Planet Stoppenhagen

Fancy a run with a few BULLS? Go to our gallery for some AMAZING pics!

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The festival of San Fermin, or the Pamplona bull running as it's more commonly known outside Spain officially begins at midday on 6th July every year with the 'chupinazo' which takes place on the balcony of the Casa Consistorial in Pamplona. Thousands of people congregate in the square awaiting the mayor's official announcement that the fiestas have begun, a rocket is launched and the partying begins.
My Aunt KIM, thought that she should run after a few bulls to celebrate her 50th and a few of us (about 13) followed for some culture in Barcelona, some experiences of a lifetime while fearing for our lives (or should I say the bull's life) and trying to survive on warm cava - after, a bit of relaxation in Madrid with some fabulous art... i have survived...
Go to our gallery for some AMAZING pics- Barcelona and Madrid are right below it!

Grandpa Arnold Stoppenhagen 1913 - 2007

Arnold and Margaret Stoppenhagen. Photo taken a few months ago for their 70th wedding anniversary announcement.

Early in the morning of June 26th, my grandfather passed away. Grandpa was 94 and had led an amazing life that touched countless others. He was the first of all of my grandparents to pass. I guess the Stoppenhagens and the Essebaggers (Mom's side) have good bloodlines and you all can count on us hanging around for a while. Good news for most of you, I know.

The funeral was held last weekend in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Ft. Waynes was one of the original Stoppenhagen settlements when the family first arrived in America back in the early 1800's. A trip to my great-grandmother's final resting place in rural Indiana revealed grave sites of Stoppenhagen family members dating back to the mid 1800's. The earliest birth of one of these cemetary inhabitants that I found was 1781. Positively modern by UK standards where there was a tomb inside our church that dated to the 1400s (yes, inside the church). But for post-colonial rural middle-America, this is ancient. There is still not much around this cemetary and church about 15-20 miles from Ft. Wayne.

Don't misunderstand, this was not a solemn occasion. The longevity of Arnold's life and the way he lived it, coupled with the strong belief of where grandpa is right now turned what many view as a sad occasion into a reason to celebrate. This turned out to be an occasion that beckoned relatives from all corners of the country to gather, celebrate Grandpa's life and faith and to reconnect with each other. The Stoppenhagen family has never been one to shy away from gathering together to crack open a cold one, sit around for hours and tell side-splitting stories. Stories that have been told over and over throughout the years, but never fail to ilicit tears - both of reminiscence and gasping exhuberance.

Check out our gallery for a selection of pictures that I took from the weekend. As you will notice, there sure aren't many pictures of anyone with a sad face. If grandpa were there in body, he probably would have shed a few tears, too. Probably did in heaven, now that I think of it.

Click HERE for the GALLERY.
A special thank-you to Jamie and Matt Bayes for a lot of the pictures used in the gallery.