Saturday, November 30, 2013

Why I'm Thankful...



For parents, and a family... like this.

I was lucky enough to get a hold of the Czaban Family Archives in advance of my parents' 50th anniversary this summer. My pops did a great job of documenting things - often, ordinary things - along the way when I was little. And my mom, was and is, simply the best.

I am so lucky that both are alive and thriving, and living nearby to dote on our daughters and spoil them rotten.

If you ever wanted to see the backstory of my upbringing and why I jokingly call them the "mean streets" of McLean, Virginia...  well here's the definitive documentary.

I hope everyone who reads this blog, also had a great Thanksgiving.

And if your parents are still alive and in your life, enjoy every minute with them.

And for your kids, take lots of pictures and video. They mature with age and become priceless family artifacts.
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15 comments:

  1. grieconNovember 30, 2013 at 9:57 PM

    Wonderful. Thank you for sharing it.

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  2. UnknownDecember 1, 2013 at 12:13 AM

    Czabe...awesome awesome job. My wife and I are within days of welcoming our second child into the world. Motivates me to capture more moments on film. That was great. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. bigjackdaddyDecember 1, 2013 at 10:00 AM

    Czabe, What a wonderful gift you have given your parents as well as your children. To have moments like this, to hear your parent's voices and for them to share their stories is priceless.
    Thanks for sharing. I have tears in my eyes at the love.

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  4. UnknownDecember 1, 2013 at 1:12 PM

    Czabe, When you produce a video like this for "the world" to view, it really shows how much you and your siblings love your parents and how proud you are of them. God bless 'em for 50 years together!

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  5. BillDecember 1, 2013 at 1:38 PM

    Wow, Czabe, this is beautiful, thanks for letting us in. So much to love here. Just a few thoughts:

    *Happy 50th Anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Czaban!

    *Heck of a job editing this video Steve - it looks like a professionally done, high-budget documentary. Alternate title for this 16-minute masterpiece: "The Book of Czaban."

    *This video really does reinforce your advice to enjoy every moment with your parents, and take lots of pictures and video. My wife and I have been married one year, and plan on starting a family soon, God willing, so I am really taking this to heart. And if we can provide our children with anywhere near the loving home your parents provided you, I will consider us resoundingly successful parents.

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  6. sonny veatchDecember 1, 2013 at 1:38 PM

    Wow...

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  7. UnknownDecember 1, 2013 at 4:06 PM

    Wow absolutely awesome video. Great job man.

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  8. Robert W. MayDecember 1, 2013 at 8:22 PM

    Wonderful video thanks for sharing.

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  9. JayDecember 2, 2013 at 6:44 AM

    Czabe - been listening on the radio for a long time and appreciate that we are roughly the same age and grew up in the "Mean Streets of" Springfield. This was nicely done tribute to the family. Keep it up!

    Jay Herriott

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  10. AnonymousDecember 2, 2013 at 9:08 AM

    Wow... just wow... I cannot imagine a more meaningful gift a parent could receive from their child than this video. As my 3 children get older, the camera gets pulled out less and less, but this video just reemphasized for me the importance of capturing even the mundane, ordinary aspects of life so that my children can have some tangible evidence of what I hope will be happy childhood memories.

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  11. UnknownDecember 2, 2013 at 12:48 PM

    Czabe - that was an amazing video you put together and thanks for sharing it with you beloved fans. I enjoy reading your blog and especially listening to you on the radio. Like thompaa's note above, I have two kids (8 and 5 yrs old) and would film them every second I can when they were younger, but as they got older I stopped doing it. But after watching that video I plan on filming their childhood more so they can have those memories to look back on. Thanks Czabe and Happy Holidays to you and the fam.

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  12. odu 1991December 2, 2013 at 1:29 PM

    That male Czaban hairline hasn't changed an ounce over the generations. No DNA tests necessary!

    Nice job Czabe, Happy Holidays to you and your family.

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  13. UnknownDecember 2, 2013 at 3:58 PM

    How come "home movies" look so much better on Super 8 than Hi-Def digital?

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  14. Elf89December 4, 2013 at 12:19 PM

    What a nice story you put together for your family. Thanks for sharing it with your readers/listeners. Elf

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  15. AJ GumperDecember 4, 2013 at 8:49 PM

    Cool Czabe, Very Cool... Montgomery Gentry - 'Lucky Man'... One of my fave songs... Looks like it applies to your family...

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