Florine's Gift

Florine loved me so much that she left me a special gift when she died...
the meaning of true friendship and generosity of spirit.
When the demons came to haunt me, I wasn't alone.


In a way, I have lost my friends along with my Babe.
They are no longer just friends...They are now family, and I love them
with all my heart.


I would like to thank all my friends and neighbors for their help and generousity. However, I did receive a beautiful flower arrangement without a card , so please understand that I would thank you if I could.

Also, love to my friends and family (Florine's is mine too) who disrupted their busy schedules to fly here (if only for a few hours) from all parts of the United States to be at Florine's " Celebration Of Life" service. I am humbled at the response, but not surprised, because she had meaning to all who crossed her path.

I would like to share a letter with you from my new family members, Jackie and Stan Drosch, who, along with my other family members- Carol Parker, Chistina Parodi, Bob & Shelly Bushman, and Elaina & Yudi Hershowitz... never waivered with their love and support. I could not have gone through this nightmare without them.

I would also be remiss if I didn't thank my long time friends Bob Barry & Kathy Byrd for their love, time, and professional support, along with Justin & Karen Cunningham for being there when I needed them.

They all, most definitely, "Walked the Walk'....when it mattered.



Dearest John -

A beautiful day honoring precious Florine. The church service was lovely - the music - perfect and very beautiful, just like your Florine! Christina's words were remarkable! Her expression of love with each and every word was so remarkable - remarkable because we were all thinking of those very same words - but none of us could ever express it in public like she did yesterday!

Your poem on the back of the program was the BEST of all. You are very, very talented and should definitely write poetry! Both of you, so artistic - a real gift, indeed.

Now you face your new chapter of life, without your precious Babe - we know how difficult it will be - but please realize we are all here for you. We ALL will miss our dearest Florine so very, very much - we all agreed yesterday what a huge part is missing in our lives - so we can well imagine how hard it is for you.

The gathering of friends and family in your beautiful home was perfect - everyone asked each other how we met Florine & you and etc. So, it was a lovely healing experience - just part of the healing process - hopefully for all of us - time will help us to heal our great sorrow. We will always remember Florine's smiling face - her wonderful wit - her whimsical laugh - her remarkable skills - her fabulous artistic ability at everything she tackled and most of all for me, her sound advice whenever I asked her to help me! Yes, we all will miss her so - we loved her so much.

Everything at the house yesterday worked out very well. The garden - the food - family and friends - the drinks.......Everything looked perfect - even the beautiful fruit on the trees! That fig tree amazes me - you cut it back to nothing and just a few months later it's almost blooming with fruit! Mr. Greenthumbs, indeed! I'm sure you must have tons of leftovers - but the family should wipe those out in no time! It was a pleasure meeting your brother, Joseph. He is insisting that you come to visit him in Gig Harbor next month. We agreed - it would be so relaxing for you. A healthy get-away to a beautiful place with family - just the medicine you need in a month from now! I am taking care of all the cancellations for Italy. No worries.

Call us when you feel like it. We understand that you need to be alone for a few days to "regroup" after so much emotional termoil. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU - DAY OR NIGHT! Love you dearly. Take care. Speak to you very soon. Lots of Love, Jackie & Stan


Thanks for the gift Babe,

My Love Forever,

John