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Devastating News

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Dear Zach, we lost a huge part of our family this month. Granddad passed away at 7:15 PM on March 21 and our hearts are broken. The stents they put in his heart last August had been grown over and there was no safe way to fix the problem. He made the incredibly brave decision to forgo any more life-saving measures so that he could be at home with Nana. Uncle Gregg flew out from Portugal and we all kept vigil for the last few days we had with him. He was the most honorable father and grandfather I know, and he will be missed by all of us terribly. He brought our family to this country and gave us an incredible life. I will never forget all of the love and support he gave us all throughout his 90 years of life and the 70 years he was married to your Nana. We have now moved her to an assisted living facility near Benicia so that I can visit her more often. She is doing OK, but is very lonely without granddad, understandably so. They were so very much in love right up until the end. I so w...
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All the New Year things….

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​Happy New Year Zach! Hope you were able to celebrate with friends. We walked up the street to our local watering hole and celebrated with our neighbors. Couple of other special events took place such as our birthday lunch with the girls, you remember Lisa, Michael’s mom, aunt Christine, and aunt Shari. Jeff and I celebrated Robert Burns night with some friends in Napa who also have Scottish heritage with the Fraser clan. Jeff finally got to wear his kilt, lol. I attended Courtney‘s baby shower for her soon to be born son Henry. And finally, Nana and granddad went to a little 1920s party at their independent living facility. 🥰 Cody was able to take his daughter to a play place with one of his friends and his son Roman who is close in age to Emunah. I threw in some pictures so you could see what we’ve all been up to. Yet another year has gone by without you in our lives and we all miss you so very much, darling. As always, I hope that you are happy and surrounded by loving friends who ...
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Another Birthday and Benicia Shenanigans

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​ Hi Zach, well I turned the big 65 last month, making me eligible for Medicare . All that sounds so old but I am lucky to still feel very young. Jeff arranged a birthday party for me up the street at our local beer garden. Lots of friends showed up and the band sing happy birthday to me, lol. And it was on Halloween or we and all of our neighbors dressed up in 1920s costumes . Cody‘s ex-girlfriend sent me some pumpkin patch pictures of my beautiful granddaughter Emunah . She is enrolled in ballet just like her Nana, so I will be heading up to see her in her first recital soon.  This Thanksgiving was our turn to be up in Seattle with Jeff’s parents, as well as meeting our newest nephew, Diego for the first time. He is such a delightful baby and so happy! Nana and granddad are actually doing very well. Right now I am calling him every morning to get his pulse, blood pressure and weight so that I can enter that in for his cardiology...
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Mortality

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  Dear Zach, I have to say these past two months, have been a whirlwind of immense stress for our family. Granddad had been suffering from what we thought was a pinched nerve, but after three ER visits, it was discovered he was in heart failure. The cardiologist said that surgery was not an option, given his age and that he would not survive it. We were told he could do nothing and perhaps survive for the next few weeks, or they would try putting stents in the arteries around his heart and that would buy him a few years. Needless to say he chose the latter, but  we were all terrified given there  was a chance he would not survive the procedure. While making his choice he claimed I don’t want to leave your mum. Now that your uncle Gregg lives in Portugal, it was on me to sort everything for Nana and granddad. Fortunately, he did survive the procedure, but is now  on quite a few medications  to maintain the status quo. He now ha...
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Celebrations galore!

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  Dear Zach, some amazing milestones were reached and celebrated these last two months. First, your aunt Christine and I went on a European cruise to mark 50 years of best friendship. We were able to visit Spain , Gibraltar , France and Italy over  a nearly two-week period in June. Needless to say we had a blast! Next up was Nana and Granddad’s 70th wedding anniversary , yes, that number is 70, wow! And, last but not least was Granddad’s 90th birthday . We celebrated both of those incredible events at a nearby  winery where a local Beatles cover band was playing. Uncle Gregg flew over from Portugal , and  Aunt Christine and Aunt Shari joined us along with a few other  friends. The band dedicated the song ‘ Twist and Shout ’ to them while everyone danced around them. It was very touching and we are so very lucky to have these two amazing people still in our lives. I wish you could have been there and I know they did as well. They are really getting on in year...
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Weddings

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  Hi Zach, spring is the season for getting married! In April,   Jeff’s cousin Donny and his fiancé LaDena got married at the Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, Washington near the Canadian border. Our precious nephew, Maxon, was a ring bearer and did a fantastic job. As you can see from the photos, the setting was beautiful. Then it was me and your Aunt Christine heading to Lake Tahoe in May for Courtney’s wedding. Both  she and her new husband work for the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department. Another stunning location above the lake. Wondering if any of your friends have or will be taking the plunge this year. On a separate note, Nana and Granddad are doing so well and Cody is still living and working in Portland. Not sure where you call home these days, but I hope you are safe and happy and surrounded by people who truly care about you. I miss you and think of you every day sweetheart and will never stop. All my love, Mom xox
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Waiting for Spring

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Hi Zach, we are waiting for spring to come here in Benicia as most days have been  rainy and chilly. Your mom has always loved beach weather and can’t wait for summer lol. Hope that wherever you are, you are enjoying the outdoors. Aside from celebrating Jeff’s 54th birthday, February was fairly quiet around here. I have been working a lot of shifts at the winery which is still the best job ever and Jeff and I have been preparing for the first vacation. we have had alone together in two years. We flew down to Curaçao, which is part of the Netherland Antilles and is close to Aruba. We had a very relaxing and amazing time in the warm weather and on the beautiful beaches. Came home to that drizzly chill and are back to waiting for sunshine. I often wonder if you travel for fun and if so, what places you have discovered and if you have any favorites. We have a couple more trips coming up this year, one to visit your uncle Gregg and auntie Kim now that they live in Portugal. Al...
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