me

These are photographs of me, in happier times. After I had my accident and after I lost Brooke, I lost my smile.

This photo was taken in Cancun by Janie Scarpello. Tanned and rested. One of my favorite spots on earth. I've been there about 15 times. Although, after my accident in 2005, i've only been once. Me and Judy went with Tom and Mary Schrah. Mary wanted to swim with dolphins, so we did, we had a great time.

Playing drums at the Bolder Boulder with the Route 66 Band. Three weeks before my auto accident. This was Memorial Day, 2005.

Photo of me at the Emmys. I've been on the Board of Governors since the inception of the Denver and regional chapter was established. Roger Ogden, General Manager of CBS4 Denver made sure I was on the board. Term limits are 3 years. I've been on the board for about 15 years total. I was the creative one who designed the Emmy Invitations. I made projects for us. It was an unpaid position, lots of work, monthly meetings, but I loved it. I had done so many things outside of work, I realized it took up too much of my time and kept me from my family. I did only one position, the Emmys.

I'm playing drums at an outdoor party. Happy and fun times.

Blackjack & Barkley, the boys . . .

Black & White.

Blackie loved playing with Judy's neighbor, Steve and Tara Ulm's Great Pyrnees, Avalanche, aka. Avi. They would play for hours, then have a great nights sleep. Sadly, Avi had a brief life due to cancer.

BB - Before Barkley

Barkley stands inside the screen door at his Mommy's house. I was grilling and looking at Barks. I had my camera with me and took this shot. It has a faux linen finish. This is his typical face, he's a happy dog and he's always smiling.

Born Sept. 25, 2002

Here's one year old Blackjack. Judy and I went to Montrose, Colorado, on the Western Slope. We went with Heidi and Troy over the 4th of July weekend. They have two sheba inus, Toby and Timmy. We sat at a place where we could see the fireworks. The dogs were okay, but the loud booms shook them up.

Barkley, born Feburary 4, 2000. I love his puppy picture, probably not long after he had Puppy Breath. Something they have for a short period of time. He lived with his first Mommy, it was a college graduation present for her. Although she got a job working 8 hours a day, then she was going to school for her Masters. She was gone for long periods during the day and she'd come home late, only to hear him crying. Knowing that made me sad. She decided to give him away to someone who would love him and take him in to foster or adopt. Rebecca Frazer brought him by to introduce him to Judy and I, her intentions were to have us foster Barks until a family was found for him. We saw him he interacted with Blackie, Within 10 minutes, we knew he was home. Blackjack welcomed him into his home. Blackjack is so mellow and friendly, he was fine with Barks, Barks felt abandoned, confused for a while, but soon they became such book ends, they became brothers. or as we say Brudders. There's a little known fact that pet owners develop a language with their pets.

We got Barks in November 2005. He came with a few toys and his doggie dish, collar and his constant smile.

Brooke loved to go to car shows with me. She's in my brother Mike's cool 55 Chevy Convertible Street Rod.

Lakewood, Colorado, Wednesday night Car Shows. A dog and a malt. Brooke was a fan of the 50's and 60's. She knew so many songs and so many artists. She would always ask me if they were still alive. I always thought that was odd, but now, it makes sense. I know my Brooke got to Heaven, found both of her grandmothers, Grandma Mares and Grandma Burn, waited for her Grandpa Mares, my brother John, then went to find Elvis. She made friends with him

Me and Brooke drove my Corvette to California for a long weekend to see my brother Tony. He said they have car shows in San Diego every weekend with some very nice and expensive street rods, Hi-Boys - 32 Fords. We had a great time. She was always looking for Camaros. She loved those cars.

Here's Brooke sitting by Judy Garland's star on the "Walk of Fame" in Hollywood. The Wizard of Oz was her favorite movie. She watched it hundred of times, she knew all the dialog, verbatim.

We met the small people, the lollipop kids about 5 years ago. They were at the Colorado Mills Mall. She knew every one of them, she talked to them, it made her happy, it made me happy too.

Heather composed this photo for Brooke's Memorial service. She's an amazing artist and is always busy working or doing so many things with her family. Heather did so much after we lost Brooke. I was in shock. I medicated myself to hide from the pain. I did so many things I don't remember doing.

I gave eulogies for Mom, Dad & Brooke, all in a six month period. Heather said I made a lot of mistakes in my speech, time lines, numbers, but she was understanding. She and Ashley helped me at Dad's funeral. They were standing by me, ready to interject and talk about Dad. The idea was to cut me off if I got too confused and wasn't making sense.

I am so grateful for her. There is nothing worse than planning a funeral for your daughter. Seeing her laying there lifeless with the Coroner. I flashback to that day, so surreal. Heather was the one who called me and I heard the words, "Dad, Brooke's Dead". My heart dropped, Judy and I raced to Brooke and Danny's apartment on Colfax in Lakewood. I cried all the way down, I was shaking. I was asking God, please don't take my girl.

My sweetheart has her Angel Wings. I know in my heart, she was such a gentle soul, so beautiful and loving. God help me with all this pain. I cry every day. I visit her grave most days. The dogs like going with me, they get to stick their heads out the window of the car as we drive slowly through the cemetery. When I get back to the car, they lick my eyes, they know I'm sad. Tonight, I helped my friend Tom Schrah deliver a car to Jason's mom, Sharon. Brooke and Jason were engaged. We lost him July 2, 2005. Brooke was with him when he died. It was so hard on Brooke. I followed Tom to Sharon's house, a place where Brooke and Jason lived. As I got closer, I got sadder, remembering of all the times I'd met Brooke and Jason there. So many memories. I was crying as I was driving. I had Tom's dog, McCoy, his new dog he adopted. McCoy is very friendly, a beautiful Lab - Shar Pei mix. He nosed up to me and began licking my eyes, just as Blackjack and Barkley often do.

Golden, Colorado - where I call home

October 9, 2009

My world is my family, my friends, my toys, my bands, and 2 dogs.

Heather McKibbin, my daughter. Her husband, their 3 children, my grandchildren, Ashley, Erik and Allison.

They are my world.

Brooke Lee Mares, my daughter.

July 29, 1980 - February 6, 2009

Devastating, a parent should not survive their children.

Blackjack and Barkley, my two Cocker Spaniels, my boys.

Corvettes and Route 66, those are my signature items, two things that go together. I've traveled up and down Route 66 with Brooke, Mom and Dad, my friend Tom Schrah Jr., Mike Blake Jr. & Sr., Kevin Harper. We've logged many miles by car or motorcycles. All great memories.

I've been and Artist and Photographer all my life. It was my career. 4 years at KMGH-TV7 in Denver, 32 years at CBS4 Denver, Art Director - retired. I was in an auto accident on June 24, 2005. I was rear ended by a Ford F250, with a trailer full of sod. I was stopped in traffic on Interstate 25, he hit me at 60mph, never hit his brakes. I saw it coming, I braced myself as hard as I could. I closed my eyes and said goodbye to my grandchildren. I was off work for a year, had a multi level fusion in my neck, C4 - C5 and C5 -C6, titanium and bone harvested from my hip. I went back to work, but I couldn't handle the stress. I have a lot of nerve damage and chronic pain. I'm dependent on pain meds. I don't want to be, but planning to wean myself with my pain management doctor, Lisha Barre, M.D.

I've been a musician all my life. I started playing piano at 4. I've played drums since junior high school.