The Man Who Aged Me

Click here for a fine piece of writing from today's editorial section of the New York Times by Tom Hanks, reflecting on the relationship with his long-time personal makeup artist, Dan Striepeke. Tom's charm and "everyman" wit certainly make this a fun read for any Hanks fan.

Wesley Swain Cowan

My dear friend D. Reed Cowan lost his young son over the weekend in a tragic accident. Wesley was born three months to the day after the triplets. I was on the floor crew when Reed started hosting the station's morning show, and we became fast friends. I've always felt close to Reed because we have the same big hair... just one of many other things we have in common.

I'm sick at heart.

Below is Wesley's obituary. Thoughts and prayers to Reed and his family. Love you, man.

* * * * * * *

Wesley Swain Cowan

March 16, 2002 - April 23, 2006

BE HAPPY EVERY DAY

Our golden-locked, curly-headed, ice-blue-eyed baby boy, Wesley Swain Cowan, found himself in angels' arms on the evening of April 23, 2006, after a tragic accident.

This beautiful boy was the hope and dream of his mother, Stephanie Swain Martinsen, and his father, Darrin Reed Cowan. On March 16, 2002, their dream came true and in the middle of a blinding snow storm, our Olympic baby took his first breath. His sister Jade cut the cord as this little miracle boy cried for the first time, filling our souls with a music, a laughter and a joy beyond all measure these last four years.

Even as an infant, on Sunday mornings, his mommy and daddy and sissy taught him to dance in a little cottage on Imperial Street. In the years he traversed this earth, he continued to dance with a rhythm in his steps and a song in his heart.

He loved to sing "I Am A Child Of God" and "You Are My Sunshine." He changed the lyrics to say: "You make me happy, when skies are great."

He had a motto: BE HAPPY EVERY DAY. Because of his example in our lives, he made it so.

He loved his cousins - Samantha, James, Matt, Kaden, Weston, Tyler, Lola and Lela - celebrating Easter with each of them just last week. He loved his sissy who was a dedicated and loving protector.

Wesley went to Disneyland for the first time in his life this past Christmas, where he waved at Santa Claus and napped on his dad's lap in the ice cream parlor in-between fun. It was on this vacation where Wesley first placed his little toes in the ocean near Diver's Cove in Laguna Beach. He said: "Dad, CAN-I-FORNIA is the best trip I've ever been on." Wesley was also introduced to skiing for the first time this year. He loved every minute on the snow with his mom, sissy and very special friends.

Wesley was a student at the Jewish Community Center's early child development program and was loved by his teachers.

This little boy bore the names of three of his great grandfathers: J. Wesley Jenson, Hank Swain and Reed Cowan. We send prayers to the divine that these grandpas will find our baby boy and make him their new fishing buddy, and Grandmas Donna and Jewell can make them a sack lunch complete with strawberries before they catch a whale.

The family would like to offer a special thanks to the men and women who worked so hard to bring life back into this little boy's body. Also the social workers at Primary Children's who were so kind.

Wesley is survived by his mother & sister, Stephanie S. Martinsen & Jadrianne Martinsen (Salt Lake City), his father D. Reed Cowan and his partner Gregory Abplanalp (Holladay).

Grandparents Dan Swain (Weiser, Idaho), Joseph and Teddie Evans (Vernal), Russell and Judy Cowan (Roosevelt) and a very large group of loving uncles, aunts and cousins.

We ask that all who read this hold your children a little tighter tonight. Give them their dreams. Look them in the eyes every day and tell them you love them.

Two separate celebrations of Wesley's life will be held at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park at 3401 South Highland Drive.

FATHER'S SERVICE 10 AM Friday the 28th of April. Friends of Reed Cowan may call one hour prior to the father's services.

MOTHER'S SERVICE 2 PM Friday the 28th of April. Friends of Stephanie Martinsen may call one hour prior to the mother's services.

Elementary Musings

Elementary school was wonderful. I wasn’t so much popular as I was, well, shy. I was always good at school, but didn’t have many friends. But the ones I had, I grappled them to my soul with hoops of steel (Hamlet). One in particular, Danny Davis, really kept me honest. He was also a smart kid, with a fair jump shot and a very brilliant mind. Anyway, I remember one of the first sleepovers I had was at Danny’s house. I remember we watched Bill Cosby’s “Himself” and laughed till we cried, and then I couldn’t sleep through the night because the stupid fish tank in the living room stayed lit up all night and I was used to having a room entirely dark.

My first acting “gig” was in the 6th grade, when I played “the Fonz” in the school’s production of “Happy Days.” I got to ride a motorcycle into the room and park it in front of the stage for my first big entrance, then hop on and ride out the same way.

Not sure if you’ve ever been to or remember having attended your classic Utah elementary school “assembly,” where the kindergarteners line up near the front of the gym and sit Indian style, then the first graders, seconds, and so on until the whole school had assembled to take in the theatrical spectacular.

I had never ridden a motorcycle before. If I recall, this little bike was a 150-cc dirt bike, green and white, and belonged to another 6th grader named Travis Madsen. No, not that one, the rocker one with the lazy eye. Anyway, he gave me the rundown early in the day on how to start it up and ease the throttle to get going and how to park and all of that stuff. Boy, was I ever excited to prove to DeeAnn Linge and her hot friends just how manly my 12-year-old self could be.

I dyed my hair black for the day, had the white T with the black leather jacket, and was all set for my big show. When my cue began to draw near, I jumped on the bike amidst three teachers and their various admonitions of caution. I started it up and revved it a few times, then let the throttle go.

I mean, really let it go.

I squealed out on the gym floor, tore into the middle of the space and nearly ran over the first row of kindergarteners.

“Ehhhhhh…”

The show was really quite good, though, and my debut was a total success.

Easter @ Grandma Debbie's

Ah, April

Yes, today is April 6. Spring has sprung. Nature's getting green. Chicks and kitties are born. Depression begins to subside. Jesus' birthday. Snow melts, hope abounds, the Masters kicks off in Augusta, Israelis and Palestinians hold hands and sing Kumbaya... and it's snowing in Salt Lake City.

"Que sorpresa."

Future Bloggers of America

"No, no... that's Colin, with a C..."


"Mm hmmm... I like what you've done here..."

Ben's all blogged out