Merry Christmas Everyone!

I ran across my copy of Sue's Letter to Mom while making my Christmas cookies and thought it would be a nice Christmas treat to transcribe it here today:

November 7, 1999

Dear Cathy and family:

Thank God we had Louie. He was the best. I always admired his ability to think he was right when he was right and a few other times too. He really believed in himself. It made him seem invincible, but of course, none of us are. I remember years when he worked two or three jobs to try to keep all those feet shoed and all those tummies fed. I remember him coming home from work, fixing a cup of coffee with ice cream in it before beginning to repair some musical instrument. I remember the paper route Cathy and I had for three months. Louie and Rich and some of the kids would take over on Sundays. Whatever posessed us? I just remember feeling like a zombie after a couple of weeks of getting up at 2:30 am. I think we were trying to get out of babysitting for extra money. We used Veronica's new dark blue V.W.

I remember the day Louie dove into the doughboy pool and nearly drowned. If it hadn't been for Buddy, well, I hate to think what would have happened to the family. Later, Louie said all he could think about as he lay at he bottom of the pool was, "How will Cathy make the house payment." It took some time for to recuperate, but he came back good as new. By the way, I never knew Buddy's name was Joseph. Is that true?

One time, on my brthday (30th?), Louie and all the family came to the window and serenaded me. What a beautiful surprise that was. He loved to sine and make music. Sometimes he would come over "jujst to talk," especially when something was going on in the family. He was so very proud of all of you and loved you all so much. It hurt hime deeply when something went wrong. "Where did I fail?" he would say. Like a lot of good men, his family came first and he wanted everyone to be happy. I thought he was asking for the impossible, but just listened. My own children admired Louie so much. He was such a great role model.

If I had one selfish wish it would be that I would have had a dad like Louie. Because I grew up without a caring father, I often stood in awe of all the things he did for his kids. To be so loved must have been the best feeling in the whole world. I know you all appreciate that, especially because you have children of your own.

Thank you for allowing me to be included in his final good-bye. He was a beautiful man and is now a beautiful spirit.

Love and Blessings to you all,
Sue