Douglas Eugene Lorente
19 July 19xx - 18 May 2005
Jump to: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
Hi Dougie:
I talked to your Mom after your graduation night June 15. She said that the five winners of the essay contest at your Middle School each made a short speech and they all spoke of you, and how much they missed you and how much fun you had together. The chairs for the 8th grade graduates were set up on the stage and there was one there for you too with your picture and a bright bow.
Your Mom also said she helped decorate the gym where the dance was to be held after the graduation and that gold stars with each student\\'s name were hung from the ceiling. When the dance was over she took your star down and those of your closest friends and now they are hanging from your bedroom ceiling. Your year book was signed too, by all your friends (there are so many) and they presented it to your Mom and sister Rachel.
I guess that is all the news of your graduation night. I\\'m sure there was more.
I miss you with all my heart and will miss your visit this summer.
I love you.
Nana
"But little do we know that this time on earth is nothing but a chapter in life of our many more chapters hopefully to come." by Douglas Eugene Lorente (last line in his 8th grade essay).
Hi Doug,
I sure do miss you. Rachel misses you too. Kyle, Clem Jr., Preston, Steven, Jaycee, and Nicky miss you too!
I miss your tapping on the table with your fingers. I miss your messy ways and how you left your shoes and backpack by the door. I miss your snoring and I miss making you French toast in the morning. I miss the way you always said "goodnight" and "love you." I miss saying "goodnight little boy." I miss you fighting with your sister. I MISS YOUR LAUGH.
You would have liked going to Baja with me. You would have liked snorkeling in the clear water and seeing the beautiful fish. I miss you driving the car on the dirt roads. I miss asking you 50 times to take out the trash or mow the lawn. I miss that you aren\\'t going to start Holtville High School and that you won\\'t get to be a Viking. I miss you and grandma.
I MISS YOU I MISS YOU I MISS YOU.
Love,
Mom
Hi Doug,
It\\'s fall and close to Halloween. I know you loved trick o treating and dressing up with your friends. I put a Halloween pillow at your cross and decorated it with fall colors. You have a pumpkin too!!! Steve and I were at your cross when it rained and hailed. It was fun to walk out to the canal where you swam with your friends and graffitied the cement.
Your room is still your room. Nothing has moved or changed. It is just neater!!!! We feel you were here for Rachel\\'s and Papa\\'s birthday with the pictures that showed circles. I think grandma was visiting too. You both liked parties and people. I think you would have been doing good in high school. I can only imagine a good report card with A\\'s and B\\'s.
I know you would be riding your quad with Kyle and Clem and Steven today. It is a beautiful day. Rachel has been out in the desert the last couple of days. Sadie is so big and beautiful. No one plays with her like you did. She is a baby and likes to crawl up on the couch and sit close to you. She is a good friend for Tia. Your Nana calls to check up on us and see how things are going. She would like some of your treasures to keep. Maybe a baseball shirt and some old coins that you liked. Your weight set seems to be sitting unused. I hope someone will take it. Maybe I should give it to the high school.
I wish you were here to tap on the table, make a mess. I wish you were here to keep me company.
Talk to you soon my love,
Mom
Hi Doug,
Papa died on November 21, 2005. I think he really missed you and grandma. Lee Ann and I were there when he died. It was really wonderful to be there. What are you doing? It seems that my family is dying (or going to sleep) as Pastor Walt would say. I know you would be out riding your quad in Glamis with your friends Kyle, Clem, Steven, Kanan, Preston.
We had Thanksgiving with the Chimits\\' and John and Cindy. It was nice. You would really like Rachel\\'s new boyfriend Morgan. He is very nice and I am sure you would bug him. Rachel seems to be happy. Although she doesn\\'t talk to me much or seem to like me much. I know she loves me, but it sure is a strange way of showing it. You always showed you loved me. I miss miss miss your "love you" Well, I think after three deaths within a year and a half, I am kinda numb. Papa is buried by you and grandma. You have the neatest headstone around the cemetery. Your doggie Sadie is getting bigger. I now have papa\\'s dog Chaca. Three big dogs running around. I could use your help picking up poop. I could use you around here. Just to make some noise and a mess or two. Oh what would I give for a mess or two. Well, Steve and I went out to Painted Gorge in Papas jeep. It is so pretty out here. We just sat there and heard the quietness of the earth. We went to Guadalupe Canyon which as also beautiful and had a peacefulness. We swam in the creek which was very cold water. I was quite the Mt. climber!!!!! I miss you Doug. My life is quiet and sometimes I am lost without you. I don\\'t know what I am doing here sometimes on earth . Pastor Walt says life is but a vapor.. actually James said that.. but Pastor likes to quote it .... telling us life is for such a short period.. compared to the time we are dead..haaaaaaaaaaaaaa
I saw Mark and Teddy a couple days ago.. They said Joe is still having some surgery on his arm.... They are such nice people... I am glad you were friends with Joe... Do you miss reading at all??? I know you loved reading your adventure books.... Are you running around.. pulling up your pants... because you don\\'t have a belt... Do you have soo many friends every which way you turn you are running and playing... I feel like I am in between death and life...
love you little boy....
Jump to: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
Hi Doug,
What comes to my mind is that fun song on the radio about how God\\'s house is a great big house with lots and lots of rooms, with a big big yard so you can play football, and lots of food so you can feel your wooden leg. I miss you as much today as I ever did throughout the year. My emotions are so up and so down at times. My memories of you seem to be triggered by Walmart of all places. I guess we were there a lot. I saw a "Lovesac" store in Fashion Valley where you and Kyle used to jump on all their bean bag furniture. Elaine says there is a boy she sees every once in awhile that remind her of you. Rachel has a picture of you playing baseball on her apron for work. I have pictures of you and Rachel on one of my bulletin boards at school in my classroom. I wish I saw more of your friends. They don\\'t come by that often. They are busy and I hope they will remember you always. I know Jr. said he would come by this week to say hello to me. I think it is typical for people to relive the day they lost their favorite people in their life to death. I remember when you bumped my hot tea and it spilled down my dress that morning. Can you come do that again. come say hello to me soon. Sometimes I see you walk by. I will go and clean off your headstone and lay some flowers by grandma\\'s grave for Mother\\'s Day.
I miss you
I\\'ll love forever
I\\'ll love you always
my baby you\\'ll be.
May 18, 2006
Hi Douglas:
This poem by Robert Louis Stevenson is, in many ways, a reminder of your joyful path through life. He reminds us that ours is the sorrow while you remain forever as you always were. We still feel your smile, your sense of humor and your everlasting energy. We hope you like this too.
With love,
Nana and all your family.
This picture was taken on Tuesday, August 22, 2000. Dougie had just turned 9 years old on July 19. We were at the foot of Ocean Park Avenue in Santa Monica. Doug\\'s sister Rachel was there too.
June 6, 2006
Hi Doug,
Your Freshman year is coming to an end. I went to the Jr. High today to vote. It was nice to walk on the campus after a year. It is hot here. Nana was here visiting for your anniversary. May 18 turned out to be a nice day. Junior got a bunch of your friends together for a BBQ. He is going to be a big brother. Patty is pregnant and is due in October. I think he is excited. Kyle seems to have a hurt back and doesn\\'t ride his quad as much as he used to. I\\'m so glad you were good friends with Kyle. Cindy wrote a beautiful poem and taped it to the cross. She has been a good friend. Her and John were good parents to you. I wonder if Cindy made some cookies today? After a year of you being gone, it still is hard to believe. I haven\\'t decorated your cross this month. What color do you want? Rachel and Nana hung wind chimes above your grave on a mulberry tree. It is beautiful to listen to the chimes when there is a light breeze. I have a new name. I am " woman with too many dogs." If you were here, I would make you mow the lawn right now. Your room is empty. Cindy helped me pack up your stuff. Rachel and I are moving to San Diego. We have too many memories here in this house. This was our house. Rachel, Doug\\'s and Mom\\'s house.
Love alone is real
Mom
Happy Birthday Doug!
This is your 15th birthday today. Where do you want to go? I am sure you and Kyle can think of something good. Maybe the beach, maybe Sea World. How many things would be different if you were here. Everyone seems to be going through their own tribulation. Cindy and John have trials in their life, something is going on with Christy in the Lucas family. The people who used to live here had a daughter that died recently. Seems that countries are warring more and more. I am on vacation. Chaca and Tia are enjoying my company and I am enjoying theirs too. It is hot hot. I am planning on making a cake for your birthday. I think Kyle and Cindy are coming over. Rachel and Nana put some nice wind chimes up in a tree above your grave in May. It sounds nice to walk out there and here the chimes. I see Jr. a lot. He has been hanging around and visiting. Preston used to come over and use the computer, but stopped coming. I\\'m going to enjoy this day. Rachel is almost finished with her summer school class. We are moving on to San Diego soon.
Love you Doug
Hi Doug,
Wow, it\\'s cold here! Isabel doesn\\'t seem to mind the cold weather. I brought her in the house last night. Rachel and Morgan went to a foofy hotel in Laguna Beach a couple of weeks ago. I think they had a lot of fun. I am getting a new student soon. Another boy! Boys always outnumber the girls. I had a nice Thanksgiving up here with some friends. NO, life\\'s just not the same. Tommy moved into our house with two of his friends. They painted the rooms white. I am wondering if your hands are still so dry... are your nails long... do you ever tie your shoes?????????? do you clean up after yourself?? are you riding a quad? do you have a best friend? Lee Ann and Sam decorated your gravestone along with grandma and grandpa\\'s. She said the chimes are still in the trees. Sandy is skinny now. She had that stomach operation that stops you from eating. Rachel wants to be a dental hygienist. She is still working at Chili\\'s. Let\\'s go to Grandmas house and light the candles for the Christmas block party. Let\\'s go to Max Foods and go grocery shopping. Lets go eat at Hometown Buffet with Grandma and Grandpa. Lets go to a movie and stuff our pockets with sodas and candy. Lets play hooky from school and go to San Diego. We can go to Coronado Island and walk on the beach. Lets go to Balboa park and watch a Imax movie. Lets go to church and eat mints with Papa. Lets go garage selling in Santa Fe. Lets go see Nana in Santa Monica. She will like that.
Night Doug. love you.
Jump to: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
Hi Dougy,
I had a nice Christmas with Steve and Trevor in Guadalupe We went camping there before Christmas. It was peaceful there. NO tv\\'s, or noise. Just birds. We had a fire each night and woke up to watch the sun rise in the morning. I finished crochetin a blanket and read a little during the day. It was definitely a good place to be and a place you would like. We will go sometime. ok. You can climb over the rocks, pick up branches, make a fire, burn some marshmallows. If you yell, you can hear your voice echo for a minute. I have started jogging. It\\'s been fun. You don\\'t want a fat Mama do you? You were never fat. YOu could have eaten non stop for days and never gain a pound. I bet you would be as tall as your Uncle Ronnie right now. I guess Preston is wrestling for school. I think Kyle has lost his phone for the 40th time. Cindy got Uggs for her birthday. I got crocs and I love them. I thought I would just hate the holdays, but it was nice after all. Rachel is very happy with Morgan and Morgan\\'s mom is good to her. I spent Christmas at Jack in the Box with Cindy and John and can\\'t think of a better visit. I listened to John\\'s Aunts old phonograph he got from her house in Sacramento. I think you went there for a visit with them. Lee Ann had a nice birthday dinner at the Chimits house. Betty made these great quesadillas. Barbara has the cutest little boys. CUTE CUTE CUTE. Just like you Doug. They didn\\'t have any freckles.... so that makes you the cutest. Who\\'s the sweetest boy I know I think his name is Dougy. We had a garage sale at Grandma and Papas house after Christmas. It was fun to see the neighbors. Toby Mac has this great song on the radio right now. I was made to love you. I was.
love to you little boy,
mom
Hi Dougy,
I have been thinking of you a lot. I think its because I\\'ve been going to basketball games at my school and I think of how athletic you were and how you would love to be on the school basketball team. I always seem to have so many things to say .. and then when I log on... I forget.. sounds like your Mom hey. Well, love to you little boy. I always think about how tall you must be... how your hands were so dry and chapped. how skinny your white legs were.. how big and blue your eyes were.. how long your eyelashes were, how much you laughed and teased me... how your horns were on your forehead... how many freckles you had on your face and arms.... how cute you were to me.... sometimes it would be nice to have you back.. even for a minute or two... but i guess i do.. when i think of you... I can see you with untied shoestrings.. snoring on the couch... tapping your fingers on the kitchen table to annoy me.... leaving your backpack on the floor... loving taco shop breakfast burritos... loving the carrot carnival rides... loving your mom and sister ... always talking to j.c. on the phone or having her come over... sitting on a soap box in mrs. allegranza\\'s room... spitting paper wads in PROBABLY MORE THEN ONE class........ annoying the teachers at the middle school... having more fun then a person should have.. just had to write to you tonight... love you doug. mom
Hi Doug,
Wow, where has the time gone? Of course I think of you daily, I just haven\\'t sat down to write to you. HOW ARE YOU? You still surround Rachel and I daily. She sketched this beautiful picture of you both together. She said I could have it. There\\'s a road I passed today called Mc Dougal. Steve and I are going to look at houses tomorrow. I hope we find something great. Its quiet tonight. there was a padre game on earlier and the padres lost. Rachel finished her phlebotomy class. she took a course with Natalie and she loved it. she tried poking me but missed my vein. sticking people all day would be a challenging job. my students are all doing well. we have a new boy named john. he is quiet but smiles all the time. I think he is happy in our class. Molly thought she would be moving back to Boston but I think she is staying at cp. I have been running a lot. I should be running a marathon in a month if all goes well. probably not running it... walking running the rock n roll marathon. Some people run it to raise money for certain charities.. I think I\\'m running it to keep my sanity. Running does keep you busy and keep your mind busy. soo that\\'s why I\\'m running.. to keep me busy. I haven\\'t been crocheting as much as I used to. I am very much hooked on dancing with the stars which comes on Monday and Tuesday nights. I think Joey will win. I love to watch them dance. the Spiderman movies comes out today. Rachel saw it and said it was just ok. what else??? I am definitely still into chocolate covered raisins. can you believe your sophomore year is coming to a close. I don\\'t think Kyle likes school anymore than he did a couple of years ago. It was nice to talk to Cindy a couple of weeks ago. She is funny and always has good stories to tell me. We are planning Doug\\'s day off in a couple of weeks. Tommy said we could have a bbq at the house on orange. I think he might be moving to san Diego for a new job. so many changes. It seems to agree with me now. Rachel is happy with Morgan and I think that is 90% of my happiness. its nice to know she is good. Lee Ann said Brandon went to prom and he is sooo tall. Rachel showed me a picture on Samantha\\'s my space site. its baseball season. how many homeruns are you going to hit this season? how many batters are you going to strike out? you want your mom to be your coach???????????? wasn\\'t that fun.. gooo padres!!!!! I wonder how Oozier , Steven, David, are doing with baseball? Steven must tower over everyone. I wonder how Joe is doing? its nice to close your eyes and go back to those places where our house was full of kids... remember when you guys dug a hole in the backyard???? I remember boys running on the roof... as if horses were galloping...do you crave taco shop breakfast burritos?? do you crave grandma\\'s no peak stew. are you and grandma and grandpa spending Friday nights at hometown ???? did I ever tell you we found the snake when we cleaned your room?? it was wrapped up in your bike spoke and got caught.. I still have Isabel... she sings in the morning.. and loves to hear Rachel come by for a visit. you and I together forever nothing can stand in the way.. my love for you grows stronger each new day.. I\\'ve fallen deeply in love with you.. you have stolen my heart.. I\\'m captivated by you.. never will you and I part.. I\\'ve fallen deeply in love with you.. you have stolen my heart... I\\'m captivated by you... never will you and I part.. I\\'ve fallen deeply in lovely with you... deeply in love.. deeply in love.. well.. this is a long overdue letter to you.... I have a new song.. don\\'t laugh at me.. peter Paul and marry sing it.. I have it downloaded... angle shared it with me.. its a great song.. about people\\'s differences.. I hope we learn it in sign language with our peer buddies at school.... my friend Lourdes might move to Bogotá Columbia.. I am definitely going to visit her if she moves.. she is my running friend... she runs faster then me.. haaaaaaaa but almost everyone does.. I know you do.... your mom still doesn\\'t cook very much.. I eat out a lot.. sometimes with Lourdes.. she knows some great restaurants here in san Diego.. its nice to have friends in this big city.. sue runs with me on Saturday.. I don\\'t see her much during the week.. I love you Doug... Rachel and I love you. I will write you more often. I still find pennies from heaven. we recycle like crazy at my school.. that\\'s a lot of pennies.. haaaaaaa.. people don\\'t pick up pennies and they don\\'t pick up plastic bottles.. I miss getting mad at you.
night Doug. love you
I can hear you snore sometimes.
love you forever,
MOM
July 19, 2007
Happy Birthday Dougie.
Today is your 16th birthday. I guess we need to call you Douglas now. I have much to tell you.
This last May 18 I drove down to El Centro/Holtville and stopped first at Evergreen. I polished your name plaque until it shone and noticed that your wind chimes in the mulberry tree next to your place were needing some repair. Also bought an order of McDonald\\'s Chicken bits because you always loved them. So I ate some of them but I must confess--still haven\\'t a taste for them. So then I drove to Holtville and the cross that John made with your name at Mets and Heber Roads. I didn\\'t walk the dirt road or drive down Heber to try and somehow make time and events go backward. Just stood there noticing that your cross needed some TLC, gazed out over the alfalfa fields (fragrant and green as ever), talked to you for awhile and drove into town where I called your Mom on her cell phone. She said she was with a group of your friends including your sister Rachel and that they were on their way out to the cross. So I turned around and joined them at Mets and Heber.
They were laughing as ever, taking pictures (I was in a couple of the group shots), the girls draped ribbons and flowers on your hickory cross and the boys just played around. The sun was like a huge deep orange ball as the earth we were standing on whirled by it, a breeze came up, the fields with their little purple flowers were fragrant and so green and so ended the day as we stood together near you.
Later your Mom and Rachel hosted a huge bar-b-q which went on until the wee hours. I was so tired I missed much of it but all your friends had a good time and it was held in your house on Orange. Cindy and John weren\\'t there and we missed them. The next day Rachel and I and your Mom went out to Evergreen and repaired the wind chimes (we took a ladder this time), watered your flowers and stood around talking. Her friend Morgan came too. In the Mulberry tree there is now a beautiful Native American dream catcher near your wind chimes. The day was very warm as you might know but not as scorching as last year. Rachel then took your Mom and I to see some new homes she likes.
I left then to return to Santa Monica and got lost. You can be happy that you weren\\'t with me. Finally I called your Mom and she had John (she was visiting with Cindy and John) give me directions. Now I have to leave for work so Happy Birthday again. We miss you always. Your presence is forever with me.
Love,
Nana
July 19, 2007
Happy Birthday Douglas Eugene Lorente,
Wow, 16 years old! What do you want to do? What would you like for your Birthday. Remember that cute book about Happy Birthday Moon? I have a great quote which I have written down in my room by my family pictures.. my me board. "Life is not a journey to the grave with intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadsided, totally worn out and proclaiming , "WOW, WHAT A RIDE!!!!". Bill McKenna, who is motorcycle racer wrote that. I think it is so true how you lived your life Doug. I want to live my life like that too, everyday. I went swimming with my students today and we had fun. You would have loved this bunch of kids as you liked the kids in Calexico. We painted too!!! There\\'s a new song by David Crowder band that I like.. its called Glorious. You know I always liked his band. Remember when we went to see the band at Christ Community. The Church was packed. I think Kyle might have come with us. You know Cory is going to be a Daddy soon and Cindy and John Grandparents.. and Kyle an Uncle. Katie is due any day now and they know it will be a girl. It would have been fun if she was born on your birthday. I guess Brandon is coming up next week for a baseball camp. Rachel has an earache and is going to the doctor today.. finally after a week in pain. We are going by our new house today to look at some of the furniture the owner wants to sale. How much fun is that to move into a beautiful old house. I definitely want some chickens and a rooster. and maybe a peacock. I\\'ve been trying to get over to Coronado at least once a week to walk on the beach and drive around my favorite place. There are so many dogs that love to swim at one end of the beach area. I know Chaca, Sadie and Tia would be in the water too. I miss you Doug. More so on your birthday of course. I miss you completely. Lee Ann called this morning to say hello . She is getting a beach house as usual for a week at Mission Beach. We all miss you. I still find my pennies from Heaven that I know you are dropping in front of me to help remind me all is good. I will write more for this coming year. Thanks for making my life so much fun when you were with me. I would trade my right and left arm to have you here with me now!!!!!!!!!! I keep moving and that suits me. My cup runneth over.
Love you little boy,
Mom
September, 2007
Doug,
You never had a hard time waking up in the morning. Your sister was another story. I\\'m am sure you would be excited to be starting your Jr. year at HOltville High School. I don\\'t know if you would be playing football. My guess is YES. I always thought you would be a good kicker. or quarter back. Rachel has had a nice summer at the beach. ME tooo!! We used your boogy board several times. STeve and I are moved in to the new house. I am making sure you are everywhere here with me. There is lots of land to explore and neighbors to visit and terrorize. There are hills to ride your bike up and down. There are starts to look at and lizards to catch. There are trees to climb. There is a place for you to sleep whenyou get tired. I went to New Jersey with Steve this summer. It was great. WE went to a Yankee game. The week after we left, the Padres went back and played the Mets. We sent to Cooperstown where you would have enjoyed looking and all tthe famous baseball players. It is beautiful country and I know you almost made it back there with Grandma. We saw a movie during my back to school week. It was about a National Geographic Photographer who learned how beautiful this world it despite some not so good things. He said to "celebrate what is right with the world". That\\'s my quote of the moment. Rachel is back at IVC. She is gunho on getting into the nursing program and becoming a nurse like Nana. Wouldn\\'t that be great? We would have to call her Nurse Rachel. Aunt Lisa is also a nurse. Keep those nurses in the family. We had a lunar eclipse last week. It was sooo beautiful. Remember the telescope Papa got and never could figure out how to use it??????????? I\\'ve been crocheting my friend Angelica\\'s baby a blanket. I better finish it before the baby is grown. It\\'s nice to be busy. I am working with some very nice people this year. No more grumpy man that I worked with last year. Moving all those boxes from Holtville brought back all the good memories I have with you and Rachel. I am surprised how much I kept of your clothes, school work and stuff. These are my memories along with pictures and places we went together. You feel close and here with me when I go through your treasures. I remember Casper. I remember Peter Pan. I remember your smile and laugh and your wart on your hand. I remember your shoes you never tied. I remember your favorit green t shirt and your skinny hairy legs. I remember your tap on the table and your straight hair like mine. I remember you being left handed and the way you held your pencil. I remember you making fun of my music and me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I remember how much you loved me and Rachel. We love you too. "I\\'ll love you for always my baby you\\'ll be". I just get sad when I know I don\\'t have you to buy a backpack for. I like to go to Walmart and see the parents buying their kids pencils, school clothes, lunch pails, backpacks. I wonder if you would have classes with Steven, Kyle, Preston, Jaycee, Ozzie, Clem. Sing to me Sing to me. I\\'m tired and I wanted to go to bed. I would grab you and kiss you all over your freckled little face if I could. I miss you Doug. I love you more then I did yesterday.
Mom
Sept. 2007
Hi Doug,
I went to a Best Buddies workshop yesterday. Lots of people were wearing shirts with "I See You". I got one too. It is a phrase that they say in Central Africa. Americans say How are you? Africans say "I see You". It is an acknowledgement that you see the person as a person beyond color, gender or ability. You see the person as a human being. Well those are my words of wisdom, to say I see you. I talked to Sandi yesterday. Holtville played Carlsbad on Saturday. She called me to go to the game, but I was at a workshop. Holtville lost. Ashley had her baby. A big baby boy 10lbs 5 oz. His name is Jadyn. I haven\\'t seen Elaine for awhile and it was nice to see her. mmmmmmmmmmmI watched the notebook last night. I don\\'t think you saw that movie. It\\'s great. One of my favorites. I think it takes place in Carolina and it is so pretty. It rained yesterday. We have gophers in the backyard. We planted some tomatoes, and I am hoping the gophers don\\'t eat the tomatoes. I finally met the neighbors. Steve met them a couple weeks ago. Pat and George. They are nice and like to play cards. We should play cards with them sometime. I have great students again like I did last year. Margaret still drives me crazy sometimes, but that is what makes life fun. Trevor drives me crazy with his messy room. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh how I remember you and your messy room. Sometimes you would help me, but it was sooo much easier for me just to clean it up. I made some brocoli and chicken like we used to make when Gib was with us. We had some good food when she lived with us. Remember the girl from Ecuador???? What was her name. She made some good food tooo. Christina... I knew it would come to me. It is such a nice Sunday. Steve always seems to go go go. I like to stay at this beautiful house as much as possible. During the week I am out the door early and return later then I would like. I don\\'t like to watch Trevors shows on the tv. I guess I am glad I don\\'t like TV.. or there would be war around here. I like my devine design... I am waiting for dancing with the stars to start back up and lost. That is a little creep at times, but just fun to watch most of the time. I should be getting back to church. There is a church close to me that I have been wanting to check out.... I think I will start exercising at the gym with Lourdes, which is close by. I never see MOlly anymore. She moved to a new school, but I have a great new teacher friend vickey. You would really like her. She is funny. She has a son your age. I miss you Doug. You would like it here in San Diego. I know you will never have a friend like Kyle if you lived here. You and Kyle were inseparable. I am glad you guys found each other. I haven\\'t seen Korys baby, but I bet Cindy is sooo happy. Its always fun to have a baby around. We had a fire in the fireplace last night. I thought of grandma and you. I know you loved fires and I know grandma loved having fires in her fireplace on Wensley. This house reminds me alot of the house on Wensley. I am glad I am here Doug. It is a very peaceful place. I have lots of memories of pictures and furniture. I like old things. I am kinda craving a dog. I miss Tia and Sadie and Chaca. Maybe I will get a bird. I don\\'t know what the winter will be like. I know my birdy had to come in the house last winter because it was sooo cold. I haven\\'t heard from Nana. Rachel needs to call her. Rachel is happy. Her and Lindsey have been calling me non stop about their new apartment. My children had best friends. Rachel and Lindsey and you and Kyle. EVeryone needs a best friend. RAchel and Lindsey call each other sisters, which is fun. They both love you. Go ride your quad today. It should be beautiful in the desert today. The clouds are overhead. Have fun with Clem, Kyle, Steven, Preston, Joe, Keenan. I am sure Jaycee would ride with you for awhile. I think her Mom is going to have a baby soon. I am too old to have anymore babies. I had two beautiful babies. The most beautiful babies in the world. I am glad I set down to write to you.
love you forever,
Mom
Hi Doug,
Happy Thanksgiving! Rachel and Morgan came to San Diego for Thanksgiving. Lee Ann and John had their 25th wedding anniversary the next day. We went to Holtville so celebrate with them at the Chimits\\' house. It was a little cold outside but the backyard was decorated with lights and beautiful flowers. They were both surprised and we had delicious cakes from Boatwright\\'s Bakery. Yummmmmmmmmmmm. It was fun to cook for once. I haven\\'t cooked turkey in several years. Steve\\'s cousin Karl came down from L.A. too. Rachel saw Cindy and John at Chiles last week. I guess Katie\\'s baby is getting big and she is beautiful. Rachel and Lindsey have an apartment together in Imperial. They have it decorated nicely and they keep it clean. It seems like so many young kids live like slobs these days. It is wierd. I know you weren\\'t the neatest person around. I remember last year about this time walking into Target and looking at the Christmas decorations. I started to cry because I miss you, Papa and Grandma. We had this great birthday party for Rachel here at the house. We stood around her with cupcakes in our hands and sung Happy Birthday. She turned 21 this year and we drank champayne. You can have some if you want. We\\'ve been planting all sorts of plants in the backyard. Steve helped me bring the two tree stumps here from Holvtille. The two big mulberry trees died in the backyard from Holtville. A friend of LeeAnn\\'s is going to cut them down. I\\'m going to keep those stumps too. I just wanted to write to you. I wanted to get to the cross to decorate at Thanksgiving. Why don\\'t I ever have enough time when I go to the valley. I will be back after Christmas. I will decorate then.
love to you Doug,
Mom
December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas Dougy,
We lit luminarios last night like we did with Grandma and Grandpa. It is a full moon and a beautiful night. We went to a Church service and I remembered the wonderful services we had together. You are the wise one. Rachel, Morgan, Trevor, LeeAnn, John, Samantha and Brandon and I went to Disneyland on Lee Ann\\'s birthday. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN. It was a perfect day. We spent an entire day at Disneyland. We didn\\'t see Tinkerbelle fly because it was too windy high above. We have so many tangerines on our tree. We have lots of tangelos and some avocados that aren\\'t ripe yet. The sun is out and it is a nice quiet day. My students were so excited for Christmas vacation. Some people say winter break and say happy holidays instead of Christmas. But not me... it is Christmas... nothing has changed. It was nice hearing people say Merry Christmas at the stores. I got some fun pj\\'s from Steve and a hippy shirt from Lee Ann like every year. I think we are going camping tomorrow. It should be fun to go away for a couple of days. I miss you my little Peter Pan. I have completely fallen in love with Tinkerbelle. My friend Vickey gave me a Tinkerbelle shirt and I got myself a Tinkerbelle keychain. I got Steve a Grumpy hat because he wouldn\\'t go to Disneyland with me. We watched A Christmas Story on the tv this morning. It is a very funny program. Little boys...... they are funny. The house is a mess. I need to clean up. I\\'m making something I\\'ve never made before. There\\'s a picture of a pork stew in the cookbook that looks good. I\\'m making some Russian Tea Cakes too. We have these beautiful zucchinis growing in the garden and I am going to put them in the stew. I miss you Doug. I miss you being with your friends and me trying to find you. I miss your snoring face. I miss your rough hands and seeing your long eyelashes. I miss smelling you and watching you run about with your shoes untied and a backpack by the front door. Not a day goes by I don\\'t miss you. I\\'m going to have to read The Gift of the Magi. I love that Christmas story. I will be writing to you in 2008 .
Good Night little boy,
Mom
Jump to: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
March, 2008
Hi Dougy,
I really miss you. I can\\'t exactly put my finger on why I am missing you so much at the moment. I just am. More then usual. I haven\\'t written to you in a couple of months. I of course talk to Rachel everyday, or at least every other day. She seems to be doing ok although her and Lindsey won\\'t be living together anymore. Lindsey isn\\'t working at the moment and she hasn\\'t found a job. Rachel is moving back with Morgan. I think she is fine because at least she had a couple months experience living with Lindsey and that\\'s what she always wanted to do. Your sister is going to be a nurse someday just like your Aunt Lisa and your Grandmother Theresa. I have continued to run and run and practice for the marathon on June 1. Vickey just left and she is going to visit her sister in Washington over Spring break. Her and I get along nicely. I am glad. I first thought she talked way too much. But I think I have adjusted to her and her to me. She is funny and is a lot like me. I am glad I work with her. You would like her. Her husband\\'s name is Doug and he has a long gray ponytail which Vickey braids all the time. Her son is the same age as you would have been and he gets in trouble just like you did. I think you would be getting in more trouble then him though. He is tall and likes drama. I can see you running around with those freckles and blue eyes grinning at me. Wow, I am missing you. I am going to see a nice lady. She is a counselor. I am trying to figure out the balance of my life. I am doing a lot of comparison between you and Trevor and it hurts. Trevor is here, but he isn\\'t as here as you were. But that\\'s my opinion. His dad never gets mad at him or makes him help around the house. I never here his dad yell at him. I yelled at you all the time. But you knew I loved you and those were my rules. I don\\'t know if Trevor knows the rules. He watches TV and sleeps a lot. He doesn\\'t bound around on the earth like you did. He doesn\\'t have friends who were with you till the end. He is real smart, but really lazy. I don\\'t see how being lazy helps you in life. So , I am wishing you were here to bring some normal to my life. I feel Trevor and his dad have such a abnormal relationship. And maybe me too. Everything is suppose to be "life is good". I am glad you and I went to Church. I am glad I lived in Holtville. I am glad I had my Mom and Dad. I am so glad I had you in my life. Rachel loved you so much. She has painted some pictures of you and her together. My goal over this Spring break is to hang up pictures. Even if Steve doesn\\'t like it. He has his "me" wall with his bib numbers from his races. And I want my "me" wall with my kids pictures. Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow for babies grow up we learn to our sorrows. So quiet down cobwebs and dust go away. I\\'m rocking my baby, and babies don\\'t stay. I hope to see Elaine in Julian. I like going there. I love the cemetery there. I will talk to you soon my little Irish boy.
Love, Mom
May, 2008
Hi Dougy,
The Padres have been losing a lot. It is cold as if winter has come back for a visit. Juan R. continues to get taller and taller. I saw Elaine today. She came by for a visit and dinner. Her and Eric are back together after a short split. Christopher doesn\\'t even want to talk to her after going back with him. I know you would be acting the same as Chris. I think he is just concerned about his mom. Samantha is graduating from San Marcos next Saturday. I am so proud of her. Rachel and Morgan are coming up with LeeAnn and John and Brandon. I think it will be fun to see her graduate. We are coming back to the house and eat cake and drink some champagne to celebrate. I talked to Cindy this weekend for Mother\\'s Day. She says Kyle is doing ok. His quad isn\\'t working and they have chickens. I want to get some chickens too. I want to get some honey bees, chickens and worms. I just love this house and love the beautiful yard. The ladies I work with every day in our program came over last Friday. We had fun climbing the avocado trees and I took them on a nature hike. I think they enjoyed it. We ate off of grandma\\'s plates and used her fancy silver that she started collecting when she was 12 years old.
Continue...
Happy Doug\\'s Day Off!!!
We had a wonderful bbq for you today. I picked up Nana from the train station in San Diego and we headed to the desert. Trevor didn\\'t want to join us. Steve was nice enough to go with us. I think he knows he has to go or I will get upset at him. Theresa loved our house. It is hot. We had record breaking temps today in San Diego and of course the desert was hot too. Lee Ann let everyone come to her house and party. We had a wonderful time for Samantha\\'s graduation yesterday. She graduated from San Marcos. It has been fun getting together for parties. Your friends are good and their hearts are big. Your group isn\\'t exactly the scholarly type or athletic type as Brandon\\'s crowd. JC as always was happy and cheery. She was all made up for you. Erica was just as happy and I was glad to see her. They both had these purses that you would have made fun of because they were soo big. Just like grandma\\'s purse. Grandma always carried a big big purse. Morgan was the chef and made perfect carne. We had Dona Lupes tortillas from El Sol. Clem has his hair cut pretty short. It looked nice. Preston, Steven, and Kyle had the long hair. I wish I had stock in D C. Let me see if I can remember everyone. Kyle, Clem, Steven, Preston, JR. Clint, Karley Erica, JC, Gina, Melinda, Angel, Sandi, Lee Ann, Rachel, Morgan, Steven, Brandon, Samantha, Me, Brian, If I forget I will add them later. It was nice to hear the kids just sti and talk and visit. As if they hadn\\'t done this since your last day off. There was a solemnness there which was just present. We waited until after 7 to make our pilgrimage to Mets and Heber. There were flowers from a year ago. Steve suggested we toast with the bottle of champagne that we didn\\'t drink for Samantha\\'s graduation. To the West was this beautiful huge sun setting, to the southwest was the moon which was already high in the sky. I brought an avocado and a seed to put by the cross. We have these wonderful avocado trees at home and Rachel made great guacamole for the party with our avocados. We circled the cross and Steve popped open the bubbly and we toasted with blue plastic glasses which we left at the cross afterwards. No one had much to say, but I did toast to doing this again next year. I don\\'t know what goes on in these kids lives now. Clem and Kyle are at the San Web Continuation school in Holtville, Preston doesn\\'t play ball anymore. JC is working and has a new sister. I do know that they stopped for a couple of hours to remember times past. Rachel and I will always appreciate your friends being in your life even if its for a moment during the year in a get together. We watched the sun set. Everyone remembered how nice it is to be alive and have friends. My Peter Pan and the lost boys who will forever live in Neverland. Never to forget their friend. Joe called from Nebraska. He has a cousin graduating from high school. It was nice to talk to him. I know he would have been there if he wasn\\'t in Nebraska. Kyle is driving and so is Clem and Steven. and so is JC. Thank you for being my little boy. love you.
Mom
June, 2008
Hi Doug,
I want to write to you so I don\\'t forget you. I have had a busy May and June. Samantha graduated from San Marcos. It was fun to go to her graduation. She is such a sweet young lady. I have a great sister because she has two great kids. Brandon graduated from Holtville High School. The graduation was just as I remembered Holtville graduations. The moon was almost full and there was just a little wind. This was the first time I had seen the remodeled gym which you can see from the bleachers in the distance. It was fun to see Holtville people that I haven\\'t seen in awhile. Some things don\\'t change. They prayed at the graduation which didn\\'t happen at my school graduation for Samantha\\'s. I of course to these great pictures!!!!!!!!!! haaaaaaaaaaaaa.... I love to take pictures. I definitely got that from grandma. There was an incredible firework show especially because the Schafner boy graduated. Everyone was on the field afterwards and we were almost the last to leave. I really enjoyed taking it in and it was good for me. RAchel of course enjoyed it too. I watched a great Oprah show yesterday about two people who are dying of cancer and what they are doing to live the best they can when they know they are dying. WE ARE ALL DYING. They both are living in the moment and enjoying today. There thoughts aren\\'t new but they both said what I think many people feel in a clear and easy to understand way. We all need to eat more healthy and the lady was doing just that as one way to change her life. Her thoughts were wow, what a great life I have instead of ppooor pitiful meeeeeeee. The corn in the garden is tall and the cucumbers are creeping out and over the brick barrier. Steve always picks the strawberries days before they really are ripe. We have been given these great wild boisenberrys which are growing wild under the Hass tree. RAchel started her summer school class and likes it so far. I was told by a doctor to rest my foot for another two weeks and hopefully my heel will be as good as new. You would have enjoyed seeing Tiger Woods win the US OPEN. I know Papa would have enjoyed watching it. It was right here in San Diego. You were a Tigger by the way. The one man on Oprah describes poeple as being a Tigger or an Ehore in life. The Tigger is always ready to experience something new and enjoys every day where the Ehore was kinda mopey and the opposite of Tigger. Sooo I ran the marathon or walked it most of the way. It was fun to be with Cynthia, Matilde and Sarah for several hours of the run. It was fun to eat with them afterwards. I don\\'t quite know if I will do that again. I would definitely walk it, but I will shoot for a walk run as the first year. I am glad you were part of my life. I d miss you as always. Seeing these kids graduate reminds me that you would be doing this next year. It is a gauge for me to remember how old you would have been now. I wonder if you would be graduating with honors. I think with graduation here certain things come to an end. These kids of high school leave a secure place they have known for at least 4 years... at least all their lives. I remember seeing at least three boys Cameron Wrap, Michael Omlin pretty emotional after the graduation. It was a big thing and is a big thing to graduate. All these families coming together is pretty special. Looking around a crowd and knowing alllllllllll the faces is pretty special. My family was there. Brandon will have a birthday soon and so will Sam. So my story continues and it is still time to share with you all that I do.
love you little boy,
Mom
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July 2008 Happy Birthday Doug, Wow, I know you would be towering over me at 17 years old. I know we would have a great day for your birthday. I remember the times you spent your birthday with Grandma and Papa in New Mexico. It seems as though most people never have a bad birthday.. you included. Rachel has been busy taking microbiology during summer school. She is working today, but hopefully will come up next weekend so we can go to SeaWorld for your birthday. It seems as though I always have something to say to you when I\\'m driving in the car or have dreams that I want to share with you. I had one last night. I lived in a great big beautiful old house with Steve. It seems as though you had just died, because I thought of you a lot and had to get clear on how you died. I remember we had a garden and I really wanted another baby because I missed you so much. Rachel and I have interesting dreams. It\\'s always frustrating when you can\\'t remember the dream. I have a nice group of students for summer school. I have thought about going on some kind of adventure trip with Cynthia. She is great and I like spending time with her. She has been on some adventure trips and enjoyed them. I am ready to go somewhere fun. I\\'ve been going to this great church and I know you would like it there. I remember all the times we sat with grandma, papa, and Rachel at Christ Community. Talk about an answered prayer. I always wanted papa to go to church. He did in his last couple of years of life. You and grandma and papa would go to breakfast when I stayed for Sunday school. I am glad you enjoyed being with your grandma\\'s and papa. Steve and I seem to be working in the yard quite a bit. Steve seems to be figuring out all the sprinkler systems around here. Carol had lots of different systems and they were in need of repair and updates. Elaine once again has gone on quite a roadtrip with Eric this summer. I am glad she is having fun. Summer school has been going by not so fast. All the students are great and I have no complaints, besides having to get up in the morning earlier then I want some days. I am an early riser and always can find something to do around here. Rachel should be coming up this weekend now that her summer school class is finished. I want to go to SeaWorld and hopefully she can get to the beach. I have this great big wind chime that I bought on your birthday. When I hear it, I am once again reminded in the second that you were here once on this earth with me. Wow, Thank you God! I hope you have chicken mcnuggets today in Heaven. I miss Tia, Sadie and Chaca. love you little boy, Mom |
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November, 2008
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