My Dad's Family

Howdy, fine friends!

I hope all is going well for you.  Hard to believe it's almost Thanksgiving!!!   These years are going by so fast it's so hard to keep track of them anymore.  I was just looking at pictures of my family and especially the children, have grown so fast into young adults.  Where does the time go?  


Speaking of families, I've done so much talking about my mother's side of the family, it's time I be fair and tell you a little about my dad's side of the family.  After all, I wouldn't be ME if it weren't for my dads influence, now would it?  LOL!!

This is my dad's childhood home that he lived in until he joined the Army.  And then when he came home from the Army.  He and my mom lived here for short stint after they were married.  My mom said it was horrible, Dad had to hide his pay check in a tire in the trunk or his mom would take it.  They where saving it to move out on their own.  Can you blame them??

My dad was born in 1947, number 2 of 5 children that my grandmother Krauchunas (pictured above) had.  I wish I had a baby picture of him to show here, but I have so few (as in NONE) from his baby/youth period.  He joined the Army for awhile to get away from home (there are so many stories I could tell you that he told me, but there isn't enough time in the day to go into it).  One of the stories was he never had his own room and he had to  wash his own clothes.  When he got out of the service, he met my mom in 1968.  They married March 1st, 1969.  My grandfather Krauchunas died in July of 1968 of a pulmonary embolis -( blood clot to the lungs) and was only 47 years old.  My aunt Shelly was born into the family May 13, 1968.  She never really knew her father.













The photo to the left is my dad's dad,  Joseph..  The picture on the right is from my parent's wedding.  Doesn't my father look uncannily like his father?  I thought so, to!!!

We moved from Michigan (I came down in 1993 and my parents came April of 1994).  We thought it best to separate from the family for while as they kept coming to us to solve their problems.  Shelly was in trouble a lot and needed bailing out.  My Uncle John was also in trouble and needed help too.   There's only so much you can do for someone and then it starts to wear you down.  I think that is what has happened to my dad.  Grandma K and Shelly came to visit for two weeks in 1995 and we were so glad to have them leave.  Here's some pics of their visit:

 

My dad and Grandma K

My dad and his sister, Shelly.

My dad, Shelley and Mom taking a road-side smoke break.

Shelly, Grandma K & Me

My Aunt Shelly in the tree at the dunes outside of Yuma.

Now I'll show the pictures I received from my Uncle Joe at Thanksgiving 2004.  I hadn't seen these people since 1993, so believe me, I was in for quite a shock!!

From L to R: Shelly's boyfriend, Dave; Shelly: Grandma K's husband Guy; Katie (Shelly's daughter) and Grandma K.

Guy, my late Uncle John, Katie & Grandma K.

Shelly, Uncle Joey, Katie & Grandma K.

 

Troy (Shelly's son), Grandma K, and Katie

I've learned since my mom's death in July 2008 due to acute kidney failure and now my Uncle John's death in July 2009 due to metastatic lung cancer, you only have your family around ONCE, through the good times and through the bad times.  So what may have happened in the past, keep it in the past.  If the person has apologized for it, accept the apology and move on.  Life is just too short to hold grudges.

ALL the Karchunas's have been exceptionally nice since my mom died.  They have helped out my dad and gave him shelter and food when he needed it.  With that alone, I thank Shelly for opening her home not just once, but TWICE.  Thank you.  You are a great sister!

That is my Thanksgiving message for this year.  I hope you each have a great holiday and appreciate being with your family.  They may irritate you at times, but they are your ONLY family.  And as the old saying goes......

BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER!!

God bless you all!

Until next post,