It's Been a While  by Staind

P.S. People, don't forget that you can comment on this blog. Also, Cousin Debbie, the shout out for recipes is on my list to do today. People, get your recipes ready!

Ned the Romantic

When I'm feeling sad, which is like, everyday now of course, I like to listen to Ned's music over and over. It's very cathartic, comforting and takes me somewhere perhaps where he is.

He was such a romantic and if people know about how he proposed to Vicki, then you will also know that he was pretty insane too. After the day that Ned did a skydive - he jumped and then changed into a white tuxedo and Vicki followed and then he proposed to her on bended knees - the music of David Gray always reminded me of Ned and Vicki and their beautifully strong and passionate relationship.

Here are two of Ned and Vicki songs for you. 

"Sail Away" was what Ned had playing when Vicki landed and he "popped the question."

Babylon and Sail Away by David Gray

Two Months and We are Not "Getting Better"

By the time my son Aaren was five, he knew about making air quotes.
Imagine Ned talking to us using air quotes to punctuate the words that we hear people say.

Imagine that Ned says, "You are not going to 'get over' this. Things will not be 'normal' again," speaking somewhere between the stars and the planet that Superman was originally from.

Imagine him buzzing around the kitchen, flying on his Triple Grande with an extra shot, two shots below, one shot above, whipped cream White Mocha from Starbucks at 5am (notice that I didn't put that in quote because that was what he REALLY drank) making more coffee, checking his email, talking on the phone and talking to you at the same time.

Then it is time for some sarcasm back. "Thanks Ned. That really makes us feel 'A LOT FREAKIN' BETTER!'"

But seriously, we aren't going to get better, and things won't be normal, but we are going to find a new kind of normal.
Ned will always be there joking with us, feeding us stories, jokes, laughs, coffee, pancakes, steaks, pasta, beer, whatever we want him to give us. But we will never be "normal." And he wouldn't want us to.

Order Your Superman Stickers!

Indoor/Outdoor "Live On Superman" Stickers

$2 each or a donation of your choice to:

Shaan's Scholarship Fund!

100% of the net proceeds go the Scholarship Fund!

Make checks to "Fidelity 529" with "FBO Shaan Snyder" in the memo. 

Send sticker orders to Melissa Daniels, Email her at danielsmm1@aol.com or send her a note and check made payable to Fidelity 529 to 1616 N street # 201 Sacramento Ca 95814