Missing Christmas

Prince Mikey enlisted in the Navy this year, and he won't be home for Christmas. But he wasn't home last Christmas either. Just disappeared with the dog. Called his cell, left messages. His brother called him, my sister called him. No response. We knew where he was, with Kim at her cottage. Still, he could have called to send wishes. Text even?

This year, he's writing letters. Even says "Love you Mom" in closing! He reassures me that he's healthy and warm, and thanks me for sending things. Boot camp is good for him! He's been named Education Petty Officer and the guys call him "Teach." He says that's better than Old Man, since he's 10 years older than most of them.

My friends tell me this will be a life-changing experience for him, that he will emerge respectful and kind. I'm thinking, he won't change THAT much! I just hope he finds a purpose and direction for his life - and he can keep being a brat.

Tribute to my Uncle Joe

Kings Landing owner Joe Piechura will be missed
A genial host
By Phil Foley
Staff Writer

DEERFIELD TWP. -- Less than 12 hours after returning home from the hospital, Joseph A. Piechura, 88, passed away in view of the lake where he'd spent nearly the last four decades, with his family nearby.
Piechura and his wife, Peggy, and two other couples bought Kings Landing Kampground on Miller Lake in 1972 and over the next 37 years the Piechuras became a summertime fixture in Deerfield Townsip. As recently as June Piechura could be found in the store still selling penny candy to kids or making cotton candy.
"My parents were social people," said their son, Craig.
"My dad was big and loud, quick with a smile and a teasing joke," he added. "He loved his family and he loved life. When we were kids we'd invite friends into the home where we grew up in Warren, and they'd be surprised to see him singing a song -- and screwing up the words in the process. He was the kind of guy who'd give you the shirt off his back. But don't cross him. He was no pushover."
The son of Polish immigrants, Piechura moved to Detroit from Pennsylvania, with his mother, Cecilia, and his four sibilings following the death of his father, Michael.
At 18, the year before the U.S. entered World War II, Joe went to work the assembly line at Chrysler's Warren Truck Assembly. Like most of his generation, the war interrupted his life, and he served in the Army as an anti-aircraft gun mechanic. He rose to the rank of sergeant and fought his way to Germany by war's end.
After the war, Piechura returned to the assembly line and worked his way up to become a superintendent in management at the plant before retiring in 1979. Craig said his father was a hard working man, who at one point held a second job as a mechanic at a car dealership in addition to his day job at the Dodge plant.
Along the way Piechura and his wife raised five children Paul, of Farmington, Craig (Louise) Piechura of Milford, Rick (Kelly) Piechura of Clarkston and Kathy (Jay) Piechura-Couture of Deland, Fla., in their Warren home.
Camping enthusiasts, Joe and Peggy became partners in the campground at Miller Lake in 1972 with Ed and Jane Clark and Al and Betty Ross, before becoming sole owners of the park. Craig noted that owning a campground isn't for everyone, and eventually the Clarks and Rosses lost interest and sold out to his parents.
For years, said the younger Piechura, his parents spent their summers at Kings Landing Kampground in a small trailer, with his father coming up from Warren on the weekends until he retired. They eventually put in a double-wide overlooking the lake, and after Joe retired, like many of their contemporaries, the Piechuras spent their winters in Florida.
Craig said his father a became well-known, well-liked, figure in the community north of Lapeer due to the popularity of his lakefront campground, picnic grounds and store. He recalled the park held annual events such as Fourth of July fireworks displays and pig roasts, corn roasts and Halloween celebrations.
Some campers are third-generation regulars at the park. "Mom and dad watched people grow up, have kids of their own and bring them back to the campgrounds," said Craig. He noted that his father, through the campground, touched the lives of literally thousands of people in Lapeer and Southeast Michigan.
Two years ago, realizing that the workload, like their ages, was rising, the Piechuras brought in Columbiaville residents Fred and Helen Monreal as partners in the campground business. Craig said his mother, at 85, plans to continue on at the campground.
About six weeks ago, said Craig, complications from diabetes and a heart condition took his father from his beloved campground. Tuesday his family brought him back to Kings Landing from the hospital for home hospice care, and before dawn Wednesday he passed away.
Along with his children, Piechura is survived by six grandchildren: Katy, Lance and Jody Piechura; Cecilia Lazar; and Alex and Kendall Couture as well as two older sisters, Helen Vanacek of Attica, and Adele Bobiney of Rochester Hills.
JA funeral mass was planned for Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lapeer, followed by burial in Flint. His son noted that one of his father's friends placed a vial of beach sand from the campground in his father's casket.
"He was a tough old guy," said Craig, "but he was a real sweetheart."

Superbowl 1984

The 1984 Superbowl was held on January 22. I know because I gave birth just hours after the game ended. Mike and I watched the game at the home of our friends Kenny and Helaine. There were a lot of people there. Robyn already had Jake - he was born a couple weeks earlier; and Linda had yet to have Allison. (she was born Feb. 1) We had a very close group during our time in Maryland. Three of us were pregnant at the same time. We have a great picture from New Year's Eve at the Montgomery Village steak house, three big bellies in our fancy maternity finery.



I sat like a blob through the entire game. Then as soon as it was over I picked up all the trash, did all the dishes, and essentially "nested" at someone else's house! I drove home and put the intoxicated hubby to sleep on the recliner only to start labor as soon as I got into bed. I gave the drunken daddy a couple more hours of sleep, but grew excited to get the baby delivered!



We got to the DC hospital with plenty of time to spare, but not enough time for the doctor to make it. My guess is that he was at a Superbowl party himself. My Superbowl baby was born on January 23, an icy day in Washington DC. Now he's 25 and married. I sort of hoped that he would one day play in the Superbowl. But I'm happy with the three years in high school he played in the Silverdome!

2009

Here we go - it's already 11 days into 2009 and I'm still not done processing everything from 2008. I'm becoming more and more feeble-minded - or I've just lived through one hell of a year. Maybe both? Here's what I wrote on the first of last year, and I'm surprised I didn't write anything about the wedding or weddings that consumed the first nine months of 2008.

I've got a lot to do in the next ten years. I have to stay healthy because they don't deserve to lose another parent too early. I have to get my finances in order because I don't want to be poor. I'm nine credits into this master's degree, so it would be good to finish - and keep the 4.0 I've got going so far.
I'd like to move to a warmer climate and hope the boys won't be too far away so that we can always be together at holidays. I hope to go to Paris or Rome or both. I'd like to visit Las Vegas and Honolulu too. I would really like grandchildren, and I'd like to still have my parents around. They are 76 and 78 now, and going strong! I'd like my brother to get his act together - that would certainly increase the life expectancy of mom and dad.

I haven't done much to be healthier; I still need to get my finances in order; I have 12 credits done and a 3.9 gpa and am enrolled again this winter semester. Thinking more and more about the warmer climate as I look at 10 inches of snow, another week of below zero temps after having spent the last week of December in sunny Florida.

Still plan to visit Paris, Rome and Honolulu, went to Vegas -- BORING. Still want grandchildren, will wait patiently. Don't have both parents around. (see earlier post) Brother still needs to get act together.

Started 2008 with Dad and college roommate Mary. Ended the year with both of them gone. Luckily both were at the wedding and could share in my very happy time. I wish Mary had a better spot in my girlfriend picture, she was ready to end the night though, and I made her stay for the picture. She's in the very back row, last one on the right.

For 2009

I am so thankful that Prince Dan lets me share in his life, and I will do what I can to help him start anew with Laura now that they are back in Michigan. I just wish that Prince Mike would understand that's all I need and want from him. He probably does understand, because he withholds it like a weapon. But I will do what I can to help him be a grown-up, because he resists that as much as he resists my love. I will also encourage my mother's independence. She's smart and capable and she needs to boost her confidence. The crazy thing is - she's totally dependent on me one minute, then tells me what to do the next!! I need to remember these things with my own children.

I'll look for baby steps to improve my health, bought vitamins yesterday! And pay down the credit cards - $10,000 less debt by this time next year, since I'm not paying anyone's tuition or car payments or weddings. Only three weddings on the horizon for this year, compared to last year's five; and two graduations - Lindsay and JJ.

Most of all, I will let my girlfriends know how much they meant to me through the year, good times and bad. All the chicks in that picture, including my two sisters, helped me and my family in some way this past year, and I love them dearly for it.

Staying Home

This is the first weekend since Dad's gone that I haven't spent at Mom's. She was supposed to come to visit us but instead will only come for a couple of hours Saturday to see niece Lindsay in her homecoming glam. We love taking those girlie pictures after suffering through all the boys and their black tuxes. And our Lindsay is a stunner so it will be fun.


So Friday I went with my Sandys to a little expo with makeup and massages and jewelry and purses. I had to buy this one. It just called to me!

Then on to Fintini's for a pop. My second Sandy went nuts over the band's cover of Jethro Tull's Locomotive Breath. Now, I remember the chorus from the days of my youth.... "you know it won't slow down..." But I'll be damned if I knew it was about trains. Isn't it?

Two months ago my plans were to be in Texas today for a four day weekend and sister Karen's 50th birthday. Couldn't do it with all the time I was off for the funeral and mom's affairs. Let's hope her family treated her like a queen!