dad's last post

This is Jack Elliott again, after Dad's good day this week his health started to decline and we got a call from the hospital today asking about resuscitation. The Doc said we might have time to get there. We hurried there and I dropped Karolyn off while I parked. She ran in and his numbers were flat she told him that she loved him his pulse flickered back as if to say Goodbye. His heart had given out and that was all he had left. He passed away around 9 am this morning. He fought hard and long and was a wonderful Father and Husband. We thank him for being everything to us and will always remember him for the wonderful things he did. He wanted his last internet post to say "So Long Folks, That's All!"

Sunset vs Sunrise

Sunset!
Do you ever think about Sunsets..
Just why are they so fascinating for so many people, this person included.

As I sat on the beach this afternoon, I thought wow, after the sun goes down, will we see it again.

Is it the end.  The end of whatever we are experiencing.

But almost every morning while lying in bed, I get awakened by the light of sunrise touching my eyes.

It looks the same at sunrise as sunset.  Beautiful.  Except for the most important part, it only gets brighter during the day.

Here in Fla it gets brighter while the warmth increases.

There is a balance.  Just pay attention.

Watch as we lose the sun progressively at sunset while we gain the sun progressively at sunrise.

Maybe thats why so many Senior Jokes Stories talk about the sunset light.....as we slowly lose it.

A Favorite....AND THEN IT IS WINTER

And then it is Winter.

You know . . . time has a way of moving quickly

and catching you unaware of the passing years.

It seems    just yesterday that I was young,

just married and embarking on my new life with my mate.

And yet in a way, it seems like  eons ago,

and I wonder where all the years went.

I know that I lived them all...

And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams...

But, here it is...the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise...

How did I get here so fast?

Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well...

seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people

were years away from me and that winter was so far off

that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like...

 

But, here it is...

my friends are retired and getting gray...

they move slower and I see an older person now.

Some are in better and some worse shape than me...

but, I see the great change...

Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...

but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks

that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

 

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day!

And taking a nap is not a treat anymore ...it's mandatory!

Cause if I don't on my own free will ... I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so 

now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared

for all the aches and pains and   

the loss of strength and ability

to go and do things that I wish   

I had done but never did!!

But, at least I know, that though the   

winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last...this I know, that   

when it's over... it’s over....

Yes , I have regrets. There are things I   

wish I hadn't done, things I should have done, but indeed, there are many   

things I'm happy to have done.

It's all in a lifetime...

So, if   

you're not in your winter yet...

let me remind you, that it will   

be here faster than you think.

So, whatever you would like to   

accomplish in your life please do it quickly!

Don't put things off too long!!

Life goes by quickly.

 

So, do what you can today,

as you can never be sure whether this is   

your winter or not!

You have   

no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life . . . so,

live for today and say all the   

things that you want your loved ones to remember  . . .

and hope that they appreciate   

and love you for all the things

that you have done for them in   

all the years past!!

"Life  is a gift to you.

The way you live your life is your   

gift to those who come after.

Make it a fantastic one".

    

DO SOMETHING FUN!

BE HAPPY!

BE THANKFUL!

Aug 25, 2011 Golf with the boys...

Its a wonderful morning here in chicago.....getting hot and its already humid.

No sun just what looks like rain clouds.

And plenty of rain. Its been raining for a couple hours making it hot and wet outside.

Anyway, I played golf with the 6 & 8 yr grand boys yesterday and I beat them....whoopee.

It was a very short course a par 3 with 18 short holes...just perfect for the boys,,,especially

when their mom Lori carried their golf bags.

Being young boys, they hit low line drives close to the grass.

Me, being an old man, used my pitching iron and hit sky high (really high) balls

The boys were amazed....not knowing that hitting the ball high but far from the green is not good.

But it looks good.

It got warm around 85 and that made it uncomfortable. WE had to play yesterday as they start

school tues.

I think eating at Steak & Shake was the highlight for them. Especially the chocolate

shakes. You know kids....but even gramps loved the cold cold frosty type shake on this hot day.

No we didn't keep score and we didn't play every hole...well I didn't..

Tonight I'll be able to tell the inlaws about how I played great golf........more telling about

all the boys great shots that almost went near the cup.....or went straight of ran thru the sand

traps.

Sept 25, 2011 Sunday with the Boys

Hi Everyone,
Awoke late but it felt so good. The sun is not shining but there was a wealth of warmth at home and Panera.
Now we're getting ready for the boys soccer game in Palatine. Then maybe a small meal before heading home.
Hope you all have a good day.

And as Sec of State Jessie White told the grandboys a few weeks back. Do something for someone else.

=========================================

Owen played goalie and made a desparate dive and with his fingers extended just tipped the ball away from a goal
=========================================

Tie soccer game. Our boys came from behind with two late goals. I think they had fun

All the parents screaming....go to the net....get back....get the ball etc.

They all looked like Americans but sure did sound foreign

The accents were strong...but the Japanese and Spanish and Polish and Russian and Greek.....

and jersey names SUGURU, JACUB, HARRISH, ANTHONY, SORA, DEAGON AND OWEN, NATHAN

One thing for sure....the smiles were Universal. Proud of their little 7 & 8 yr olds.

 =======================

When it was over.....our manly grandkids went to their female friends homes for the afternoon play.

Like the movie NO TIME FOR SGTS.

I guess its natural for the grandkids.

NO TIME FOR THE GRANDPARENTS

today.....thats good.

Its Sunday and that means

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL.....BEARS vs PACKERS

Bladder Exam

Well, the bladder exam...weds...it went ......and i'm glad
I was so shook up mentally....i just can't understand....i know its nothing but I asked for sedatives as i was hyper.

they were nice and we all did our job....a nice looking nurse applied numbness meds and she would force an anesthesiac into my thing....that was bad enough.......I had white knuckles from my hands squeezing together.

So even though she was pretty and had a nice figure....I did not think about her at all, even though she was holding and doing something with me.

I know it wasn't any big deal but just made me nervous.

I sang my pain/nervous song ....da da oh oh.....daaaaa daaaa oh my for the dr.  Just grunts and groans.

then when it was almost over relaxed enough to sing OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING.

it only took 30 seconds for the exam...5 minutes to prepare.

Then the dr discussed it with us.
no surgery or seeds put it the prostate...as my heart is too weak....so radiation for 5 days in a roll for 6 weeks.

and the worst part....Testosterone feeds the cancer.....so pills to stop me from producing testosterone.....so I will have Hot Flashes....just like women.

Maybe I'll have breasts.....I wonder if I will enjoy them like I enjoy womens breasts...ummmm
what do you think.

also, my skin will get nice and soft and i'll have an excuse to cry while watching movies.
I'll also have the ability to talk about nothing for hours while shopping.

But its ok,,,,,I can handle it.

Have a great weekend and maybe I'll see you next year.....

Christmas 2011 Celebration

Hi Everyone,
we had a wonderful Christmas.  We couldn't go to Mcds as it was closed.
And ate on the lanai.   Eggs, bacon, pancakes and hash browns.

Wow a big Breakfast.

As we were on the lanai,,,,the lanai singers with the Collins (Paul, Mike, Diane)
sang Oh What a Beautiful Morning.  And we had an audience outside listening.

All that matters is that we enjoyed it and of course laughed.

For dinner we had our Neighbor Marge over and made here eat
 some raw Prime Rib and then went next door to the collins' for dessert.

 where we had K's ho ho ice cream roll cake.

it was good ate 3 pieces.

then came home and skyped the kids at Jills house......great to see our kids having fun together.

 Jessie did most of the talking, mark showed us how thick his hair was...Jill smiled and made us laugh.
Jimmie and the boys loved being on the computer and opening gifts....Lori talked a lot

Sara, Molly, Colin and thomas all ran around passing out gifts and even Jack and Deirdre said hello.
The dogs all 3 made their appearances....sometimes the front and back side of their personalities.
Especially the Doberman, Dewey.  Little Max was picked up for the camera and Princess Britany sort of
mosied by

And the best thing.  When we said goodbye....we didn't have to get dressed in winter clothes or clean
up....all we did was hit the disconnect button....

thats it and the bears lost in a good fight.  A few mistakes hurt them bad otherwise
they would have beat the hated Cheeseheads.

jim