The Blizzard of 1982

     Today is the 39th anniversary of the blizzard of '82. The blizzard no one was prepared for. The blizzard that crippled the city for days and stranded many people. The blizzard that people still talk about today. I was born in 1982, but not until March. So obviously I have no memories of this particular event, but my mom and dad sure did. They even saved a newspaper clipping from the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

St. Louis Post Dispatch

Jan 31, 1982

Click here to read the story on the St. Louis Post Dispatch Website

     It started as a rainstorm on the day of Jan 30, 1982. As the evening went on it turned into snow. With only 4 inches of snow forecast by the meteorologists, the main worry at the time was flooding. But they were sure in for a surprise.

Photo Courtesy of
St. Louis Post Dispatch/Ted Dargan
Feb 1, 1982

     By morning, the 4 inches of snow predicted had turned into over a foot of snow in many areas in St. Louis and up to 2 feet in some parts of Illinois. The average total for St. Louis city, County, and Jefferson County was around 18 inches. This would be the third-heaviest snowfall in history for St. Louis. It came so fast and hard that it crippled the city. People were stranded on the highways and in their homes. Some abandoned their cars which made it hard for plows to clear the roads. And the snow just fell so fast and hard they couldn't keep up. And then there was just too much period that there was nowhere to go with it all.
     The only comparison I have to this event in my own personal experience is the blizzard that came down in 2018. Only this time, everyone was warned ahead of time. Although it didn't seem to help much. The blizzard arrived hours earlier than expected. So everyone decided to all leave work or school at the same time. That compounded the issue. Highways got backed up and snowplows couldn't get through. It wouldn't have helped much anyway with how fast the snow fell. Roads began to close which created bottlenecks on other roads and highways. My mom ended up getting trapped on Highway 44 for about 15 hours because she could get through.
     So I have no memories of the blizzard of '82 like I said, but my mom told me a little bit about it. One story she recalls was when she and dad decided to go take a drive in their 4-wheel drive truck to look around at the snow. Well, they got stuck on Hwy 44 (again with Hwy 44) because of an accident. The Hwy got shut down. They sat for a while until they saw people driving through the middle of the highway to get to the other side so they could go back to town. Mom had to pee so bad (what with being 7 months pregnant) so dad said, "Hold on". Dad hit the gas and took the center median. No seatbelts then so mom is holding on to dear life. She was afraid all the bouncing was going to cause her to go into labor haha! But they got turned around and back home. She said, next time they will just stay home.
     There were many news stories about this event, which I have shared below. Stories included good samaritans helping others in this time of need. One being my Uncle Marty. My Aunt Melinda told me that my Uncle Marty was one of the good samaritans that were using their 4-wheel drive to help people get to places like the hospitals. People had to rely on their neighbors and strangers to get to where they needed to go. Like I said, the city was literally crippled.

Do you have any memories of the Blizzard of '82 that affected St. Louis? Share them below!

 

Sources:

St. Louis Post Dispatch - Jan 31, 1982
Personal Clipping
Website: https://www.stltoday.com/news/archives/the-st-louis-blizzard-of-1982-we-didnt-see-it-coming/article_7341ee61-c332-5c1f-be19-886c9a921b5a.html

Fox 2
https://fox2now.com/news/fox-files/fox-files-blizzard-of-82/

KSDK 5
https://www.ksdk.com/article/entertainment/vintage-ksdk-blizzard-of-1982/

Stories from Family Members

Year of Firsts - Mom Came Over

      This is going to be a year of firsts. The first year after someone passes, to me, is the hardest. Because you are experiencing their loss over and over in the form of doing or experiencing certain events without that person. And it just hits right out of the blue. You don't even have to think about it. It just creeps up on you and you are like, "Oh my gosh, they aren't here when they should be." Today was one such day.
     Ever since the pandemic started, mom and dad never left the house. For good reason. Dad''s health was fragile. So the last time they came over was at Christmas of 2019. Since then, they have had not left the house except for doctor appointments. At first, mom would do some grocery shopping, but then I took that role over so mom could stay home with dad. 
     As time wore on, his health got worse and the pandemic continued to rage on. Dad had originally planned on trying to come over for Thanksgiving this past year but ended up in the hospital. Then he had hoped he would make it for Christmas. But his health went fast. And as you may have seen in his birthday video I uploaded to youtube, he didn't have much strength. I know it really upset him that he could not come out, but we made Christmas wonderful.
     Today, we decided to have mom come over for a little get together. She hadn't had a chance to see my Christmas decorations yet (Yes they are still up, don't judge me) nor had she seen her grand-dog in over a year. So she came out. She loved the decorations, enjoyed the delicious food (and dessert), and had good conversations... but something was missing... and this would be one of the firsts we would experience.
     This is the first visit mom was making to the house... without dad. She drove dad's truck over, but he wouldn't be getting out of it. It was like a punch in the gut, stealing the air out of my lungs. And I think the one that really noticed it the most, was my dog, Teddy. After mom walked up the driveway, he greeted her and then turned to look behind her. He walked down the driveway confused. He was looking for dad. He saw the truck and he knew that when that truck was in the driveway, dad was there. But this time, he was not.
     Mom has gone home now, and I'm sitting here just in tears as the reminder washes over me... Dad will not be coming over again. The realization is suffocating. But it is something I have to work through. To experience. To let the grief pass through me, so I can let it go. Like I said, this is going to be a year of firsts, so I know I am going to experience this many more times as the year rolls on. And probably for many years to come. But I know each year, it will hurt a little less. The sting of his absence will hurt a little less with each passing year. Although it will always be there, it will be just a little more bearable. Like I told my daughter, it hurts so much because we loved so much.
     There will be more blog posts documenting the firsts I will be experiencing this year, mostly because it's therapeutic. But I do want to document these moments as it is a part of my life. So bear with me as I grief. It's a process...

Thanksgiving 2019

Christmas 2019

Miss you like crazy dad... yes I know you are still  "in the room". 

No Cuss Words at Jefferson Barracks

      Just so you know, for future reference, Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri will not allow Cuss Words on their headstones. What? I know right? Shocking!! How dare they right? Haha! Honestly, I stumbled across this by accident while choosing an inscription for my father's headstone. He passed away on the 3rd of January and I've been in charge of planning everything. So when I picked out the inscription to go on his headstone, I gave no thought to any restrictions. I was corrected very quickly.
     My dad was a big jokester. He loved to make people laugh. When he gave speeches for his Union, he always included a joke. Sometimes the jokes were a little more adult-oriented (meaning language or subject matter), but it was always told with the hopes of getting a laugh; not to offend. So when choosing an inscription to put on his headstone, we were looking to add something funny, so carry on his sense of humor.
     Now, if you read the Eulogy I wrote for my father, you learned that he also loved Movie Quotes. We spent a lot of time going back and forth with movie quotes, especially ones that made him laugh. One such movie that he introduced me to recently was "The More the Merrier" (1943) starring Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea, and Charles Coburn. Dad loved that movie and would watch it over and over again. One of the quotes that was used often in the movie was a quote by General Farragut, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" It always made dad laugh and at random times he would say that in conversation. Dad was also bad about remembering the names of movies, so he usually called them by a funny quote from the movie itself. So honestly, this just felt like the best option to put on his headstone. (You see where this is going now).
     Yeah, I didn't even think about it being an issue that it had the word "Damn" in it, especially since it's a quote from a Civil War General that is widely known. But yeah, as soon as I said that word I was shut down immediately. After some thinking, I asked if they would allow the word "Darn" in its place and was told no to that as well. There goes that plan.
     Honestly, this isn't to come down on Jefferson Barracks or their policies. The whole thing, while somewhat frustrating, just made me laugh. And we all need a laugh right now. That's what dad would want. Although, my husband spoke up and said, "Sure they don't allow cuss words. Well, they better make sure they spell dad's name correct!" My dad's last name is Fuchs. Use your imagination. I honestly cracked up at the possibility. I dealt with that all my life, as that is my maiden name. But wouldn't that be a hoot? Can't use the word Damn, but they misspell dad's name to be a cuss word. Yeah, we gotta laugh. 
     So yeah, a word to the wise, check the requirements for the National Cemeteries before deciding on an inscription to use on the headstone. Save yourself some trouble. I'm glad I had a backup ready. So for Dad's headstone, it will read:

Beloved Husband,
Dad, Papa, Uncle
and Brother.
We Miss You! 

      It fits perfectly. I hope you are laughing from Heaven dad. Love you and miss you!

Temporary Marker for Dad
1/13/2021

Dad's Eulogy

My dad needs no introduction that's for sure. Those who knew him, knew him well. And everyone has a story to tell when it comes to my dad. I loved listening to the brothers go back and forth with their stories. Whether it was the same story told many times or a new one, it always brought a laugh. The brothers (Mike, Kevin, Marty, Chris and my dad) took trips down to Arkansas quite often. And they would start laughing the moment they got into the car and wouldn't stop until they got home. And we would ask, what do you guys talk about?? They would never tell. So like the saying goes, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas", What happens in Arkansas, stays in Arkansas.

These are just some memories that I wanted to share with you. It's hard to pick just a few to represent the years we have spent with my dad. I know you all have many of your own stories to tell about him, and sometime, I would love to hear each and every one of them. He will be missed dearly by so many. Especially by my mom. He was her rock, her safe place, and the love of her life. He would always refer to her as his bride in public and brag on her wonderful qualities.

Many of you have seen my dad and I together quite a bit these last few years. And during that time, dad and I were really close. But it wasn't always like that. Both of us were pretty headstrong and had our own ways of doing things. There's something I used to tell people about my dad when it came to doing things: "There is the right way, the wrong way, and the Fuchs way. And the Fuchs way was always right." And you couldn't tell dad any different. But that's what made him really great at what he did. He was a stickler for the rules and the proper way things had to be done. He always made sure jobs were done perfectly and didn't expect any less from anyone else. And for a teenager growing up and learing her own way, that was tough. I know it was hard on dad when I moved away after I got married, but I knew it was something I had to do. To find my own way. Deep down, I wanted my dad to know that I could make it in this world on my own. I didn't want him to worry about me. And all I ever wanted was for him to be proud of me. And deep down, I know he is. In the end, we had a very close relationship and a mutual respect for each other. And to have my dad's respect means a lot. As he always liked to say, I was his favorite Daughter. (To be fair, I'm the only one so there's not much competition. Same with mom, she was his favorite wife.)

And my husband also had my dad's respect. Which meant a great deal to him. As all my girl cousins know, it's not easy to bring a guy home to meet one of the Fuchs brothers. My dad was great at looking intimidating, sitting there with his arms crossed, giving "that look". The one where you couldn't tell if he liked you or not. I knew Mark was special because he wasn't intimidated at all. I don't know if Mark was being courageous or naiive, but it worked. The real test came when he decided to properly ask my father for permission to start "courting" me. He pulled my dad aside, and said, "Mr. Fuchs I'd like to ask you something important. I wanted to ask your permission to start courting your daughter." My dad said, "What?". Mark said, "I wanted to know if I could date your daughter." My dad said, "Oh! Yeah sure! I thought you wanted to borrow a tool or something."

Seriously though, family meant the world to him (next to his tools). There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for his family. I've never seen a family so close like I do with my dad and his siblings. It doesn't mean our families are perfect or that we don't have problems, it just means that no matter what, they would always be there for each other. And it didn't stop with family. Even complete strangers, he would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. If there was someone in need, he was first to jump in to make sure they were taken care of. Especially around Christmas time. He couldn't stand the thought of a family not having gifts for their children for Christmas. And I believe that came from his mother. Dad told me one time, no matter what was going on, or how tight things were, his mom made sure there were Christmas gifts under that tree for every single one of her kids. He said he didn't remember one Christmas where there were not gifts. So he would volunteer at the church every year to make sure kids would have gifts for Christmas.

My daughter definitely had a special bond with him. She is on the autism spectrum, so she has had some difficulties in life connecting with people. Dad tried so hard to understand and be patient with her while learning all he could about her. She wanted to share these thoughts today about her Papa: "My Papa was the best I could ever ask for. The times I had with him are irreplaceable and I couldn't ask for anything better. When I was younger before and after he was diagnosed, he would take me everwhere with him. I'd give anything to go with him one last time. I'll never forget how happy he was whenever I made jokes with him. The smile on his face was always priceless. I love my Papa so much and he'll always be in my heart. I hope he is at peace now in heaven."

While I could go on and on with tons of memories, I will leave you with one more favorite memory of mine. Dad loved movies and movie trivia. We would spend hours going back and forth with quotes, questions, and jokes all about movies. He could pick out a mistake in the background and jokingly ruin a really intense scene, like in the movie "Aurthur". At the end of the movie during the big climax, he pointed out, "Hey did you see that fly on that cheese?" Really dad?? He also loved to throw our random quotes to people. When he first met my husband, he threw out a quote as we were leaving the house. He told us, "If you need me, I'll be at the gym or the gun club." (A quote from Mr. Mom) Mark turned to him and said, "You go to the gun club? That's so cool!". I just shook my head and told Mark, "You've got a lot to learn about my dad." And the last quote I will leave you with comes from a movie my dad introduced me to recently. Every time I quoted from it, he would just laugh so hard. And I think it is so fitting for right now. As most of you know, when dad decided to do something, he just did it. There was no waiting. Well, that's how it was at the end. Dad decided he was ready to go, even though we were not ready for it. So I can just picture him saying this quote from the movie "The More The Merrier". "Damn the Torpedos, Full Speed ahead!"

Letter to my dad

 Dad,

     It's been a week since you passed away. A week since I heard you talk to me. A week since I saw you smile and held your hand. It still doesn't feel real. Every time I go over to your house, I still expect to see you sitting on your spot on the couch or to hear you call me from the next room. But it will be no more. 
     The reality of this is so hard to bear. There are days I'm just ok and others where I feel like I'm suffocating from the grief I feel. I've never felt anything like this. And the one person I want to tell this to is not here. Dad, I don't know how I can do this. I don't know how I can go from one day to the next and not be able to call you. There are still many questions I know I will need answers to. There are still many stories I know you will get such a kick out of. And heck I'm even writing a letter I know you will never read.
     I know this is a part of life. Death. Such an oxymoron. It is something I have been dreading ever since I was a kid. The thought of losing both you and mom. The thought would always fill me with such fear and dread that I couldn't even bear it. Then you were diagnosed with Mesothelioma almost four years ago; an incurable cancer. My fears were becoming reality. The truth that one day, I would not have you here anymore. The fear was overwhelming. I honestly thought you were going to be gone in a year.
     God has done a lot of work in both of us these past four years. He has reassured me that he was in control of the situation and he had his hands on you. And even though you never said anything, I think God also showed you that his hands were on you and that you could trust him. You let me pray with you and share scriptures with you. Something you wouldn't let me do before.
     One of the scriptures God gave me during this time that I shared with you was: "Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Psalm 55:22. I wrote this scripture on a piece of paper to give you while you were in the hospital almost four years ago. I wanted you to draw from the strength of God. And I believe you were over this time. In the end, you had such peace on your face. And that peace only comes from the Lord. So, this scripture will be read at your funeral along with some others that really seem fitting.
     While I'm rejoicing that you are no longer suffering and that you are in the Lord's hands now, I'm still grieving at the thought you are not here right now. I know I'm being selfish wanting you here. Just for stupid little things right now. I want to ask you what suit you want to wear for your funeral. What pins are the most important and where do they go? What songs were your favorite? What do you want to be displayed? And I can't ask you...
     Tomorrow is the visitation, and I'm not looking forward to it. I don't want to say goodbye again. Again, I'm being selfish. I know. I pray all I am doing for your service makes you proud and honors you. All I have ever wanted was for you to be proud of me, dad. I wanted you to know that I can do this. That I can get through life without you having to take care of me. Now that this time is here, I don't want it to be. I want you here. Even to just argue with, I want you here.
     But I know I will be ok. You have raised me to be strong. And I think you had peace in the end knowing that I was going to be ok. I am in God's hands. He will guide me and protect me. That doesn't mean I won't miss you like hell. Cause I will. But this is just another stage of life. Like leveling up in a game. There will be days where my grief will suffocate me, but that's just because I love you and miss you so much. But I will cry it out, then put on my big girl pants, and continue on.
     I promise you I will look after mom. I've always tried to. She misses you so much I know. I don't know how she is still breathing, but she is. She talks to you every day. I know she will do what she needs to do to survive as well. She is stronger than she thinks. You all may have fought like cats and dogs, but she loved you fiercely. You were her rock and safe haven.
     As time goes on, we will learn to live without you. We have to. Although, I can still hear you saying, "I'm in the room!" so as to remember that you are not forgotten or left out. Well, dad, you will always be a part of us. You will always be on our minds. You will always be "in the room" with us. We may do things differently than you would, or make different decisions, but that doesn't mean we have forgotten you. It just means that we are doing the best we can. 
     I know it's going to be a while before we see each other again. You will be seeing mom before you see me, but hopefully, that won't be for a long while too. So while you wait for us, enjoy the time with Jesus and your mom and dad. Especially your mom. I know how you have missed her. Tell her all about us. And I hope you tell her you are proud of the person I have become. Give my Papa and a hug and a kiss and tell him I miss him too.
     You don't have to worry anymore. You are free. You are safe. No more pain and suffering. And I know before long you will be trying to reorganize heaven to run more efficiently. Haha! I love you, daddy. I miss you more than I can describe. I wish I didn't have to feel this pain, but I know it's because I love you so much. And in reality, this isn't Goodbye. It's just, See You Later... Alligator.

Obituary of Dennis G. Fuchs

Dennis Fuchs, 78, of Eureka, Missouri, went home to be with the Lord on Jan 3, 2021, after a four year battle with Mesothelioma. He went peacefully in his sleep at home with his family.

 

Dennis George Fuchs (Denny to his friends) was born on Christmas day in 1942 at St. Mary's hospital in Richmond Heights, St. Louis County, Missouri. He was the first child of nine to be born to George Henry Fuchs and Ann Louise Strawhun. His father was shipped out to serve in WWII just days before Dennis was born and it was two years before he met his father for the first time. They lived in Kirkwood, Missouri for many years along with many other family members. He was baptized at St. Peter's Church on March 28, 1943. Dennis even attended the same school as his mother, Pitman School. After 2nd grade, he attended Sacred Heart Catholic school until 8th grade. Then he attended Northwest High School until he graduated in 1961. He was active in basketball, football, and track. For years, Dennis has been organizing and attending many Reunions for Sacred Heart Catholic School and Northwest High School (NHS) even serving as Chairman for his 45th and 50th class reunions at NHS, He was often a resource to other graduating classes helping them plan their reunions and has maintained many friendships throughout the years from the graduating classes.
After Kirkwood, the family lived in a few places including Times Beach and High Ridge. Their home in High Ridge was situated on a farm off Antire Road and all the nine kids helped their dad maintain the land. Dennis would recall that while they didn't always have a lot, cause the family was so large, there was always plenty of togetherness. Family meant the world to him.
In the 1960s, Dennis answered the call to serve his country by enlisting in the Army National Guard of Festus, Missouri, and a few years after that was sent to fight in the war in Vietnam as part of the 1st Infantry Division, 1st Engineers Battalion, Company B. His service in Vietnam left a lasting impact, and it wasn't until recently that he spoke of some of his experiences while over there. The honors Dennis received include the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device. He was honorably discharged on March 30, 1970, as a Sergeant.
He met his wife, Margaret Ruth Wheeler (Maggie) back in the 1960s (an NHS Alum herself) when they both lived in High Ridge, Missouri. Dennis was close with the family for years. They began dating around the 1970s and were married at Sacred Heart Church in Eureka, Missouri on June 14, 1980. Soon after, they had their one and only child, Jennifer Ann Fuchs, born in 1982.
In 1995, Dennis and his family worked hard to start the VFW Post 5468 in Eureka, and he was elected their first Post Commander that same year. Their post has won all-state honors several times because of their contributions to the community. In 2014, he received the Bronze Award as a Legacy Lifetime Member, presented to him by the National Commander.
Dennis had such a giving spirit. He was proud of his 50-year commitment to his church as well as many community organizations. He actively volunteered for St. Vincent De Paul, and served on the Distress Committee for his Union, helping families who are in desperate need, especially around the holidays to make Christmas brighter for families, even though they were strangers he never met. His work also extended to organizations such as the American Legion, Circle of Concern, Knights of Columbus, Eureka Senior Center, and the Agape House in Pacific. He also spent every Lent at the Sacred Heart Church helping with their annual Fish Fry, breading fish that would serve over 2,000 dinners each week. The work he has done for the town of Eureka and the community awarded him the honor of being chosen as Citizen of the Year for 2006.
Dennis worked in Construction all his life; a trade he learned from his father. His specialty was concrete and he became known as “The Concrete Man”. He was a 53-year member of his Union, the Laborers Local 110 in St. Louis. He worked on many projects around the St. Louis area and surrounding counties. He was always so proud of the work he did that he wouldn't hesitate to point out the jobs they worked on. He retired early on from an injury that occurred while working, but stayed very active in his Union, becoming president of the Retirees and working hard to take care of their members. Unfortunately, it was his work in construction (along with factory and automotive work) that contributed to his exposure to Asbestos.
Dennis was diagnosed with Pleural Mesothelioma in 2017, a terminal cancer of the lining of the lungs; the same cancer that took his mother. He fought a great battle, always doing his best to keep a positive attitude. During his treatments, he would talk to the other patients, joke with his brother and nurses, and just did his best to make the environment more comfortable for everyone. That was his gift. The great thing was he never experienced pain the whole time during treatment. Sadly, this past year was really rough on him, as it was with everyone. As much as he loved people, the isolation from this pandemic put a lot of strain on him. He was in and out of hospitals, suffering from the complications from the Chemo he was receiving, and by the end of the year, there was nothing more than could be done. When asked what he wanted for Christmas and his birthday this past year, all he said was he wanted to be with his family. So he got to spend his last birthday and Christmas with his family.
Dennis is survived by his wife of 40 years, Maggie, his daughter Jennifer Rickards (Mark) and granddaughter, Sancia; along with all his siblings: Mike Fuchs, Patty Hunt, Sandy Huber (John), Kevin Fuchs (Diane), Karen Stark (Rick), Marty Fuchs (Melinda), Shelley Ploetze (Bruce), and Chris Fuchs (Kim). Not to mention all of the nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was a loving Husband, Father, Papa, Brother, Uncle, and Friend to many. He was preceded in death by both of his parents.
Services: Funeral from the SCHRADER Funeral Home - Eureka, 108 N. Central Avenue, Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at 10:45 a.m. to Most Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Eureka for 11:00 a.m. Mass. Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Most Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Eureka. Visitation Monday 4-8 p.m. Friends may sign the family’s on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.

To attend the Mass virtually, click the link below on Tuesday Morning around 11am.

https://iframe.dacast.com/b/141909/c/512221

Please take some time to leave comments, stories, memories, etc. about my dad. They will be preserved for the family. Thank you all!

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View Photos of Dennis Fuchs

The day I was never ready for...

      Two days later and I still can not accept the truth of what has happened. I knew this day was coming. Heck, I've been preparing myself for the last four years. But no matter how much you prepare yourself, you are never really ready to lose someone you love. 
     On June 3, 2021, my dad fell asleep peacefully and went home to be with the Lord. Which is a gentle way of saying... my dad died. He is gone. Forever. Something I can not and am now willing to accept yet, nor will I probably ever really want to accept. I know, it's one of the stages of grief: Denial. But that is the only way I can get through the next week right now.
     My dad was diagnosed with Mesothelioma back in 2017, so we knew he was terminal. Even so, we were blessed to get another four years with him. Which is more than what we originally thought we would have. Of course, it will never be considered enough time. We are selfish and always want more time.
     Yesterday, I was "ok". I could get through the day without wanting to break down. Today, not so much. I just keep thinking in my head, I can't talk to my Dad anymore. When I go over to my parents' house, he won't be sitting there in his spot on the couch. I won't hear him laugh at the movie quotes I throw at him randomly. And I won't feel his hugs anymore. 
     Don't get me wrong, I am so glad he is not suffering anymore and that he is at peace. He is up in heaven with his dad and mom. I know he is just clinging to his mom right now as he hasn't seen her since 1980. I'm still going to miss him until I see him again.
     God, I don't want this to be true, but it is. I don't know how to move forward yet, nor do I want to. This is the hardest thing I have ever had to go through. But lyrics from one of my favorite songs by FFH comes to mind: "Lord I know, the only way is through this. Lord I know, I need you to help me do this." So that is my prayer right now. I will be posting his obit soon, so be on the lookout. Hug your parents, everyone, cause one day, you won't be able to.

My first Christmas 1982

Christmas 2017

Christmas 2020

Our last family photo

Christmas 2020