FATHER'S DAY

Normally I would have flown to Florida this week. I've spent the last six years with my dad for Father's Day and his birthday which is on the 25th. He would be turning 97. (Mark and I have an anniversary on the 24th) I still can't believe he is gone. It was hard not being able to say goodbye. 

However, if he were here I couldn't be there with him today. So all I can do is remember the past and the awesome man that he was. To think that he lived alone up until earlier this year. He lost my mom 38 years ago and he just stopped driving 3 years ago. He was also very self efficient except for appointments that my sister took him to along with some other things. (Thank you Darcy and Bob)

But what I do know is that he would not have survived this. He had fallen a few times and was in rehab. Then his time was up and he couldn't go back home. So basically a week before he died he was moved to an assisted living facility. (He was tested for Covid-19 and didn't have it.) Now keep in mind my family in Florida could no longer visit. 

He was thrilled to be out of rehab. I talked with my dad daily, have been doing that for years and years. I'd say this was about 5 days before he passed away. He was so excited! "I've got my walker and I'm going out to the garden." I was so happy for him. 

Turns out he never made it to the garden. They were not allowed. They couldn't even go into the hallway. It crushed his spirit. He gave up. I think he would be alive today if it weren't for the shut down. He was a go getter. 

I miss you everyday....

 My Dad walking me down the isle 1972.....

Adam, James and Mark last year on Father's Day.

I was in Florida. Love them to pieces!!

IN MEMORY OF MY FATHER

This is copied from my Facebook page from Thursday the 2nd of April for those who do not follow me there. I have added some of the same pictures and some new ones......

It comes with great sadness to have to tell you that my Father Ray Vlcek passed away early this morning in his sleep. (June 25, 1923 - April 2, 2020) He was a gentle and kind man who had love in his heart for others. I will miss him so much. He was my best friend and I will miss talking with him everyday.

He has been asking God to take him for the last 3 months. Yesterday he told me to make sure that everyone knows that he loved them very much. He also said that he was hoping he could make it to his birthday so he could meet baby James and Gabby in person. He will be missed by his entire family and his friends.

"Dad, I hope you had a wonderful reunion with Mom this morning." The picture of the rainbow my  mom sent to him on his 95th birthday. My Mom has been sending rainbows to us ever since she passed away 38 years ago.

Mom and Dad when they were dating.

 A picnic when we were young.

 Church one Sunday in the '50's.

My wedding in 1972.

Kissing Adam as a toddler.

Amber as a newborn.

Adam and Amber with Grandpa.

Adam and Amber with Grandpa one Christmas.

(these B&W are from a photo book I made him)

Grandpa reading to them. 

Amber, Grandpa and Adam at his cottage. 

At Disneyland with Grandpa. I remember he took a bite out of his Mickey ears before the photo!

When they were young adults with Grandpa.

Dylan and Amber with Grandpa.

 Me and my dad several years ago.

Dancing with Amber at her wedding.

 Me dancing with my dad at her wedding.

(this photo was taken out of an old frame, hence the messed up cheek)

My dad with Skye in 2009.

My dad posing for me on one of my visits.

 His 90th birthday party!

With his children at his 95th birthday!

Debby, Dad, Darcy and Raymond

The rainbow my mom sent on his 95th!

Him and I in June last summer.

Of course the Covid-19 has changed this as far as us being their for a funeral. There is a viewing on Thursday morning. (It will be streamed) My sister and her family in Florida will be there. They must all be 15 ft apart, only 10 people and they must wear masks.

My dad will have most of his wishes meet except for us being there, a mass at church, and all of his friends who loved him. His priest will be there to speak and pray over him. The family can't gather after the service, they will all head back home. My dad will be sent to Illinois at Woodlawn Cemetery to be placed in the crypt with my mother as soon as he can be put on a flight.

When things get better, months from now or a year from now we will have a celebration of life in Florida for him with our whole family gathering for that. 

MY TRIP TO FLORIDA

These photos are from a party we had celebrating my great niece Amber's birthday and my dad's birthday. It was a fun time and I love being able to see all of them when I'm in Florida. I love them all so much. 

The is my great niece Amber, Melissa's daughter, with her better half Joe and their son Jordan. They are fabulous parents to this precious adorable little boy. 

Here is my niece Melissa, proud grandmother to Jordan who is now is almost 15 months old. We are having a great time being grandmother's at the same time. 

Here's Ashlynn with Jordan.

My dad with baby Jordan.

My niece Michele in the center with her daughter Ashlynn on the left and her son Garrett on the right. Her daughter Amanda, the one who recently graduated college is now working her full time job at John Deere in Georgia. She had other plans for the weekend and I missed seeing her very much. 

I had a wonderful time visiting my dad. We did a lot of chasing around everyday while I was there. Somehow, by the grace of God, I managed to do it but I was exhausted each day. What I did do was stay on my steroids following the lung infection I had before I left and that helped me through it. 

We watched about 15 movies while I was with him. He enjoyed that so much. I also took him to Walmart and the Dollar Store since those are places he doesn't get to go too very often. Of course we did other shopping too and we went to the casino twice. 

We were at 4 different banks 11 times getting all of his stuff in order with his trust. Luckily we found a few mistakes and were able to get that sorted out. I did have the help of my sister too. Sadly she is the one living in Florida so the responsibilities of my dad falls into her lap. 

Then the day I was leaving he had a doctors appointment for a spot of cancer on his check. We were there for 2 1/2 hours. He did pretty well and I hear that it is looking great. My brother in law Bob spent the night with him because they advised he have someone with him. 

Me and my dad. We are best friends! 

THE FLORIDA CELEBRATION

As you know I went to Florida to celebrate my Dad's 95th birthday. I meet up with Amber in Denver and we flew together to Tampa. It was so nice spending the weekend with her. My brother also flew in from Milwaukee and we meet up with him in Tampa. 

This trip was a little different for me because I had to rent a car! Normally I am picked up by my sister. My dad sold his car since I was there in March. I told him it was crazy to pay insurance when he wasn't driving. No point in holding it just for me.

So I was rather nervous about all of that but it turned out okay. It was more walking then I care to do but I had Amber to help me. Amber and I were delayed about an hour out of Denver because of weather conditions so my brother had a longer wait for us to pick him up. (She was delayed 5 hours out of Denver going home)

So my Dad's birthday was on Monday the 25th but we celebrated on Saturday the 23rd which is my great niece Amber's birthday. 

Make a wish!!!

Coconut Cream Pie....his favorite!!

My Dad with his children.

Debby, Ray, Darcy and Raymond

The night before my Dad's actual birthday on Monday, when my sister and brother in law were leaving to go home,  we were greeted with a beautiful rainbow. We all took that as a sign from my mother. She did that on his 90th birthday too! 

He said "That's from my Dorothy"

We found a tiny frog 

when we were out looking at the rainbow.

This is my great niece Amber who turned 22. I had the pleasure of meeting my great nephew for the first time. He is adorable. (They don't want any pictures on the internet)

My Amber and I went to the pool 3 days in row so she could get some sun. It was very refreshing swimming in the pool. I always love to take a picture of this group of palm trees by the pool. 

Amber with her grandpa. 

He was so happy to have her visit. 

She's going to kill me for this photo but she looks so cute! 

I sure do miss seeing Amber on a regular basis. We will be visiting them in Montana and I can't wait. In October they are going to drive down to see Adam and Gabby's baby. I can't wait for both of these visits.

While we were there we visited my niece Melissa's house and went out to our favorite place in Tarpon Springs at the Sponge Docks for Gyro's. Mr. Souvlaki. They were delicious. We also went to another favorite of mine, The Lucky Dill, on my Dad's actual birthday. We had a wonderful trip. 

I'M NOT SURE WHERE I'M AT.....

I started a post about my weekend in Florida but have yet to finish it. Hopefully I will work on it soon. We had a nice 4th of July. It was just the two of us and we got to watch the fireworks from several towns from our backyard. 

I don't have a problem with Mark being home only with the fact that everyday seems like the weekend. Normally I didn't do a lot on the weekend but that seems to be overflowing into the week days. I'm way off track. Truthfully I've been laying on the couch watching movies and feeling sorry for myself. 

So bare with me. I haven't been on my computer much and haven't read many blog posts. I have to push through this and get into my normal routine. Today I must make some progress!! 

Also our new insurance started on July 1st so I have been on the phone a lot trying to get some questions answered. Same doctor same medical group but I have to go and get new referrals. I am doing that on Wednesday. Medical stuff is never fun!

Unfortunately my primary doctor just got back from vacation and is now booked until July 25th so I am going in as a walk in and might have to wait a few hours. I must get the referrals in place. The medical group said I should have no problem requesting all of my current doctor's my name. 

On top of that my brother is in the hospital in Milwaukee. We are not exactly sure what happened, the whole story hasn't come out but he has been in since sometime Friday night. His arm is broken and I think he may be having surgery on it today. I believe they were trying to get his blood pressure down. 

So I have been on the phone with my dad a lot the last few days and texting with my sister. Also I have been talking to my brother at the hospital. I will tell you more when I know more. Your prayers are welcomed. He is left handed and it is his left arm. He lives alone and hopefully some of his friends can help him over the next few weeks.