Memorial

Scattered thoughts over the last few weeks surrounding my mother's passing. Keeping track of everything going on would have been so much harder without the internet and mobile phones. My dad was in a VA hospital, and my mother was in a private for-profit hospital. I don't think it's just libertarian bias that makes me like the private hospital much better. I completely lost … [Read more...] about On Mom’s Passing

Today is Virginia Heinlein's birthday.  That's her, with her husband.  You may have heard of him.  If the world was a fairer place, Mrs. Heinlein would be 93, today, and in good health.  A very nice woman. Which reminds me of a story.  So, there I was, pounding away at the keyboard, when the phone rang.  It was my daughter Judy's science teacher. … [Read more...] about Happy Birthday, Ginny.

There are many people who helped out over the last few weeks. I want to thank the nursing staff of Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital, including especially Barb, Malou(?), Soon, Rose, and several more whose names escape me but who were no less helpful. I appreciate all the time you spent taking care of my mother and explaining things to me. Thanks also to my mother's … [Read more...] about Thank You

Elizabeth Draughn (Liz to her friends, mom to me) will be sorely missed.  She was a passionate woman.  Passionate about her son, her life, her beliefs and her friends.  I've made many calls on behalf of the family this week, notifying those near and far that Liz is no longer with us, and there is a consistent theme in the responses that I've gotten, "I'm so … [Read more...] about A Note From the Daughter-In-Law

My mother was born Elizabeth Kielkiewicz on December 9, 1922, right here in Chicago, the only daughter of two Polish immigrants. She grew up during the Great Depression, remembered where she was when the Japanese navy bombed Pearl Harbor, was amazed by the moon landing, and saw the beginning and end of the Cold War, and the dawn of the 21st century. A lot of things happened to … [Read more...] about Elizabeth Draughn, Rest In Peace