An Impact

This blog will often serve as a place for me to let go of my emotions, focusing on the passing of my Dad. I think (and I hope) it will help the healing process. Some days are miserable without him, other days I laugh at the corny jokes I hear myself repeating or hear him saying and the best days are when I learn of a new person whom his story impacted.

My Dad didn't care for Doctor's. He challenged their diagnosis and would often make a decision going against their recommendation. After my Dad's trip to the hospital for being highly anemic, my Dad met Dr. Fong. He and Dad hit it off! Dr. Fong invested in my Dad's health and they worked together to find the cause of my Dad's constant anemia. I had the pleasure to meet Dr. Fong the day my Dad endured his first heart attack. I'm not even sure how to describe the man - dynamic? What really struck my heart was when we received a letter from him after Dad passed away. It took me several tries to decipher his writing ... the challenges of a Dr's handwriting.

The Fish family - I was saddened to witness the passing of your father, Ed. He was a great guy and I will miss him. It was always a pleasure seeing Ed. He was jovial, a good story teller and fun to be around. He was like an old buddy. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time. If there is anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask. With deepest sympathy - Warren Fong

For months, I have meant to send a note to Dr. Fong for being the Dr. my Dad could count on. I know that my Dad was unconscious during his last hour of life but I cannot tell you how comforting it is to know that Dr. Fong was present when he passed away. Though there was a room full of medical strangers, there was also a friend. Today I sent a note to Dr. Fong. Thank you ... for your emotional connection to your career, your attentive medical care and your friendship to my Father. I will forever be grateful!

101 Goals in 1001 Days

Today begins an interesting journey, thanks to Haley and Ann. They've each started a list of 101 goals to complete in 1001 days. A tad bit overwhelming but what the heck, I might as well join in. I was surprised how quickly my list took shape. I'm sure you'll hear a little bit more as I cross off each goal. It's going to be a BUSY 1001 days!

I completed my first goal yesterday, November 18, 2009 so I have until August 15, 2012 to cross everything off my list.

1 - Have a baby (completed 11/9/11)
2 - Complete my dad's estate (completed 11/22/10)
3 - Buy a house (completed 3/11/11)
4 - Start my own company = find a job (completed 4/25/10)
5 - Have a house warming party
6 - Go to Hawaii for my 30th birthday (completed 2/12/11)
7 - Go on a houseboating trip
8 - Visit South Dakota (completed 11/22/10)
9 - Pay off all credit card debt (completed 12/1/10)
10 - Go on a girl's trip to Palm Springs (completed 9/26/10)
11 - Knock off 15 pounds
12 - Write a family Christmas letter
13 - Send out Christmas cards (completed 12/21/09)
14 - Have Sheridan and Garrett spend a month in California
15 - Learn how to paint my own toenails
16 - Complete Class 301 (completed 1/10/10)
17 - Complete Class 401
18 - Race the Neon in Vegas
19 - Start a prayer journal (completed 12/2/09)
20 - Dye my hair brown (completed 11/20/10)
21 - Fix the kegerator
22 - Buy season tickets to the Ducks (completed 9/22/10)
23 - Go on a bike ride
24 - Visit Uncle Donnie
25 - Research where I want to get my Master's
26 - Worry less!
27 - Stop using the snooze button (complete)
28 - Join Eastern Star
29 - Clip coupons
30 - Go camping
31 - Volunteer at a shelter
32 - Take 5 friends to Church (completed)
33 - Make pierogies (completed 12/27/09)
34 - Learn how to make Marguerite's tamales
35 - Spend more time studying the Bible (completed)
36 - Visit Grandma and Grandpa's gravesites
37 - Go for a walk at the beach
38 - Have a bonfire (complete 4/23/10)
39 - Go on a picnic
40 - Take more pictures
41 - Learn how to scuba dive
42 - Go to a concert
43 - Go to Five Crown's (completed 6/18/10)
44 - Visit Nana's gravesite
45 - Have the sofa fixed (completed 3/15/11)
46 - Go on a charity/fundraising walk (completed 10/9/10)
47 - Donate blood
48 - Sponsor an underprivileged child
49 - Go cherry picking
50 - Make a photo quilt
51 - Read a book in a day (completed 1/9/10)
52 - Find a small group (completed 7/22/11)
53 - Carve a pumpkin (completed 10/28/10)
54 - Setup our own Christmas tree (completed 12/10/11)
55 - Make dad's famous cheesecake
56 - Send a message in a bottle
57 - Grow a vegetable
58 - Tell Joe that I love him ... often (complete)
59 - Go parasailing
60 - Eat as a vegetarian for a week
61 - Encourage others to make a 101 list
62 - Fly first class
63 - Host a cookie exchange
64 - Complete a hard sudoku puzzle in less than 30 minutes (completed 11/18/09)
65 - Play the lottery
66 - Make jam, can it and give away (completed 11/14/10)
67 - Fly a kite
68 - Make a custard pie for Gordan
69 - Read a book on investing in the stock market
70 - Make love everyday for a week (completed)
71 - Visit Ashley in San Diego (completed 1/16/10)
72 - Start saving 10% of our income
73 - Start a blog (completed 11/19/09)
74 - Visit James family more
75 - Buy a jacuzzi once we own a house
76 - Send Glenn a care package in Rome (completed 12/28/10)
77 - Write a letter to a military member, someone I don't know (completed 11/26/09)
78 - Host a holiday dinner with both our families
79 - Help James join the Mason's (completed 12/22/09)
80 - Don't eat out for one week (completed 12/28/09)
81 - Take a road trip to San Francisco
82 - Eat a tootsie pop without biting it (completed 7/30/10)
83 - Thank a special person
84 - Take a belly dancing class
85 - Spend a weekend at Aunt Pat's Mexico house
86 - Make a donation in Dad's name
87 - Make breakfast for dinner (complete 3/12/10)
88 - Eat dessert before dinner (completed 8/3/11)
89 - Write a letter to Dr. Fong (completed 11/25/09)
90 - Write a business plan = draft a resume (completed 3/1/10)
91 - Make prime rib
92 - Go through mom's recipes and make a book of those I want to keep
93 - Put dad's buttons in a shadow box for display
94 - Take chocolate chip cookies to Bill (completed 12/23/09)
95 - Try out acupuncture
96 - Take dancing lessons with James
97 - Touch my toes, without bending my knees
98 - Shoot a gun
99 - Go roller skating
100 - Take a daily vitamin everyday for a month (completed 12/20/09)
101 - Plan a bridal shower, baby shower or bachelorette party

Number 73 ... CHECK!

(We'll come back to the blog title later.)

Once again I've been suckered into another web based black hole! AOL, myspace, facebook and now blogging! Several friends have blogs and I love keeping up with their daily excitement. So begins my journey. Here we go ....