We were preparing for our upcoming wedding by attending a retreat out of town. It was February in Michigan and temperatures were extremely low. We were given the choice to stay at the center that was freezing cold or leave and come back the following day. We decided to leave and find a place to stay that had heat. Snow was coming down quickly and soon turned into a blizzard. Every hotel in town was booked, so we returned back to the center, only to find out that they had locked the doors for the night. We didn’t know what to do, so we decided that we could try to sleep in the car. Two adults in the backseat of a Dodge Neon is not very comfortable. We tried to cover up with whatever we could find in the backseat to keep warm. Magazines, newspapers, nothing seemed to do the trick. We just held each other tightly. Mostly for warmth, but also for comfort. I knew that as long as he was with me, I was safe and we could get through any situation. We often looked back on this story and laughed. It really was a good way to sum up our marriage. We went through hard times that would break most people and we got through it by staying together. We were a team.

My beautiful mom,

The day you died part of me died with you. Thank you for being our mom, our lives will never be the same. It’s hard for me to accept the fact that you’re gone. We’re broken, lost. I’m so sorry I couldn’t say goodbye. I’ll never forget your smile, your love, the funny things you would do to make me laugh. Thank you for being my mama. I will hold you in my heart until I can hold you in my arms again in heaven. I love you mom.

Rest in peace, we will love and miss you always,
Your daughter.

She brought us up well. Was fierce in her protection of all of us. We said goodbye together and will greet each other and her when we are together again. We miss you Mom, more than words can express.

I keep thinking I’ll hear the phone ring, and it’ll be my next door neighbor Lou, calling about the latest neighborhood happenings.

“Hey, didja hear that the guy down the street put in a pool? Hey, didja hear that so-and-so moved to Florida?”

Lots of times I want to pick up the phone and call my neighbor of 45-plus years, and then I remember that the dear friend, Vietnam veteran, and all-around good guy, lost his last battle the end of October 2021. Miss you Lou.

… Dad always dancing or singing every time Frank Sinatra came on.

He would grab each of his four daughters and have them dance with him at any event or just in the backyard. It must have brought him such happiness.