"au revoir" Erich and Carolyn

This weekend was the first in many months that we have been home in Cincinnati. I wasn't looking forward to being back for the first time on a weekend until we got the news that our dear friends, Erich and Carolyn, were coming to visit us. Erich and Carolyn are our close friends from Boston and have come to visit us several times from the East Coast since we have lived here. (they actually really like Cincinnati which is pretty cool coming from Bostonians).

They won't be living in New England for long because they are headed to PARIS for three years for Erich's job. What an incredible journey they are about to embark on and I am so thrilled we have them as friends to come along and learn all about France through their experience. (and we hope to visit there too-they did get a two bedroom place for a reason..)

I remember telling Mom in March or so about our friends moving to Paris and how I wanted to go visit them. I distinctly remember her saying, "oh I would love to go to Paris, wouldn't that be cool if I came too?" I laughed thinking oh yeah, you can sleep on the couch and we'll take over their apartment....that will really work. Now looking back, I wish more then anything you could come along on a trip to Europe. That was your plan post retirement....travel. Not abroad though...Dad hated to fly. You can get him within the US if you really begged but International would have been a chore. Ha- could you see Dad in Paris?? No way!

We had a wonderful weekend. They're the type of people you can be yourself around and it's honestly so much fun and relaxing having them around. You don't have to entertain them (which I enjoy doing anyway), they just enjoy being with us. And we have so much in common especially the love for nice restaurants and a good meal. We ended up at the oldest Jeff Ruby (a classic in Cincinnati) steakhouse on Saturday. Reservations for 6 (our friend Todd and his girlfriend Sarah joined us who is also very good friends with Erich and Carolyn, he actually went to College with Erich in Boston--now you know the connection). The food and Wine was fabulous and the evening ended by walking to another restaurant near our house called "Red". It's a little trendy spot for after dinner drinks and one of the yummiest desserts, Banana Fosters.

Carolyn and I walked and got coffee this morning and had lunch at the little outdoor cafe at the end of the street. You don't have to say everything to her on how you're feeling. She knows. She knows I am sad about you both and she is a wonderful friend and she says such nice comforting words without even realizing it. We talked about Mom and some photos she was in and she commented later how pretty you were. I love hearing that because you were....you were really SO pretty.

Everyday I am reminded how lucky I was to have parents like you. And everyday I am reminded of why I have become the person I am today....it's because of you. It's because of you how strongly I value friendships, like the friendship we have with Erich and Carolyn.

"Au Revoir" my friends. See you soon.

Love,

Melissa

Words that mean so much

I have never in my life received so many meaningful cards. Even prior to this I have always received a lot of them, mainly from my Mother who felt every Holiday, even St. Patrick's Day...deserves a card. I wish I would have saved all of the cards you and Dad have given me.........

I received a card today from a very special friend. This one was said beautifully.

What if the brilliant twinkling stars that bring the dark night sky to life, are windows looking out from heaven? And at that very moment when we're wishing on those stars, hoping the loved ones we have lost are happy, safe and free...maybe they are looking at those same stars from the other side, making the same wish for us...sending us all their love. I'm wishing you the comfort of loving memories and the feeling that you'll always be connected to two so close to your heart. -Sharon Valleau

I pray this is true and know I will one day have faith that it is........

Missing you more then ever,

Your daughter

Home of Country Music

In April 2007, exactly one year before your death, the three of us headed to Nashville, Tennessee.

Just us three. I was running the Country Music Half Marathon and you headed down to Cincinnati and agreed to then drive down to Nashville with me for the weekend. We checked into our 2 room Suite and ventured out into the City. Man you loved this town. The different musicans in each bar, the action, the amount of bars, shops and the restaurants. Here's you both at the first stop:

The night before the race Dad stayed back at the hotel and Mom and I went to a trendy little spot for dinner over near Vanderbilt's campus. Mom ordered a pomegranate Martini, but I couldn't drink because of the race, so I just took a sip of her fabulous cocktail...

When you saw me around mile 12, you were amazed at my energy and the fact that I was smiling. Dad was cracking up watching people faint, walk and cry in pain and then here comes my friend Jessie and I running past waving and posing for a quick picture.

Post race we headed back to the hotel for lunch and a nap....then it was time to hit the town. My friend Jessie had her family in as well so we all met out for dinner and bar hopped to various Country Music Bars. We hit them all from Cadillac Ranch to Coyote Ugly.

My beautiful Mother and I having some fun. Yes, I wore my medal out that night!

Mom got a CD signed and Dad found a Dog on a horse which he found quite comical.

What a special weekend for just the three of us to share. I don't think I could ever go back there to run that race. I want to remember that experience only with the two of you there to support me. It meant a lot that you came there with me. I would have never imagined you would be leaving me...exactly one year later.

~The catch of the day~

This evening I am trying to not focus on what we didn't have at the Lake this weekend, but to appreciate the things we did have.

For one, we have the actual Lake house; your lake house. We have your thousands of pictures and various knick knacks, we have the crossroad puzzle Dad was last working on and Mom's book right where she left it marked. We have a beautiful view that is priceless and a peacefulness of quiet surroundings that you cannot get anywhere else in Michigan. I have my Grandfather and Uncle and Aunt who retired and live in Harrison. I had Family and Friends up there to reminisce of times spent with you and to tell me what amazing entertainers you were, which I know so well. We have Dad's jeep or should I say, his "pride and joy". We have the four wheelers for the boys to toy around in and we have that pontoon boat, which currently does not run because only Dad knew how to start it, to take us back to you both trolling around Half Moon Lake. And we had gorgeous weather...

As I talk about all of these things, unfortunately none of them take the place of you actually being there. See, I was trying to focus on the positive, but then it comes down to the truth. This is all just "stuff". Stuff that actually upsets me because you are no longer there. Sure this is a great place that I truly want to keep and would love to share it with the rest of my Family and Friends, but most of them will never understand the true joy you both felt when up there. The second you pulled in your every day stress went away. Or maybe they will understand, with time. They may learn to love it just like you did. Like I do.

I'm sorry, but I cannot possibly sugar coat this weekend to make it something it wasn't. Look- it sucks not having you there and that is the bottom line. But I can tell you we did enjoy ourselves. You would have laughed at some of our moments. Mom Close and I tried to sun ourselves only to find Gracie chewing an Ant killer trap which led to Ted giving her peroxide to induce vomiting. Aydan ran threw the backdoor screen and ripped it out. Bruin (Mom and Dad Close's dog who weighs 140 lbs) jumped in the Lake off the dock which prompted Ted to jump in fully clothed (see proof below). Aydan and I made a homemade Flag Cheesecake which everyone enjoyed (they weren't just being nice either!). Aunt Missy thought she would be a nice Aunt and let Aydan watch Scary Movie 4 only to find swearing and naked women running around. This ended the evening in tears when my 5 year old nephew realized I would be turning on something rated G. So I made a mistake-ooppss. Matt and Ted worked on the boat motor only to come to one conclusion, only Dad knew how to work the 1978 year old motor and we will be forced to purchase a new one! Mom Close made wonderful Chicken Wings and breakfast and helped clean up the house. Dad Close brought lots of beer for everyone to enjoy over a classic game of corn hole. And last but certainly not least, I had the joy of watching my nephew, who misses his Gamma and Papa so much, be a 5 year old. Not a 5 year old that has just suffered a tremendous loss but a child that has his full life ahead of him. And catching his first fish is just the beginning of his many achievements in life. This I am sure of.

Enjoy the pictures Mom and Dad.

I have so much to tell you...

We are exhausted from the weekend and I won't get the pictures on until tomorrow after work, but I can't wait to share our weekend. The biggest event was Aydan catching his first fish off Dad's dock! I said to Aydan, "Papa would be so proud". He replied with a grin, "they're watching me". Gosh, if we would all just stop and listen close to the five year olds in the world...we sure would learn a lot.

Your laughter, kindness and hospitality was missed this weekend. It's not the same...it never will be. I have to admit, it's very hard for me to be there. I sit there and almost wait for you to run out of the house with food on a platter to grill or I picture Mom from the Lake through the kitchen window washing dishes or sweeping the sand off the patio. But it's your voices that I miss the most. You'd be amazed how quiet it is, even when Uncle Stan comes by to visit. It's just so quiet.

Talk to you tomorrow with details of the weekend at the Lake.


With love,
Melissa

Red, White and Blue

Fireworks, sparklers, barbecue, campfires, friends and family are all of the essentials to hold a Harrison, MI 4th of July. All growing up it was not a question where we would spend this Holiday, it was always at the Lake.

The town center held fireworks so the whole up-north crew would load up their cars and SUV's with blankets, chairs and coolers and we would gather at our corner spot to have the perfect view. I can still hear Dad's dramatic ooooohhhh's and ahhhhhh's as the fireworks came down.

Like I mentioned before, with moving around a bit getting up-north hasn't been the easiest task so the last 4th of July spent up there was close to 5 or more years ago. Gosh I regret that. I had friends meet me up there the last time (Melissa, Nick and Ali) and we all went on Pontoon rides around the lake, some of us even jumped in for a swim as Dad anchored the boat. I remember goofing around the kitchen with Mom as she would do her bunny dance, a classic that only my Mother could do. Dad was always working around the yard or handling the Grill. The house was overflowing with Snacks and we all had somewhere to sleep whether it was on an air mattress, a couch or in one of the bedrooms. I think that's my favorite place about a lake house, there's nothing formal about it and no matter where you sleep, you find yourself incredibly comfortable because of the fresh air. The stars at night are out of this world and there is no smog to cover them. Just clear skies.

What makes me most sad about heading up north with Ted, Ted's Family, Matt and Aydan (Chris has to work) is the fact that my parents would have been SO excited. Mom and Dad LOVED guests. They would never turn anyone away. The more the merrier was their motto. Even Aunt Kim is coming up again and we'll all gather at the house with Grandpa and others for a BBQ. They just loved it and not having them there to share in these fun moments don't seem as special. Another factor is Aydan....he misses Gamma and Papa so much and I think he has this slight glimpse of hope that they are going to be up-north when we get there. (he made a comment to Christina) He is going to be so disappointed when he walks through those doors. But we sure will talk about them.

I still have to pinch myself and say, yes Melissa- they really are gone. I asked Ted on the way home from dinner tonight, "do you believe that they are actually gone?" "no" he replied. I don't think many of us can believe they are gone.

Happy 4th of July Mom and Dad on your absolute favorite Holiday to spend up at the Lake.

I can't believe you won't be there, but please be there in spirit.

Love you always,
Melissa

The baker

So our house was slightly non-traditional you could say, as Dad did all of the cooking however Mom stuck to baking, for a good reason... she excelled at it. My Mother was featured in The News Herald in December 0f 2004. The paper actually came to the house and photographed my Mother as she slathered dark chocolate on her buttery homemade cookies and also her displaying a tray of Christmas cookies in front of her beautifully decorated Christmas tree. Some quotes from the article:

Every year at about this time, Patricia Olszowy of Allen Park starts her Holiday baking.

"I have been making cookies around Christmas for at least 25 years." she said. "Last year my two daughters and I made around 20 different cookies, and took a big platter to a Detroit Firehouse." "The Firefighters were thrilled. I felt that was just a little thing we could do to thank them for risking their lives for us everyday."

"My husband loves to cook, so I usually let him do that" she said. "It's just fine with me".

Needless to say, the article generated some buzz which lead me to creating Mom flyer's to sell her famous cookie platters and cheesecakes. They become a hit throughout the neighborhood and she could barely keep up.

So now I am left with scrapbooks of recipes and memories of licking the batter filled bowls as a child up until last Holiday Season. Every time Mom came down to Cincinnati, she would grace us with her Chocolate Cheesecake, with homemade crust. My oven was even broken one time and she managed to bake it in a toaster oven! Ted and I were amazed and enjoyed it just as much.

So guess with this all means. I need to learn how to bake. Not just any baking, baking like my Mother. Everything from scratch. Okay, let's not go that far but when the Holidays are near, I promise to try your famous cheesecake and crust recipe. I start to cry even imagining that chocolaty taste and that Saltine crust that you did so well. I hardly doubt I can recreate such a thing. But I will try, that is what you would have wanted as you continued to try and teach me but I wouldn't pay attention. You even bought us the cook book, "How to Cook everything" because you & Dad were in awe that I didn't even know how to slice a tomato. Sorry...I was raised by pros and never felt the need to compete.

Thank you for the endless memories of Holiday baking and your amazing desserts throughout my adulthood that you've mastered. You were a true, Betty Crocker and so was Dad.

Your cooking and everything else is always on my mind.

Your hungry daughter