A Year of Change

By all accounts, I think it was a pretty good day. I was happy with the way the service turned out as I think most everyone was pleased and happy when it ended. I tried to put something together that would be worthy of Mom. At the same time, I wanted to give everyone some much needed closure and assurance that Mom was in heaven and that while it’s ok to be sad, it’s also important to move forward with their lives here on earth.

The day started out early with us arriving in Denver by about 9 to get Lori’s hair done. Both boys had a quick trim too! While this was going on I rushed up the street to buy a new shirt and a tie for both Jagger and me. Then we headed to my Moms to hang out and rest for an hour before we needed to get ready for the service.

We arrived at the church about 2 and it looked lovely. There were lots of flowers and the sun was shinning. It was a day befitting of Mom and I think she would have loved it. The service started out with me making giving a brief welcome which became even shorter as I was starting to well up inside and cut my speech short. Pastor Ed was great and I think helped give everyone a sense of peace about the day. Tasha then spoke first and gave a moving speech about how much Grandma meant to her and shared her thoughts on how to thank those in our lives who are important to us. I know it wasn’t easy for her but at the same time was something she wanted and needed to say to Grandma that in her mind, was long overdue. I was very proud of her as I think everyone was. Next up Deb Rubin gave a moving speech about how Mom too had changed her life as she had countless others, which was touching and moving. Then thankfully her husband Len came up and read a letter from 25 years ago I had found in Moms things. It was so funny, and the timing was perfect as it made everyone feel good about the day. After that was some scripture and then the video that Kristin put together with love as if it was her own Mom.

The service was about to close with Pastor Ed providing a closing prayer and coming to me to lead the family out of the chapel when a man who had to be in his 90’s stood up and said “wait”! We looked at him and at each other as we didn’t know who he was. He began to speak and told the story of who he was and how he met my Mom and Dad when he first came to town in the 50’s. This man, who came out of nowhere, was one of the most prominent attorneys (now) in the Country. He told us how that when he came to town from the Judge Advocates office when leaving the Army, the head of a prestigious law firm told him there are two people you need to know in town, and one of them was Ivan Fugate. He then spoke of Mom and Dad and how they had helped him in his career early on and then in closing said he cannot leave without giving Mom a good Irish goodbye. He then proceeded to sing a moving Irish song acapella that you’d recognize but I don’t know the name. The crowd was stunned and moved to tears at this stranger who showed up out of thin air and closed the day with a moving unscripted tribute to our Mom. It was like some angel from heaven showed up in this old mans body to provide a moving sendoff to our Mom.

Right after the service, I of course went over to him and introduced myself to find out who he was and just what was his story. It’s not important who he was but after getting home last night after 11 pm, I Googled him and learned he was one of the most respected and prominent lawyers and for that matter, people, in the history of our Country. He’s actually up here in Vail this coming weekend as he is being honored at the U.S. Ski Museum, (another story). He invited us down and we plan on going to see him. It’s hard to describe the scene and impact this man had but was something you would expect someone would do for Mom.

We all then headed down for the reception and it was a really good time. A few hours later we headed back to Moms house and all hung out until about 9:30 when we left. Tom and Ali went home as it was a long day but Shelly, Tasha, Robin, Robert, Lori, the boys and I had fun reminiscing and sharing memories about growing up for hours until it was time to drive up the hill.

This morning I’m headed back down and taking the boys and I think Lori, to see Robin and Robert and Tasha. I need to meet with James to go over some work that we’re giving him to basically help him out. So, I was happy with the day. Many people told me Mom would be proud and that’s all I could hope for. I miss her deeply and can rest a little easier knowing she had a good service and was watching from above. We all miss and love her and always will as someone of her character will never be replaced, ever. But I know she’d want us all to move on and live our lives the way she’d would, and we all need to do so and make her proud! So let’s get to work and get on with our lives remembering in everything we do, that she’s watching and try to live up to the image and person she knows each of us are. God Bless.

Here’s one of my favorite pictures of Mom!

Today is Mom’s service. One thing she wanted, was this to be a happy day of celebration rather than one of sadness. It’s been a long 26 days since she rose to heaven and I’m sure she’s doing well.

We’ll leave around 7 this morning as Lori needs to get her hair done and Jag and I need to buy a couple of ties. Then we’ll all go change at my Moms where Robin and Robert are staying. The service is at 3 and then we’re having a reception at 240 Union. It’s hard to tell how many people will be there as it could be 25 or 75. Most of Moms friends of course are older so it’s more difficult for them to make it. In any case, whether 10 or 100, it’ll be a nice service for Mom.

Mojo is at doggie day care as we didn’t want to leave him alone for 12 or more hours in the house. We’ll all drive up tonight, arriving home sometime around 9 or so. That’s it people, have a great day and if you remember, say a prayer around 3 pm MST, God Bless.

Lots going on, needless to say. Yesterday was busy with my church meeting and getting things written, printed and boxed up for tomorrow. The weather was mixed with snow in the morning and sunshine in the afternoon. Fittingly, tomorrow will be the nicest day of the week. I feel pretty good about everything although I’m sure something will come up that needs to be fixed, and then I’ll fix it.

Tonight the Rockies play their Wild Card game. Whoever wins goes on to face the Dodgers and the loser goes home. The facts are still coming out in the Vegas tragedy but it almost wasn’t even over before the Dems were going after guns. When there’s a bombing, we blame the bomber, when a drunk driver causes an accident, we blame the drunk driver but when there’s a shooting, we blame the gun. Doesn’t make much sense. Not that anti gunners pay any attention to facts but since 1994, gun ownership is up 56% and gun fatalities are down 49%. Facts are inconvenient though if they don’t further your argument. Mental health is where we need more focus. You had a CBS Executive get fired yesterday for saying she had no sympathy for the victims as they were all right wing, gun totting republicans. What is the World coming to? I have to stop now as there’s more going on in our little corner of the World.

Dixie is apparently doing better. Tasha made it to town yesterday and Robin and Robert arrive today. Len and Deb also get in tonight. When I arrived home, I snapped while looking at the mess and powered out on the downstairs and cleaned everything up. It’s a much nicer feeling when things are clean around here. I’d better get moving as Lori and I are going to the gym. Hope everyone is well and we’ll talk to you all tomorrow. God Bless.

Here’s mommy as a little girl, she sure was cute!

Things are frosty or frozen outside, but it’s supposed to warm up. Early this morning I’m off to the big city to pick up Jagger’s suit, try to get the program sorted out and then meet with the church at noon. I need to be back up to get the boys from school so lots to do. I also need to have a photo enlarged so we have something for the service. Every time I turn around there’s something else to do. I wrote a little welcome speech but am not sure if I can get through it. I figure if I’m having trouble here at home, I’ll probably have a lot of trouble at the service, ha. I’ll get through it somehow as it is what it is and you do what you have to do.

Grandma Dixie who was at the doctor yesterday received a call from the doctors office last night telling her that her x-rays showed she had a aortic aneurysm in her heart and to immediately call 911! So she did and was at the hospital until about midnight when they finally sent her home as the CT scan thankfully showed she was clear, phew. That would be no good!

On top of things, our internet and phones were out all morning until 3 pm yesterday which meant I could not do anything! I was completely off the grid so I decided to just go to the gym. Our house is a mess as we just have too much stuff everywhere.

Tom Petty died last night after a heart attack! He just finished up a tour last week and was 66 years old, what a shame. It’s almost 6:30 so I’d better get moving. Tasha arrives today and Robin and Robert tomorrow. We’re headed down early Thursday morning and will drive back up that night. Lori has her mandatory training on a new system this Saturday and Sunday so she won’t be getting any kind of break. We both still need just one night of sleep uninterrupted. Not sure when that’ll happen, God Bless.

Good morning, we have snow. Right now there’s a bit on the deck and the railings but not a lot on the ground. Up a few thousand feet, it’s much different. Vail Pass is closed as is most of Interstate 70 starting at Georgetown all the way to Vail. This started last night after the game. We didn’t have any problem coming home but an hour or so after we made it through, the road was closed. It’s a wet heavy snow which is the worse kind for the roads.

Most of the night was spent working with Kristin on the video of my Mom. To be fair, she did all the work while we just answered questions. It’s so sad but so enjoyable to watch. I must have watched it over and over about a dozen times. Kristin, bless her heart, is still working on it for us trying to tweak it here and there to make it the best possible. Mom was truly like Audrey Hepburn or Princess Grace, just not as well known. I’m excited for everyone to see it as in many ways, it tells a story of her life without words. You get a good sense of just who she was through pictures. Kristin did a remarkable job of putting this together for us and it will mean a lot to everyone this coming Thursday. Today I need to write and get printed some sort of program or hand out which I haven’t even started, ugh. Tomorrow I’ll meet with the church to make sure everything is set up. Hope it all goes well this week and is worthy of who Mom was.

On a national level, there was a shooting in Las Vegas at a country music concert where a gunman killed 50 people! Not sure of the motive and we pray for the victims and their families. Be ready as now the media will sensationalize this and not let it go for weeks to come. Then the politicians will jump in and grandstand to push their agendas on both sides and on it will go, over and over and over. Our society and World today is a mess. This is awful and should not happen, anywhere, but people are messed up and despondent with their lives these days. Social media, politics, tv, everything contributes. God Bless everyone there. I need to call Allan and Ally, our friends who live in Las Vegas today to make sure they’re ok. They’re not really country music fans so we’re hoping they were not there. I’m sure we won’t be hearing about much else for days if not weeks.

Both boys are still sleeping while Lori and I are having our morning coffee with Mojo. Lori had a good trip with her Mom and I think they settled on a few caregivers. We’re glad she’s home safe as with things going on like what I just mentioned, you never know today when some nut will just go off. I guess I’ll run so I can start writing the program. Here’s Mom looking so elegant with her Jaguar many years ago. Hope everyone is well, take care, be safe and God Bless.

Yea! Today around 11 am Lori is landing in Denver. Hopefully she and her Mom accomplished what they needed to get done. It’s 6:15 now and I just came down to a puddle of pee from Mojo. Not sure what happened as we always take him out before bed. The bummer is it soaked up into our curtains which I now have in the garage. Sometime our pets can really test us!

The boys and I made it to Denver around 8:45. We stopped at Grandma’s and I found a few more photos to send to Kristin. This is turning into a huge job with her bringing in an editor yesterday and someone else today, I really owe her big time!

Today is the Bronco Raider game which should be good. Back to yesterday, we returned Jag’s ill fitted suit and headed over to Neiman Marcus where we found one that actually fit him for about $1000! Clothes just are not cheap these days. Then it was a mad rush down to Nordstrom’s for dress shoes for Ty. After that, some new sneakers for him at another store and then lunch at Elways. Next up was stopping by my Mom’s to see Tom and Ali and then we headed up the hill arriving home about 3:30. I think I’ve drove to Denver everyday in a row for what seems like a month. I’m excited for the video montage as I selected about 60 pictures that will play in a loop. Only thing is they’ll run to two tear jerker songs. I hope it makes people happy and not super sad. How about the photo up top which is about the only one I’ve seen without Mom in her signature bee hive hair doo! This is like the early 60’s! What fun.

Tomorrow I have to print the program which means I have to first write it today! The Colorado Rockies are in the playoffs! Don’t want to forget to mention that as it’s historic. Hopefully we’ll beat Arizona this coming Wednesday. Once this is all over, we sure could use a trip to, oh I don’t know, Hawaii? Time to run people, have a great day and Go Broncos and God Bless!

I was texting with Robi last night that even though it’s been 3 weeks since Mom passed, it hasn’t got much better. In fact, in some ways, for me, it’s worse. Some of that may be due to the fact that I spent most of yesterday finding, taking and sending pictures to Kristin and deciding which songs to pair up with which pictures for the service. A few of them, especially the ones of Mom and me, finally got to me a bit. Oh well, still lots to do.

It’s 5:33 am now and I need to get the boys moving in a few so we can get down to Denver, do our shopping, and head back up the hill. First though, we’ll stop at Mom’s or Grandma’s, and try to find a few more pictures. In some ways, going through the old pictures and letters has given me a whole new perspective of just who my Mom was. She was not just a Mom, Grandma, mother in law or good friend, but a really neat gal (who says “gal” anymore, ha), that lived a great, meaningful life. In some ways, I’m more at peace as I’ve remembered she really did have fun and enjoy her life. When you think of your Mom, you think of her as a Mom, yet the pictures tell a story of a fun person who lived her life with a positive attitude and was kind to everyone. I’m so glad I’ve been finding all these and that she saved just about everything. I even found my Junior High School Year Books yesterday!

Lori’s busy with her Mom helping her interview care givers to help out until we can move her out here to Denver. The latest is that she will come here and move into an assisted living place. I personally think that’s best as then she and we can see each other often. One thing I’ve learned in the past few weeks is that family really IS the most important thing. Things and money are important to have to live a basic life, but it will not bring you peace and contentment. Sadly most people don’t realize this. We are fortunate enough to make a pretty good living compared to most people. But with more income, comes more bills, more taxes and more headaches. Of course if you don’t make a good income, you won’t believe this. Trust me, we all still have cash flow issues and live paycheck to paycheck from time to time. I don’t want to get sidetracked as my point here is that family and loving each other, must come first!

I guess I’ll get moving as it’s almost 6 am and we need to get moving. A special thanks to Kristin, Lori’s “sister” who is going to work today, on a Saturday, to put together the video montage for the service. I don’t know what I’d do with out her. I so want to share the images and sense of who Mom was with everyone and this can only be done by sharing the pictures of her. Thanks Kristin.

Time to go, have a great last day of September and God Bless you all.

(Ali, love your hair in the background, circa 1990??)

Lori and I made it to the airport on time for her flight, and then it was late anyhow. I was back home by about 1:30 and cleaned up and worked a bit until 3:30 when it was time to go get Ty. We then rushed to get Jag who stayed late for a make up test and then rushed down to the dentist for Ty to get some impressions made for a new retainer. While there, I found out I had a $492 bill for his previous work, super.

Jag and I were headed to the gym this morning but just decided we’d go after school. Wish I would have known that before I woke up at 5:15! Ty wants to go but I think I’ll wait until we get clearance from his doctor on his wrist. I have a lot to do for Mom’s service. Kristin (Lori’s sister) sent me the music files last night which I was listening to a few minutes ago. I had to stop though as they made me too sad, ugh, this is not going to be easy. Can’t we just play The Rolling Stones or something?

Ty worked all night on a Newton’s Law project for science and Jag was studying for a Algebra II / Trig test which he has 100% in! I just saw on the news that being happy by even listening to a happy song before getting a flu shot, makes the flu shot more effective. I think I’ll try to get us boys flu shots today after school, Lori gets hers next week.

I need to find a bunch of pictures of Mom as I’m going to try to put together a video montage for the service. Of course I don’t know how to do this myself but after seeing how quickly Kristin sent the music, I think I’ll ask her! After all, that’s what she does for a living. I need to email the church today and still have to write the freaking program. I looked through a lot of old stuff last night of Mom’s and found some fun stuff. I want to make sure the service is befitting of how special she was, not only to us, but to the Universe. Sadly, there’s no way I can make it good enough. Guess I’ll go, lots to do and it’a almost 6 am. Normally I’d wake Lori about now so I’m not sure what to do, maybe I’ll clean the kitchen. Take care and God Bless.

That about says it all, we’re tired. We’re leaving early this morning so we need to get moving. I think Lori is interviewing about 8 care givers for Dixie. I guess now she wants to stay in her house and is not coming to Colorado. Maybe this will change or maybe I’m wrong as I’m not quite up to speed. Whatever she does, it should be what she wants.

Jag tried on his suit last night and of course, it’s too small. Why can’t anyone do anything right the first time these days. We’ll now have to run to Denver Saturday and try to find someone that can either tailor a suit or coat or go buy a new one and have that tailored. I hope this store doesn’t give us any problem with this one not fitting. This means Mojo will need to go to doggie daycare as we can’t leave him all alone for the day.

I have so much to do for the service next week. I haven’t started to write the program yet and once written, need to get it printed too. I think it’s snowing on the pass and is raining in Denver. Nevertheless, that’s where we’re headed this morning as Lori needs to get to the airport by about 10:15 at the latest. Hope there’s no weather or road delays.

We had take out again last night which has sort of become the new norm. I’ve just been too busy and tired to cook although I’ve have a few times in the past week. Tonight Green Bay plays Chicago, I’m sure my Mom will be watching. Speaking of Mom, I still find a couple moments each day when I think to myself, I’d better call Mom to tell her what just happened. Then of course I realize I can’t do that, so I just talk to her instead without having to pick up the phone! It’s now 6 am so I’d better get moving. Lori is already out of the shower and we need to get the boys up. I also need to feed Mojo and walk him up the hill, so, time to go. Have a great day, take care, be safe and God Bless, and Go Packers!

Starting this morning, we begin our 5 day whirlwind of travel, sports, work, school and other commitments that will give us little to no break between now and next Sunday night.

I have a dentist appointment this morning and Lori has a huge day of work as she’s out the next two days. Ty has a bunch of work due today that should have him caught up from the 4th Grade camping trip. Jag has more work too and a test tomorrow. He has a free day today and will work from home. He puts so much pressure on himself to get nothing but straight A’s, that it’s borderline unhealthy. We’re trying to find some balance for him but he’s determined to make up a months worth of work in less than two weeks while doing his regular work too, and this is while he’s in Advanced Placement classes, which by the way, he has 100% in. Meanwhile I need to bring in about $500,000 worth of orders by Friday. So, you can see, we’re a little busy. Throw in Lori’s top nurse being out for a week or two for her husbands surgery (pretty bad one, say a prayer) and her being gone, and her doctor and his wife and freaking out and putting a lot of pressure on Lori. She’s already received a 3 page email this morning! Dixie just needs to move to Denver as if Lori has surgery, which she needs, she won’t be traveling much, or at all, for the rest of the year.

Tomorrow I’m driving Lori to the airport for her trip to Sacramento and on Friday I think Jag goes to Durango for a tennis tournament until Saturday and then on Sunday, we’ll all drive down to pick up Lori and then go to the football game.

Yesterday Tom and I met with the Pastor who will handle Mom’s service. I have a lot to do, such as writing and printing the program for the service, ordering flowers, and more. There’s a lot to do to pull off a good service but as my Mom and I always said, you do what you have to do. I also need a haircut and need to get Ty some clothes for next week. I did pick up Jag’s suit yesterday and bought him some cool new Frye boots. They’re a cross between causal and dress boots and he loves them. I was texting him pictures from the store in Denver yesterday. Frye boots were all we wore in the 70’s and they’re making a comeback.

I talked with Robin yesterday and we talked about writing a message from the family and putting it in the program so there’s no pressure on anyone to get up and speak. I started this last night, but it too isn’t as simple as it sounds. I’ll get it done though.  Here’s another great picture from when we were young, I love these! Have a great day and God Bless.