I am having a rough time missing Dad today! Today is the day that we used to get together for a family dinner. For quite a few years we all went to a restaurant for dinner. After Jerzie was born, we decided that it would be easier to have dinner at our house. We made a big meal and shared family time together. We still get together on New Year's Eve and have dinner and still have a great time together, but it just doesn't seem the same with out Dad here.
A year ago today, you finally had no more pain. The cancer couldn't attack your body anymore. You lived with the cruel disease for almost 8 years and enough was enough. You put up a strong fight. Although we are glad you aren't suffering anymore, we can’t say that we don’t miss you every day, because we would be lying. This year has been a roller coaster ride for all of us. Little things seem to make us sad when we least expect it, but the sound of a Harley driving by seems to put a smile on our faces and give us a little bit of peace.
Since Chris is taking Welding Technology in school, I knew he could make a stand for it.
We love the way it looks at the grave, and we are sure that Dad loves it.
We went and looked for something to make it easier for us to plant around the headstone. We bought these scalloped gray bricks and went to work. Chris dug out the grass and got the edging put in. We added fresh top soil, some red impatiens and a layer of mulch.
We think it looks much better and should be easy upkeep.
Picture taken June 2002
This is the last picture that was taken of my Dad and me. (June 28th, 2008) This was one of his good days. He was staying at Hopes lodge. Chris and I would drive out every weekend to visit with him and he would harass the hell out of me for bringing my camera with. I am glad I did.
Chris and I went to the cemetery today to put flowers on Dad's grave. I got these bright (Harley) orange daisies in at work today and had to buy them for Dad. While we were there we also cleaned the headstone and trimmed the grass in front of it. Dad always made sure that Grandpa's stone was cleaned and the area around it was well taken care of. We are going to make sure we do the same with his. We aren't sure who else was up there, but they left a beautiful pot of flowers and a poem written on a stained glass tile.
Waiting for the bikers.
We can't describe the feeling that came over us when all of these bikers came walking towards Dad's grave site.
We noticed as soon as Uncle Randy got close enough, he was carrying a small paper bag with him. We knew what was in the bag before he even opened it.
Here is Uncle Randy doing a shot with his brother.
Here are a couple of pictures of the bikes lined up getting ready to leave.
There is nothing like the sound of a Harley. When there are 25 of them together, your insides just shake.
We would like to thank all of the motorcyclists for making Saturday a day to remember.
Click on the arrow to play the video.
Every year, a group of motorcyclists get together on a Saturday and visit the graves of fallen 'brothers' and 'sisters'. Dad used to go on these bike runs every year with his brother Randy. This year, they came to visit Dad. It is great that Dad has not been forgotten. We are thankful that we got to be there on such an extraordinary day. We took a lot of pictures and will be sharing them soon.
Dad used to take us fishing here when we were younger. Kim is teaching Jerzie to fish. Jerzie has her own barbie fishing pole.
I think Daddy likes to use it just as much as Jerzie.
We have been catching a lot of perch and some sunfish.
Last night we each caught a silver bass.
We think Jerzie enjoys spending the time with her daddy.
She still isn't too sure about touching or getting too close to the fish.
Cousin Stoney thought it sounded like a great idea and decided to come along and spend the night so we could throw our lines in at midnight.
We got to our spot and set up camp. Of course it was suppose to rain so we wanted to at least stay dry.
Then to make sure Dad was with us we had to have "a few nips of JD"
Then we hung out by the fire and talked about the old days, ate some chicken, and waited for midnight.
Finally we threw our lines in, and after hours of wondering why we couldn't get any bites...
I finally caught the dreaded sucker fish.... YUK! Then Stoney hooked a monster, but we lost it after it snapped the line.
We finally landed our first trout around 1 pm, only 12 inches or so. We were all packed up, around 4:30, when I went to grab my pole and head home and IT HAPPENED...
The one we had been waiting for... LEWIS THE LUNKER! (as Stoney referred to it).
This is by far the biggest fish I have ever cought. 25 inches long and 5.8 pounds of beautiful rainbow trout!
I know Dad was with us for this trip. We had a great night, very little rain, and tons of fun. Not to mention that we were ready to leave 3 hours before this when 2 of our friends showed up so we hung around a little longer :) Stoney and I decided this will be a new family tradition of camping out on opening day. Thanks Dad for the reminder that you are always with us!!!
Kim and Tabatha bought Jerzie her own fishing pole and Daddy took her fishing over the weekend. This was Jerzie's first time out. Unfortunately they didn't catch anything.
I'm sure they will have plenty of time this spring and summer to get some fishing done.
Dad is smiling down on them, watching them proudly.
It is so hard to believe that it has been 8 months since Dad passed away. Everyone says it gets better with time. Some days it seems as though it has, and others I can't believe he is gone. A lot has happened in the last 8 months that Dad would have been proud of, and a lot has happened that would have made him very sad. The proud would surely out weigh the sad. One of the proudest would have been the birth of another little Granddaughter, and she is so pretty, just like her big sister. Chris went back to school after 20 years and is doing very well. This would have made him very happy also.
Mom and baby are doing great. Payton looks just like Jerzie looked when she was born except for the color of her hair. Payton has darker hair.
Here are Dad's beautiful baby girls. He loved being a grandfather, and we know he would be very proud of his two granddaughters.
This picture is of a figurine I bought for Dad years ago because it reminded me of him.
