Mary Ann, my condolences to you, Tom, Jan and the rest of the family on Terry's passing. 

Mary

Larry, thank you.  Yes, 58 is too early to die.  I blame the shock treatment that did not work for starting him downhill but at the last it was the two plane rides.  On a good note, he was able to see his grandson and probably hold him.  I haven't called Jan yet, figured she might be sleeping.  It's been such a strain on her.

I think it is too early, even with 70 degree temperatures to sit too long on the beach at Grand Haven.  I will say the sun heats the sand to the point that sometimes it is too hot. 

MaryTX, thank you too.  I will miss Terry.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann - I'm truly sorry to hear the sad news about Terry. Even though it was expected, it's still a shock to his loved ones.  Age 58, is too young. I will be thinking about you and your family over the coming week.

Thank you, Marilyn.  I think I feel worse about Terry than I did about Tim because Terry lived nearer and I saw him more often.  Actually, he was my handy man.  Tom helps in other ways, but he is not a handy man and I grew up with a father who could do most everything - as his generation usually could.

It's a relief and yet it is not.  At least he is at peace now.
I've been trying to get in touch with Jan or Erin and I get no ring tone when I call so I assume they have their phones turned off.

Tom just called me (we communicate better that way even though in the same house) and we are going to lunch, then sometime this afternoon we will go to Terry and Jan's.  Terry will be cremated.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann.  I am so sorry to hear. I know how close you have always been to all your Nephews and others.  Even though you expected it one is never ready.

Sad week this week for my family also.
On Tues I spoke with my Eldest Daughter who let me know she was visiting all night with her friend who was in Emergency last 2 days.  She thought she had the flu. All of them were together for the Easter dinner which this ldy made. She went into a coma and then on all the equipment. Drs. then said she was brain dead had pneumonia. Lots of things had shut down and could last 3 days or just take off the machine. Looks like the waited as today it is in my paper that she died Tuesday night. I saw her once in awhile but not a friend as they live in another town. Still shocked as she was only 61. Had been a Director of Nursing for past 15 years and just retired. Daughter has not yet called me but I am sure she is so close and both husbands get together all the time Hers being Chief of Police just retired and my SIL  retired same time after 32 years Sheriff dept. Same town.
Yesterday I called a Lawyers office here in town and made a appointment for next week to finely get my estate put in order of some kind. Not done a thing and its a mess.  Being going to do it for a few years.  ONe just doesn't know from day to day how things can change so fast. 

Mary Ann, Hugs to you and the family.  My Dad was 56 when he passed.  Short life.  Big hugs.

Thank you, Jeanne and Joan.  Jeanne, it is hard to lose friends, too, especially at a  young age.  My close friends all have died, but they were older.

Jeanne, I am going to have to revise my Trust because both Terry and Tom were to share the bulk of my estate, such as it is.  But I was including their children as well as Dot and a couple of wives.  It may seem unnecessary to include so many people but I have been close to them all, so why not!  So that is my next project.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann, I know Terry will be missed by those of you who loved him, however, he was not really living for some time, so we can be thankful that he is at peace now.  He and Tim are greeting one another in joyful reunion. Hugs to you dear Mary Ann.

Mary Ann, please accept my sincere condolences on the passing of Terry.  So young. 

Mary Ann, So sorry to hear about Terry.  I send my heartfelt condolences to you and your family.

MaryAnn, I know you were expecting Terry's passing and it is still hard. Tom must feel very alone right now. I wish you both peace of mind in knowing his pain is over.

I can't imagine Jan's present feelings in losing her husband and knowing her parents are going to need her so much more. I do hope she will have help with them in the future and I hope she takes some time to process everything. She and your family have my sympathies in losing Terry and to everyone, my condolences.

Mary Ann, so sorry to hear about your nephew.  I lost my 60 yr. old son last month (suicide) and am in deep sorrow, so know what you will be going thru.  My condolences to you and Tom and Dot and all the family.

shirleyn.

Mary Ann, I am so sorry to hear that Terry has passed away. My sincere condolences to you and the family.

Shirleyn, my sincere condolences to you and yours also for the loss of your nephew.

Good Afternoon Everyone,  from the sunny, rocky coast of Maine. 

My condolences to you MaryAnn for Tim's passing away... 
Never easy,  even when it is expected.   

Those old kids car seats,  which I had one of them,  were
very, very dangerous  and  proven so when they started doing tests and determining that children had to be secured in a safe way....
      Especially those ones that slipped over the seat and had a wheel on them for the kid to play with....     Fortunately we stopped that
sillyness and started bolting things down and strapping them in,
in order to save their little lives.

Adding the airbags made life even more dangerous in the fronts seats for children and older people with fragile bodies.     
Oh so much we have to concern ourselves with these day.   I
sure am glad that I don't have little kids any longer to fuss with..

Other then my adorable Great Grand Daughter "Fe"....   And she is
always a concern when we are traveling ...   Children are such a
huge responsibility. Now and Then. 

Sandy
   

MaryAnn, I join with all of the rest of your friends in here, with my thoughts and prays for you and your family. At our age this is very young.

Jeanne P  and Shirleyn, my prays also for your loses.

Shirleyn; we have had suicide in our family so I can understand a tiny bit what you are going through and it has been twenty-six years since I lost my 18-year-old daughter to a brain tumor. It is devastating to lose one's child no matter how it comes about as a mother or a father. I am so very, very sorry.

Shirleyn, I am so sorry to hear about your son.  I can't imagine what you are going through.  My deepest sympathy to you.

We spent the afternoon with Jan, nothing sad, just a get-together.  But we all knew that Terry should be part of the conversation.  When with a group, he often joined in, it was more on a one-on-one situation that he either talked or did not.  When it was Terry, Tom and me for breakfast sometimes, he could be quite talkative.

I thank you all for your words of sympathy.  Terry's memorial service will be Sunday, May 7, at the church where Jan is Associate Pastor.  I had thought it was to be Sunday, April 30, but Geoff cannot come home that weekend.

I would not say that Terry was not living these past few months and years because he did try to keep up with things.  Sometimes he was tired and slept a lot, but he was able to drive until right after their CA trip and that is when he started to go downhill fast.  His mind was good much of the time.  He trained as a computer engineer and he was good at working with the computers.  I think what really started the end was the two plane rides.  Not to blame the airlines, the air just was not right for him.

Besides Tim (oldest brother), waiting for Terry were his parents and both sets of grandparents, all of whom he knew except my mother, who died many years before the boys were born or even thought of.

Mary Ann

shirleyn - So very sorry to hear about your son.  So shocking and so sad.  My thoughts are with you today, as well as with Mary Ann and her family. So much sadness.

Patricia - I'm also thinking of you, and the tragic loss of your daughter at such a young age.

Shirley .... 

I am so sorry to hear that you lost your dear son recently. 
I had noticed that you had been pretty quiet lately, 
but the loss of one's child certainly changes everything.

My condolences to you and yours....
Sandy

Mary Ann
Thoughts and condolences to you and Terry's family, on his passing.  58 is such a young age and although was expected it is never easy.

Thank you, Junee.  Terry was Norm's youngest son.  His oldest son passed away in December 2014.

Mary Ann

Hi everyone.  We have another overcast day like we had all day yesterday but we should see the sun later and get up to 91 degrees.  I did go to coffee yesterday but another friend offered to take my friend back to his assisted living facility so I was able to go directly up the street about three blocks to attend the Wisdom group at the Church.  I then stopped at Aldi's for a few items we needed.  Today I will go to Walmart to pick up Pat's online grocery order in a little while.  As far as I know now that will be it for today.  The yard people are here already this morning trimming, mowing and blowing the grass off of the hard surfaces.

Mary Ann, each loss of a family member or close friend leaves a little hole in our hearts.  Even though we feel relief that pain and suffering are over for the person we still must go through the grief process for the loss in our lives. 

JeanneP, how sad for your eldest daughter to lose a good friend so unexpectedly. The lady was much too young and so sad she didn't get to enjoy her retirement years. Glad you are taking care of your estate planning as it will make life much easier for your family when that time comes. 

Joan, that was really young to lose your father.  Fortunately I had mind until he was 80 years old. 

Shirley, words often fail us to communicate our sadness for others in time of terrible loss like you have just experienced.  You certainly have my condolences. 

Sandy, I am with you in being thankful that we have no little children to be concerned with.  Sometimes are grown children can be enough concern but they have to make their own decisions.

Good morning!

MaryAnn, I wanted to tell you that yesterday I saw a large freighter go up the causeway in the Grand Haven cam. I know you and others had mentioned that type of sighting before but I had never seen one so it was quite a surprise!

All I ever saw when I looked there was water.

Larry, I agree with you and I know Terry will remain forever in our hearts.  As are Tim and Norm.

Patricia - and others - the channel at Grand Haven goes to Spring Lake (the lake and city).  Before you get there, there is a stone/aggregate building and that often is where the freighters go.  Tom did tell me of another place they go but I don't remember the name and I don't recall having seen it.  When Norm had his boat, the slip was by the channel so we could see all of the traffic if we sat on the bow of the boat.  It was a fun few years.  I think I've mentioned before that I had quite a reputation because whenever a storm approached, others would ask, "Hey, Norm, what time is your sister going to be here?" because there often was a storm when I was there. 

Norm had a snap-on cover for the back of the boat that was open but where there was seating.  When the storm got near, Norm and the boys would snap on the cover that had ising-glass windows in it.  We could see out and in most cases the rain didn't get in unless it was very windy - which was often.  Then we'd go down below and the boat would rock and we might all try to take naps.

Joan, I know there is a lot of water there, but I see so much else.  I imagine my mind is going back to when I was a child and we'd go to Grand Haven for a ride and picnic.  I could picture walking on the pier, even on the catwalk. 

Mary Ann

It was nice to sit outside in shirtsleeves today and gossip with others on the lawn or in the parking lot. We discussed as MaryAnn and others have, all the ills of the world and how to solve them. I also learned that a new store is opening two blocks away, or at least they're having their grand opening, where there will be free food and other free things. A group of us are going for the free food and a look about.

Speaking of food, I went shopping last Wednesday and picked up some great stuff! If I could, I think I would shop just at the deli. I picked up two gallons of Chobani plain yogurt, one regular and one Greek. For toppings, I got a small jar of Dalmatia Fig spread from Croatia and for other times, a small jar of Puddletown Pub Chutney. These small jars are very expensive, seven to nine dollars per, but oh so delicious for a treat if you spread them out.

I also purchased some small pieces of different types of new to me cheeses. I don't care for the medium style but love the extra mild or extra sharp flavors. The ones I liked this time, were a Danish bleu cheese and one of an Alpage type nutty cheese from New Jersey. As long as you are there, you may as well treat yourself to something new and unexpected that might turn into a new favorite must have

I purchased Farrah her treats so she was pleasantly surprised after a month of going without. She has gotten so affectionate lately and loves her whack a mole/combo field hockey games.

I also paid attention to the discussion here and purchased B complex and Calcium with Magnesium and Zinc. I use the yogurt for my probiotics. I did get a new spice mixture just because I had never heard of it and now I'm not sure what to use it with. It's called Beau Monde Seasoning if someone is familiar with it?

Last month, during some high winds, my plant pot fell off the balcony rail and tumbled down. There was too much snow and wind until now to attempt to retrieve it. So today, I saw a new guy and asked if he was a maintenance man. He corrected me a bit sharply and said, custodian. Perhaps I unintentionally insulted him? Anyway, since the grounds are locked around the buildings, he has keys and said he would retrieve it for me.

Thank you, MaryAnn, for the information. I was quite surprised to see it as it was huge!

Patricia, I once had some Beau Monde seasoning but I'm sorry I don't remember what it was for; I think for meats.  When I would fix a roast, my favorite seasonings were celery salt and onion salt and the roasts tasted very good.  Tom does our cooking now and he uses garlic salt - when/if we have a roast. 

I wish we had a store such as you have with the different types of foods, some foreign.  We do have a produce market not far from us and we went there last weekend and I'll see about us going again soon.  I really have been satisfied with the produce at our supermarket, but the variety at the produce store is much, much greater.

Yes, those freighters are huge.  They also go through the Straits of Mackinac to and from the Duluth area.  One year when Jim and I were in the UP, we went on a retired freighter and we were able to see where the crews slept and ate, where the cargo was stored, the cabin with the steering wheel.  This was in Sault Ste Marie - or the Soo - and there were several buildings open where we could see what went on.  In my younger days, we could walk onto the locks but probably during WWII those became off limits.  Of course, if ships were approaching, people could not go on the locks.

Today, I didn't do much, although I seem to have been busy all day.  We were to have the window washer today and I called him off, thinking Terry's memorial service would be this weekend and we might be busy.  As it turns out, the service will be the following Sunday, May 7, and he'll probably pick next Friday; I'll let him come then just to get it over with.

Mary Ann

Thanks, MaryAnn. For basic shopping, I use Fred Meyers, which is a subsidiary of Krogers. It is sort of an upscale Walmart. We have a large ethnic population here and the food is incredible! I love shopping the mini groceries and eating in the ethnic restaurants.

I do not know if it is because of refugees from Vietnam, the main University campus located in Fairbanks or the Military; or even the closeness to Asia and Eastern Europe or simply the inability of franchisees to become established here but I love all the selections and learning and trying new things. Perhaps it stems from all those years working in an import/export store?

Produce here is so expensive! It is ironic that the berries that are grown everywhere here like weeds are sold in small cup size containers for over ten dollars in Safeway or Fred Meyers. Even those who shop Walmart complain about produce prices. The items that grow here naturally are forest type foods. There are many farms that offer either work for a selection of food or people paid a monthly subsidiary. I pay a monthly summer subsidiary to Calypso Farms but there are others locally.

https://www.investfairbanks.com/node/839

There is a day in March where we celebrate people of the world, I don't remember the proper name, but they set up food booths in a local convention center and serve their food and wear their national dress. The food is lovely and delicious! Of course, during the summer street fairs, there are tables and trailers galore all over the town of delicious foods with unpronounceable names!

We are a community of river dwellers here so I have never been on a larger ship other than the inland gulf ferries in my youth and the USS Saratoga when my second husband was in the navy. I would love to tour a freighter as you did. However, I am the type of person with my eye glued to the camera so I usually don't get a sense of what I saw until I am processing my photos!   

Patricia, you mentioning not being on large boats, a couple of times I've crossed Lake Michigan on a ferry that is quite large.  It holds buses, trucks, autos and train cars.  The name is the USS Badger.  I think they're still in operation.  In 2010 Jim and I were on a tour to Northern Ireland and Scotland.  We took a large boat/ship from Belfast to Scotland and I don't remember the name of the city.  While it was large, I do think that boat/ship was a ferry.  Fortunately, i haven't gotten seasick.

Since Terry died Wednesday night, the family hasn't written his obit yet.  I talked to Erin (daughter), asking to be included in the obit.  I hope they'll oblige me that bit.

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, the ferries on the inland waterway or gulf of Alaska are large similar to your USS Badger, and the one time tour of my ex's navy USS Saratoga CV-3 nuclear aircraft carrier were experiences. There are three-decker paddle boats on the rivers along with outboards or jet boats. However, I have never been on or seen a freighter physically.

I think they would include you as you are/were very important to all three nephews and I'm sure the family recognizes that. I took me awhile to write an obit for my daughter. It sounds a simple task but how do you categorize someone's life and usually with a deadline? I didn't have a funeral for her and people were really nasty about it. At least when they see I had no plans for a funeral, I won't be around to complain to.