We were so warmly welcomed in Janet’s home and happyt to spend a few days with she and my dad and celebrate his 85th birthday with he, Janet, Aunt Marilyn and lots of cronies.
We particiated in their Friday night get together (karaoke and all) a wonderful homecooked meal at home, and dinner at Outback, guests of Marilyn. I have had the priviledge of seeing Dad 3x in the last year. Maybe with the new baby coming there will be another visit this summer.
Then we headed back to Orlando and the flight home. Five weeks, two Pfizer conventions, monuments, museums, friends, family, a BIG birthday, Disney, new sights and tastes…..priceless!
The photos, testimonies, and mementos of those who served really came alive in the museum presentation and on the field of green that over looks the Omaha Beach. While 3 of our parents served in this war, they were fortunate to serve in other locals: Barbara in Washington D.C., George in Africa and Brazil, and Joe went to China. War is different now in so many ways…Steve was in Vietnam…and that was different too. Unlike most other countries, service in our military is honored; it is not just a job but a commitment. But the risks are great. We were taken with the fact that the crosses we saw represented young people who gave up their futures so that others could have one. And so many loved ones left behind to grow old without them.
As things are coming together and a lifetime of wishes and dreams are about to come to fruition, we were notified that BOTH our Dads are facing a health crisis. George got blood work back that indicated the kidneys are getting tired and on Sunday we are being interviewed by Hospice. And Joe, didn’t let us know that he was in the Hospital since Monday. They have drained his chest cavity and loosened stuff in his lungs, but they have found a mass in his lungs and will find out more next week. Are we facing the beginning of the end