|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Things are going rather well at The Supply Corporation, or at least so Marilyn thinks. She realized that we had not had a real vacation away from home for a long while. Realizing this, she succumbs to the sales pitch by one Harry Caray the “Voice of the Chicago Cubs," and signs us up for a seven-day cruise on the Caribbean Ocean with the Chicago Cubs. It was the first cruise for either of us and it was delightful!!
Some the following events may be a little out of context, but that's really not too important. Marilyn’s sister, Edythe and her husband Ken were now retired and living at Long Boat Key in Sarasota, Florida. Marilyn called Edythe and asked if it were possible for her to find a spot that Marilyn and I could rent for a couple of weeks at Long Boat Key. Edythe found a place for us on “The Key” at a condo known as Casa Del Mar. We rented in the same condo complex for the next three years and each time we'd stay for one month. Now were getting a little “antsy” and thought we'd like to stay longer. We enjoyed our one-month sojourns at Casa Del Mar.
Venice
Through a series of events that are too complicated to relate here, Marilyn and I somehow or another came to visit Venice, Florida. We contacted a real estate agent and asked about housing in Venice. He showed us a few places that somehow or another did not “tickle our fancy.“ It was then that he suggested that maybe, just maybe, we might be interested in a mobile home, in a mobile home park. This was ridiculous!! We would never in a million years consider living in a trailer in a trailer park. How absurd!! He talked us into looking at a “bargain” that he had at 924 Freeport W. in The Bay Indies Mobile Home Park. We reluctantly agreed to go look at this “trailer.” This was on St. Patrick's day. We looked at the “trailer,” walked over to the Club House (Indies Hall), where some of the “inmates” were preparing for a St. Patrick's Day Party. The activity, the attitude of the people working there, and just the whole all-around atmosphere — well — we made an offer and within a day or two we were owners of a manufactured home at 924 Freeport West , in The Bay Indies Manufactured Home Park.
I'm sure you've noticed the change in our attitude toward this place that was to become our winter home. Circumstances now allowed us to come to Venice in early October and stay until early May. We would usually go back to Lake Geneva for a week to ten days over the Christmas holidays. While living at Bay Indies, we partook in the many activities that were offered. We played bridge, Marilyn joined many of the Ladies' groups, I played golf, some play acting etc. etc., and so forth.
Remember May 2nd
Marilyn told me that my three daughters and their husbands wanted to take us out to celebrate my 69th birthday. She admonished me to let them pay for everything. I was told that I never let them pick up “The Check” and this is one time I should sit back and be a grateful guest. I agreed and I was told that they had made reservations at Pop Eyes Restaurant, which is located on the waterfront of Lake Geneva. We were to be there at 6:00 P.M. Sharp. I agreed. When we got to Pop Eyes, Nancy and Rex were waiting outside and told us that our table wasn't ready, through some sort of a mix--up it would be another 15 to 30 minutes. They (Nancy and Rex), were going to go down to the pier and look at the boats, while Marilyn and I would sit on the bench outside the restaurant and wait for them to come back.
After awhile Marilyn suggested that we walk down to the pier and look at the boats, too. I told Marilyn that it was a long walk down there and that she'd have to walk back. She said she didn't mind, so off we went. As we approached the boat, the “Belle of “the lake” I saw Linda and Dave and Carol and Tom, and of course, Nancy and Rex, but they were expected to be there.
Now came the shocker!! Aboard this beautiful big boat was all of our Park Ridge Gang, all of our Wisconsin Gang, all of our relatives. Marilyn had done it to me again! Every one had Kazoos, and they were all playing “Remember May 2nd.” (It goes to the tune of “Remember Pearl Harbor.”) Marilyn thought I might expect something of this sort on my 70th birthday, so once again she advanced the party by one year. I'm waiting patiently to see what she has scheduled, for my 89th birthday. Seems the pattern is to surprise me every twenty years. Come 2009, I'll be on the alert!
We had a two-and-a-half-hour cruise around Lake Geneva — a fantastic cocktail hour followed by a sit-down dinner, on the boat . I was thrilled, and believe me I was completely surprised. Marilyn, I love you!!!
Sister Sonja
My sister Sonja, although seventeen years my senior, was always my best friend. I'll harken back a little. When she and her husband Frank Carlborg had their first two children — Frankie and Betty — I was drafted as their regular “Baby Sitter.” They would pick me up at our apartment at Granville Avenue and Paulina Street on a Saturday evening and I would “sit” until Sunday morning. Then they would take me home. Well, they didn't take me all the way home. They'd drop me off at Howard and Clark Street. I would then have about a two-mile walk home. They would give me the extra three cents to ride the street car if I so chose. I would usually choose to walk. Anyhow, for this tour of duty I would receive 50 cents. That's not per hour, but for the whole tour of duty.
Frank and Sonja owned a two-apartment building, a duplex, in Evanston, Illinois. The story goes that more often than not when they would arrive home from their Saturday night party, Frankie and Betty would be sitting in the window of the tenant’s apartment upstairs waiting for their Mommy and Daddy to come home. In the mean time the “Baby Sitter” would be sound asleep downstairs. Maybe 50 cents an hour was just right (or maybe too much). As I said Sonja and I were always good friends and we had many many heart-to-heart talks. She was widowed early in life and did a fantastic job raising and educating her four children. When she started to fail a little health wise, she moved to a retirement home in Evanston where she lived out her life like the Queen that she was. My sister lived to be 90 years old and was called to her heavenly reward on February 9, 1994. I love this following story about my sister and I know that her children will, too.
My sister is up in heaven and I know she has to get a chuckle out of this anecdote. Sonja was truly the matriarch of all of the cousins, making all of the plans and above all always being on time and chiding anyone who might be a little bit late for any of the festivities. On the day of her funeral, there had been a huge snow storm in Evanston. Visitation for my sister had been at a funeral parlor and the memorial service to be at a certain hour at her church. The hour came, and the hour went, and no sister for the service. The hearse carrying her body had been held up by the terrific snow storm. Yes, my sister Sonja was late for — for of all things — her own funeral.
Looking for New Homes
I think that the one activity that Marilyn and I enjoyed most in Florida, was going out to various and sundry new housing developments to look and admire the new homes. Deep down, we did want a new home with all of the trimmings, a lanai, a pool, and all of that good stuff. We could never find just the right house. Our friends, Louise and Chuck Horvath, moved from Bay Indies to a place nearby call Pinebrook South. We liked the neighborhood and we loved their house. There was a house under construction just down the street and we liked this house but we wanted some modifications. The builder said no, but he was starting another development just a block or two South, on “the lake” and he thought we'd like this place. We looked at it. Marilyn liked it, but as is my wont, I dragged my feet. We went home that May with out making any decision.
Now Nancy and Marilyn are having lunch in Lake Geneva in June, and while I was not there I understand the dialog went something like this. Marilyn said “You know, Dad always promises to buy me a new house, but he never buys me anything new. He just keeps hoarding his money.” She went on to tell Nancy that the only way she could get me to do anything was to do it herself. She was unhappy that we didn't buy that house in Pinebrook South!! With that, she took Nancy by the hand and they went to the local travel agent, booking passage for eight passengers (Marilyn and I, our three daughters and their husbands) for a seven-day cruise on the Caribbean Ocean. She put down a hundred-dollar deposit and told the agent “My husband will be down later to pay the balance.” We went on that cruise to celebrate Marilyn's 65th birthday and we had one heck of a good time. It was really a good family party. It was Marilyn's party and she set down the rules. She said “I’d like you all to be here on time for dinner, that's all. The rest of the time you can go where you want to do what you want , but be here for dinner.” What a neat deal. On each cruise, apparently, the captain invites certain people to have dinner at the captain’s table one night. We were that group — we were honored.
I was so proud of the fact that Marilyn made the arrangements for this trip, that I have included several photographs of this great event. One picture shows the whole gang at the Captain’s table; a string ensemble played for us all through dinner. One picture shows Marilyn and the Captain, and another shows Charles Roland August Johnson, AKA Pleto, and the Captain being very sociable. This dinner was held the second night of the cruise, and kind of “served notice” to the rest of the crew that we must be special people — ‘cause we did receive very special attention from the crew from then on. I might add that the dinner was superb and that the wine and the cocktails flowed freely. This cruise was a very special event, because it was the last time that the original five and their spouses would all be together for such a gala time. Thank you, Marilyn!!
A New House
We went back to Bay Indies that October, again went over and looked at the lot, made a deal with the contractor and in June of 1995 moved into our new house, complete with a lanai, a pool, and above all the house was located on a lake. This was perfect. This is what we really wanted.
We went home to Lake Geneva in September of 1995 and Marilyn wasn't feeling too well. She thought perhaps she had injured a rib! We went to the local clinic, and that's when we got the news that caused our whole world to collapse. Marilyn was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. The doctors — and we saw many of them — all predicted she had less than a year to live. |
|
