New Years Eve Dinner!

For quite a few years we had gone out for dinner on New Years eve with Dad and Sharon. It was always Dads time. He so loved being able to get together.

Picture taken New Years Eve 2005

Ever since Jerzie came along we thought it would be easier on everyone to come to our house for dinner. Kim, Tabatha, Chris and I all made dinner. We made steaks on the grill, had a couple kinds of shrimp and tons of other food. We all had a great time.

Picture taken New Years Eve 2006

This year is definitely different. Kim and I decided we still wanted to get together for dinner since we don't do it often enough. We know Dad will be with us in spirit for dinner tonight.

Hard To Believe!

I can't believe that these pictures were taken on Christmas Day 2007. Who would have known that this would have been our last Christmas together. Not me that is for sure. I remember you telling us that you had another lump but never thought that it would take you from us. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to sit and tell your children that your cancer was back yet again. You fought such a brave battle Dad. We are all so proud of that. We are glad you aren't suffering any more but we all miss you so much!

Merry Christmas Dad!

We love you and always will!!

It's Finally Here!

Dad's headstone was finally delivered today. For some reason Laurie decided to call today and find out how it was coming and they told her it was on the truck to be delivered today.

Before we went to pay the balance off for Sharon we drove up to make sure it was done the way we wanted it. The headstone is perfect. We think it is what Dad would have wanted. You all may be surprised that there isn't a motorcycle on it, but hunting and fishing was a big part of Dads life also.

We put a Christmas wreath with Dads favorite color bow on it on his grave today.

He Loved His Motorcycles!

I found this picture today while looking back at Christmas pictures and knew I had to post it. Chris and I gave this Santa on a Motorcycle to dad last year. We went over to Dad and Sharon's house and put it up on a Saturday while they were at the Rod and Gun Club. When Dad pulled into his parking spot all he could see was Santa smiling at him. He was so excited when he saw it. I have it now and it will be put up this weekend. I just love the smile on Dads face in this picture.

We all know that Christmas just won't be the same this year, but we also know that Dad wouldn't want us to be bummed during the holidays. We are all trying to keep our spirits high for the holidays. Don't forget if you want to leave a comment or send an email it would be greatly appreciated. If you leave a comment for Sharon we will make sure she gets it.

Don't forget to have a shot of JD or a sip of Glug for Dad this holiday season!

Opening Day!

Today is opening day of shot gun season. I have said over and over again that I don't know how Kim and Chris are going to do today. The truth is I'm not doing well today either. Today is a very big day for the guys in my family. As I sit and think of all the fun the guys have in the woods together I can't help but think of all the the stories they come home with. Chris would walk in the door after being in the woods all day with Kim and Dad and say "Your Dad got lost again today" or "your Dad just cracked us up over the radio today". I miss those stories already.

Watch your boys in the woods today Dad!

A Piece of Dad !

I remember Dad drawing when I was younger, so when we were going through his things and found folders of drawings he did I was so excited to look at them. Some I don't ever remember seeing, but some I remember watching him draw.

I couldn't wait for Kim to see them. He was just as happy as I was to sit and look at them. We aren't sure what we want to do with them yet. There are a couple we want to get framed. In the mean time, they are in a notebook in plastic sleeves. We don't want anything to happen to them.

Dad taught Kim and I how to draw this dog but an easier version of it. It is fun to see Kim draw it for Jerzie now. What a piece of our Dad we found. We also found the pencils and chalk he used to use. I have that also. I couldn't part with it.

A Collection I Never Thought I Wanted!

Years before Dad got sick, he always picked on us kids about not having much to leave to us. Sharon always told us that the shot glass collection was ours to share. I always said "what am I going to with them?"

Things sure changed after that day came.

We sat for hours looking at all of them and picked out our favorites. This is where we have ours displayed for now.

Here are some of our favorites.

Check out what Kim & Tabatha did with the ones that they chose by clicking HERE.

Moving Day!

As most of you already know, Sharon made the decision to move back to California to be with her kids. She has 3 children in California and one in Texas and several grand kids. She had lived here for 30 years and we all agreed with her decision to move to be with them.

We all went down for a visit and to say our goodbye's on Wednesday night. It was nice to be able to meet Charlie and Phillip.

Yesterday they loaded the U-Haul and her son Phillip and one of her ex-husbands Charlie took off for a long drive. Sharon flew out today and should be in California by now. We all hope that it doesn't take too long for Sharon to get settled in and feel comfortable in her new house.

Day by Day!

Sorry we haven't posted in a while. We are all still trying to deal with Dads passing. We all know that he is in a better place and he doesn't have any more pain, but we still miss him very much every day. Some days are harder than others. Some days we feel guilty because we are happy and some days we are so sad that we don't know what to do to make it better. We know that Dad wouldn't want us to stop living because he isn't around, but some days it is hard to even function. We want to thank all of you for lighting a candle in remembrance of Dad. Some of you we haven't ever met and never will meet but we thank you for all of the kind words you have said. It means a lot to all of us. We are going to try to keep Dads blog up and running for as long as we can. His e-mail is also still open if you want to e-mail us. Or you can just leave a comment below any post.

Thank You,

Laurie & Chris,

Kim, Tabatha and Jerzie

Special Mushroom!

Have you seen these mushrooms growing on trees in the woods?

Take a good look at them next time you do.

My Dad did and look what he did with them.

I have always loved this mushroom. I always thought that it was cool that Dad drew on it and it looks so neat after it dried.

I was so excited when I found it on Dads shelf.

This is the back of the mushroom.

I have it displayed next to one of our favorite pictures from the Adirondacks. By any chance did Dad give you one of these mushrooms years ago?

Temporary Home!

We brought Dads bike to our house last week. Our friend Kevin helped us get it here. He has been riding Harley's for a long time (30-40 years) and had an enclosed trailer to bring it here in.

Kim and Chris don't have their motorcycle licence yet, but both want to get their permits and start riding.

The bike doesn't seem to need a lot of work. It just needs some minor repairs and new rubber. Keeping it inside really helped keep the bike in great condition.

Even though we had to buy the bike and Kim will be buying it back from us someday, it was worth it to keep it in the family.

Our Special List!

Click on the picture to enlarge.

This poem was given to us by one of the Harley riders before Dads funeral. We had the Pastor read it during the service. We knew that it would mean a lot to the guys that were riding for Dad that day.

A Special Room!

In Dad and Sharon's apartment there was a special room. Dad's room! Dad couldn't ride his Harley anymore so one of the special things in Dad's room was his bike. We can't believe the things he kept and saved. One thing that just cracked us up about the room was that on this little table there was probably 100 throw away lighters. Dad never threw them away even though none of them worked anymore. There were toys out of cereal boxes on the table also. Jerzie loved to play with them.

The next thing you are going to see is Dads special shelf. For as long as Kim and I can remember Dad has had this shelf. We were never allowed to play with the stuff on these shelves when we were younger but we were allowed to look. So when it came time to go through the room Kim and I just kept looking at each other because we knew we shouldn't be touching this stuff.

If you look close you can see Dad's shot glass collection on the shelves. There are 3 shelves full of shot glasses and more in boxes.

We just kept saying "how do you pick and choose?" One thing that was said by someone was "if it is on Dads shelf it must mean something to him". That kept going through our minds as we looked at everything on the shelves.

This is his gun cabinet. We all chipped in to buy it one year for Christmas. Kim took it home with him because he has kids running around his house and we felt that he needed it more than us.

These shelves went all the way around his room. We put them up for him a few years ago because he was running out of room.

And here is his pride and joy. Kim is also taking this home with him. I know it means the world to him.

Dinner!

After Dad's funeral we went back to Dad and Sharon's house and had dinner. Most of the food was catered and paid for by one of Dad's friends. We also cooked hot dogs on the grill and had some munchies.

Most of you that know Dad know that he loved to have people over for picnics and such, so that is what we did. It was great to hear all of his friends talk about the old days.

As you can see in the next picture there was a bottle of Jack Daniels going around. Kim poured at least 40 shots and we all did a shot together for Dad. JD was one of Dads favorites and that is what he told everyone he wanted when he was in the hospital.

You should have heard the noise that came out of all the guys when they did the shot.

We did as Dad asked us to do.

"Have a party for me!"

A Meaningful Ride!

I took these pictures from our car so some of them aren't the greatest. Just the sound of all the bikers revving their engines made me cry. When the guys put dad in the hearse, all of Dads friends revved their engines. It was such an overwhelming sound. If you have been around bikes you know the feeling you get.

This is my Uncle Randy and my brother leading the pack.

I can't even name all of the guys and girls that were there for the ride. Every single person there has a place in all of our hearts for doing this for Dad.

It turned out to be a beautiful day. We were worried the day before because it rained most of the day.

Most of the riders don't have their helmets on. In New York state it is a law to wear your helmet but since it was funeral, most of them didn't wear them.

This car was also ahead of the hearse. One of my Dads friends drives it and wanted to be a part of the ride. Everything turned out to be just the way Dad would have wanted it.

A Day To Remember!

We all had a very emotional day on Friday. Not only because we buried our Dad, but because of what Dads old friends did for him and the family. They will probably never know how special it was for us. Dad's bike hadn't been on the road or even started for at least 12-13 years, but as you can see his friends got it running so Uncle Randy and my brother Kim could ride it in the procession.

Uncle Randy and Kim led the procession and were followed by about 20 other bikes. Just the sound of Dad's bike starting and all of the other bikes made most of the people there burst into tears. Even with it being such difficult day, it made it a little easier knowing that it was exactly what Dad wanted.

Thank you to everyone that has commented, e~mailed or lit a candle in remembrance of Dad. Reading all of your thoughts and stories will help all of us through this difficult time.

When I Must Leave You!

When I must leave you for a little while

Please do not grieve and shed wild tears

And hug your sorrow to you

Through the years

But start out bravely with a gallant smile
And for my sake and in my name

Live on and do all the things the same
Feed not your loneliness on empty days

But fill each waking hour in useful ways
Reach out your hand in comfort

And in cheer

And I in turn will comfort you

And hold you near

And never, never be afraid to die

For I am waiting for you in the sky

~ Helen Steiner Rice ~

Service Information!

For those of you that live out of town and can't get our local paper, Dad's obituary is available to view online. Click HERE to go to the Falconer Funeral Home website and look at it. While you are there you can light a candle and add your thoughts and memories of Dad.

A Difficult Day!

Dad's courageous seven year battle with cancer ended today. He passed away peacefully at noon with his family by his side. He was in no pain. We all got the chance to tell him goodbye and that we love him. We will have more information on the service tomorrow for all of the out of town family and friends.

Goodbye Dad

We love you and miss you already.

Back In The Hospital!

Dad had a really rough Saturday night / Sunday morning and so did Sharon. Dad had gotten so weak that he couldn't move from his chair even with help. Sharon just didn't feel comfortable or safe trying to take care of him, so she called Hospice to see what they thought she should do. They said that they felt it was time for him to go back to the hospital. Sharon agreed with them and had an ambulance come to take him down. He is still on a morphine drip and slept for most of the day. The room was full of company almost all day. At one point there were about 15 people in his room and you could tell by Dad's facial expressions that he wanted in on the conversation. We just left around 9:30 and he was resting comfortably.

Update!

You are still at Butch's Battle. We just decided that it was time for a change.

Dad is having some difficulty with his everyday activities. There are some things that we take for granted that he is struggling with. As most of you know, Dad is very independent, so it is hard for him to let others help. He has had many visitors which he really enjoys and lots of phone calls. He seems to sleep a lot, but he needs the rest. Sometimes he still joins in on the conversations even when we think he is sleeping. We have asked him if he is in any pain and he has told us no.

Thank you to everyone that has commented or e~mailed. We have made sure to read all of them to Dad.