Our adventures and misadventures

In many ways, I feel like you came into my life yesterday. It's like my heart walks this earth - - that's what you are, my heart outside my body.

You are truly my first big love. You taught me to be self-less, patience, you helped me grow into a better self.

My heart breaks that Manny, Papi, Cindy, Marinez, Jacki, July, Tracy, Dan aren't here to see you get married. They would have loved to watch you fall in love and create a life.

Excited for you. Happy you found your person. Excited to continue to watch your journey.

My prayer is that you always let God lead your life, your decisions.

My son, Alejandro, gets married March 28, 2026 to Erin.

When I was 10, one of my childhood friends was murdered. It was something my parents never talked about. I remember seeing her photo in the newspaper and reading how she was stabbed and my mom saw me reading the paper, she grabbed it from my hands and threw it away.

My parents sang in choir at church. Every single time someone died, they would sing. I have no idea how many wakes/funerals I’ve attended.

When I was 15, I started working at a flower shop….it was near a funeral home. I would often go to the funeral home to put a boutonnière or corsage or a hair piece on the deceased. I liked to make them look beautiful.

Since then, I’ve lost my brother, my sister, my dad, all of my closest friends (all 4 of them) and the list goes on and on.

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Birth: 1944

Death: 2025

John Gordon Flick OBITUARY

John is survived by his devoted wife, Betty June Calame, his much loved daughters Felicia Flick and Blake (Flick) Geyer, and his adored grandchildren Cora (7), Jade (6), and Tobin (4). John was the son of Dr. John Jervis Flick and Eleanor Grepp Flick. Siblings were the late Susanne (Sue) Gakstatter (Flick), and his surviving sisters Bonnie Flick and Jane Hoffman (Flick) – all of whom he loved very much.

To know John was to feel his warmth, strength, and enthusiasm for life. He touched everyone’s lives and made them richer. Friends and family describe him as “one of the greats,” “an amazing man,” and “the toughest human being they’ve ever met.” The world needs more people like John, and his loss will be felt tremendously by all who knew him.

John’s life was rich with music. An avid guitarist and performer, he found joy in playing and sharing music, which became both his passion and a gift to those around him. His songs and melodies brought people together and reflected the same love and vitality he carried into every part of his life. John’s family will remember him as the most loving and supportive father, a man hard for anyone else to live up to, and someone deeply loved by so many. 

A memorial service to honor John’s life will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 1:00 pm at Riviera United Methodist Church, 375 Palos Verdes Blvd. in Redondo Beach, CA.

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Daily Breeze

she wasn’t just coming to meet her grandbaby—

she was coming to check on her own baby too.

I had just become a mother,

but in her eyes,

I was still the one she once held in her arms,

the one she worried about,

the one she loved more than anything.

She saw the new life I had brought into the world,

but she also saw her own child—

tired,

overwhelmed,

healing,

and forever hers.

And in that moment,

I was reminded—

no matter how much I grow,

no matter how many children I have of my own,

I’ll always be someone’s baby too.

And there is something so comforting,

so full-circle,

Jans was born April 6, 1995. I remember clearly holding him, falling in love with this tiny little boy that lived inside me for 9 months. I remember endless conversations telling him how much I loved him.

Jans has always been a mama's boy, my best friend, my safe place. He shouldered a lot when he was so young but has grown to be a wonderful man.

He's getting engaged today and I find that I'm an emotional mess. I keep thinking about Papi, how he would love this. I think about Cindy.... Cindy would be so involved. Manny! Manny would be parked outside to watch it all. I miss them all so much but I feel, very strongly, that they are watching all of this. They are cheering Jans on, they are loving and supporting him.

Without a doubt, when I met Eric, I wasn't thinking of marriage or a future or anything. I was a single mom with 2 beautiful babies that needed me and I was working my butt off. I worked insane hours and climbed up the corporate ladder but it was exhausting. I bought a home, I had a live-in nanny that cooked, cleaned and loved my children - - she was better than a husband (in my thinking). I didn't need a man and I wasn't looking for someone. Then I met Eric.

He is not your normal guy. He was like no one I knew. He loved me fully, he loved my children fiercely. I will be honest, in the beginning, he needed my help. He didn't know how to talk about tough stuff. I had to push and prod until he started talking and it wasn't easy. I was honest with him - - I never wanted to get married. I did not like it. It was overrated.

Eric smiled, agreed, and continued to storm into my heart until marriage was inevitable. A lot of things happened back then. We met in California, but I lived in Illinois and he lived in Oregon. Eric was flying to Illinois every month, he opened an office and worked and was successful. He asked my parents for my hand, we married and moved to Oregon. Moving to Oregon was not an easy decision. My kids cried leaving Illinois.

When Manny unexpectedly passed away in 2010, my mom never recovered. Her grief was paralyzing so, after a few months, she went to her doctor who gave her Xanax. Her MD continued to give her monthly prescriptions of Xanax for YEARS. We didn't know, she didn't know... that she was addicted to Xanax. She was taking as many as she needed to get numb. I can now say my mom was an addict. She would be hospitalized every few months because she'd be in withdrawal (but we didn't know that's what it was). After years of this, we all realized that she was an addict, she got help but when they started to ween her off the meds, her body changed, her mental capabilities changed. My mom has been bedridden for years now. Mama barely talks to me when I visit her (so, no, she never calls me).

When Papi passed away, unexpectedly, in May 2020, my grief was palpable. I know my family structure was gone. Papi was the man I could talk to... about anything. He was my counselor, he was wisdom and love all in one. Losing him meant losing a family.

Fast-foward. I use to fly to Chicago several times a year when Papi was alive. Today? Maybe 2-3 times a year. Do I feel guilty? Yes. Life doesn't stop because I grieve what was, it moves. I've recently come to a decision that I'll make sure I visit Mami more often. It doesn't matter if she doesn't know who I am. It matters that I know my mom is inside her somewhere.

Beyond thankful for Eric, who is my rock. God is so good to us and continues to bless us. I don't know how many husbands support their wives crazy-travel schedule and my constant planning. Yes, I am constantly scheduling trips, getaways, dinners, parties, places to be, etc. I just sent Eric a message telling him that I'll be gone a week in April, traveling with Bubs, lol. He just supports me and loves me no matter what.

Thankful.

Over 20 years ago, I nervously sat down to dinner to meet my future in-laws. I arrived to their beautiful home and they had set up a beautiful dinner and it was formal and….nothing like what I was use to.  Thankfully, his parents quickly put me at ease and we enjoyed a beautiful dinner, getting to know each other.  It wasn’t superficial, it was a family that was interested in me and I, in turn, slowly fell in love with them. I think of this day often.  They were the first touch I felt from Eric’s family. We soon became a real family.

Mother-in-laws are a special breed. When you are loved & embraced solely because their son loves you & they want only the best for your family, it touches your soul and expands your heart. I was blessed - - I had that with Susie.

My mother-in-law passed away last weekend.  It was beautiful.  I saw the grandkids travel from all parts to see their grandmother.  We had great-grandkids playing in the hospital room.  There was so much love in that room that it was palpitating.  She regaled us with stories……so many beautiful stories. We laughed, we cried, we joked around….family.  She spoke to every family member one on one, the message was love and family, over & over again.  As she left this earth, she was surrounded in love, by her children and husband.  I will miss her.

After loads of planning, we arrived in Arusha 1/4/2025. Eric surprised me with first class seats the first leg (almost 10 hours to Amsterdam), then coach seats the next 8 hours (I slept most of the flight). We have been staying at Rivertrees Inn in Arusha for the last 2 nights. Thankful…. Jet lag has been kicking my butt.

Today, we will drive and begin our safari. I am SO excited!! So thankful for this trip, and going with friends, Mike, Anne and Liz make it even more special.

We are in Lodge #27.

Such a gift to just enjoy moments.

Tammy, Joel, Kristina, Joey, Idania, Migo, Kata and Kami all joined us for a long weekend! Sandy, her husband, Peter and his wife joined us and it turned out to be a big party. So glad we were able to host everyone.

When we bought a second home in Florida, I was so happy. My Eric bought it for me. This was my dream, not his. I wanted to live near my best friend, Marinez. Then she abruptly passes away in her sleep and I don’t even want to ever visit Florida.

God is good. Always, always. He takes care of me and carries me when I can’t walk. God gave me Eric and the perfect time. Eric is better than any dream and he’s mine.