Yesterday was Memorial Day. On Sunday, Susan and I went out to Cresthaven and put flowers on Mom and Dad's graves. However, I found out that they have to be removed by next weekend. Only vase flowers can be used during the mowing season.

We cleaned the markers off. Dad's had some bird poo on it--on the "R" in Breidenbach. I told Susan it figured--Dad had been pooped on by birds many times!

One time we were at a Cincinnati Reds game and out of all those people sitting there in the stadium...what are the odds...we're sitting there and this "splat" hits Dad's leg--bird poop! We all had a good laugh at that. Seems like I remember it happening another time, too.

The Indy 500 was this weekend, too. Dad used to always listen to it on the radio and then watch it later when they aired it. Mom used to like to hear them say, "Gentlemen, start your engines"! There was always sort of an excitement in the air. It was something Dad and I could talk about.

Susan attempted to paint Mom's front porch wicker furniture. Mom had painted them once before. The paint we used didn't cover too well. We put out Dad's American flag. This was sort of a new thing with Dad. I don't remember a flag on the front porch growing up.

It is still hard for me believe that they are gone. Surely, I must have accepted it by now, but I still have this yearning to see them and talk to them. I dreamed about Dad one night over the weekend and it was very real and it woke me up. Last night Susan was showing her dad our plants along the fence, it so reminded me of Mom--all the times I followed her up that very sidewalk to look at her plants and flowers. I could almost see her there walking ahead of me. Sometimes I try to picture them there with me. I still miss them.

Love,
Susie

Yesterday a library patron contacted me about a library matter, and then she asked me if Paul Breidenbach was my father. When I told her yes, she replied:

Yes, I met him several times and I also knew your mother. My father was David Burton, I imagine you knew him as well from attending St. Vincent’s. My husband used to work with your father at the foundry.

I think of your father every Sunday…..we usually watch the Fox News program & there is a gentleman by the name of Mort Kondracke on the panel who I think looks a lot like your dad. I was shocked and saddened by the untimely death of both your parents and I’m sure you and your siblings still miss them terribly. They were wonderful people.

I knew her from the unemployment office……I was laid off from the foundry! My husband still works there. . .he is an electrical engineer. I believe your dad retired shortly after he started in 1984. What a wonderful legacy you have in their home. It’s just down the street from the church, isn’t it? Such a small world!

I just wanted to share that. I love hearing stuff about them. Last week, a neighbor, was telling me how Dad used to bring down a baggy of candy for their son on Halloween. And, if she was having a yard sale, they would take down some items and say give the money to their son. I had no idea.

Love you Mom and Dad!

Susie

Some of Mom's azaleas didn't survive the hot, dry summer last year. However, this one near the house did survive. It is beautiful. I just know she would have loved to see it. Maybe she still does see it from wherever she is.

Love,
Susie

Memorial Bench

We had wanted to do some kind of memorial for Dad at Otis Park Golf Course. He loved it there. It IS a beautiful and peaceful place. I can see why he loved it so much. So we thought a stone or some kind of marker. But I had seen a memorial bench out there and I thought that was a good idea.

Originally, it was just going to have Dad's name on it. But then, he and Mom would walk out there in the evenings and she would bird watch. I was out there one night and I saw a friend, Georgann Mullis and her husband, Terry. They started talking about how they used to see Mom and Dad out there walking all the time. So, I thought Mom's name should be on there, too. Very neat that Dad shared "his" world with Mom. Besides, I feel like they are forever linked now. If Dad had died at some other time than Mom, perhaps we would have done something just for him. But the way it happened--they will always be together. (I used to call them the PU--Parental Unit--they truly are one "unit" now.) Anyway, I asked Bob Drehobl if he knew who I should contact regarding getting a limestone bench. He took it from there (Thanks Uncle Bob!). It had to be limestone--Mom's (and Bob's) father was a stone draftsman in the limestone industry. Bob, as well.

One time, Dad got a hole-in-one on #3, so we knew we wanted it to be placed in that area. I remember when he got the hole-in-one, but I'm not sure what year it was. Mike Mitchell of the Bedford Parks Department was very accommodating--they picked up the bench and placed it for us. If you are on # 3 tee looking at the green, the bench is to the left of the green by the fence and cart path. You can drive up to the shelter and see it also. This is an area where Georgann said she had seen Mom bird watching many times. Perfect.

My dear friend, Lori Wagner, wrote, "Can’t you just see your Mom and Dad smiling and delighted by this bench? It is beautiful!!! If spirits exist, can’t you just see them walking and taking a rest on that bench?" I love these images. Thank you, Lori.

Dad's golfing buddy, Gene Anderson, emailed: "Gene Humes and I sat on the beautiful bench, memorial to your mother and father, Betty and Paul yesterday. We sat there for a few minutes just remembering." Thank you, Gene.

I'm so glad we did the bench. I will visit it often.

I miss you and love you, Mom and Dad.

Susie