In Memoriam

These were the words I spoke at Tat's memorial service on June 9th. Still, it doesn't cover the joy, humor, and happiness he brought into my life (as well as so many others' lives), but it's a tip of the iceberg...

My grandfather had many claims to fame during his life. I have one: which was naming him. As the first-born grandchild, I had the perk of giving him his “grandpa name.” Somehow I came up with “Tata.” Once we both outgrew that name, it was shortened to “Tat.” And that is how we all referred to him for thirty-something years.

It might go without saying, but I will say it anyway: when it comes to grandfathers, I sure hit the jackpot. Although Tat gave his time and attention to so many people, activities, and causes, he was also deeply devoted to us, his small family. He was a reliable presence--at birthdays, holidays, school events, band concerts, baseball games--or just swinging by for a cup of coffee after church, to visit and see how we were doing. Just a few years ago, he attended Grandparents Day at my son’s school. He was the only great-grandfather in the class. We’ve all lived within 10 miles of each other for as long as I’ve been alive, and that proximity fostered an easy familiarity and closeness over the years. I do find it amazing that Tat was able to spread himself around without ever spreading himself too thin.

Whether you knew Tat publicly, privately, or both, we were all drawn to him because he simply had the most welcoming and inclusive personality. His life was filled with good nature, good intentions, good works, and lots of good humor. He didn’t judge. He didn’t boast. He didn’t fret. And he didn’t complain. He was easy-going, yet determined, and always brimming with positivity. His life was an engaging story filled with many fascinating chapters. And just like any good book, it’s really sad to see it end. But his many great qualities live on in my wonderful mom, who, in my opinion, was his greatest gift to this world. And his memory will live in my heart always.

Lessons Learned from Tat

When I was formulating ideas about what to say at Tat's memorial service, I started thinking about lessons I learned from him. I decided to say different words at his service (see above), but I still wanted to share some personal thoughts that came to me... I don't think I realized how much I learned from him until he was gone. I love you, Tat.

1. Let humor carry you through life. Even if you were the object of his jokes, you were never the butt of them. In our family, we had lots of simple inside jokes that somehow stood the test of time. When he went to Norway in 1994, he sent me a postcard of some hideous trolls with one simple phrase written on the back: “Met some of your cousins.”
2. Go to Hawaii. Even if you don’t have anyone to go with you. Better yet? Bring your granddaughter. I certainly didn’t realize how lucky I was to be treated to an all-expense tour of the Hawaiian Islands when I was nine years old. Despite being a little homesick, I came back with many amazing memories. I’m not sure who returned home more tan--Tat or I.
3. Don’t doubt yourself. A lot of us would have been terrified venturing into new territory (such as politics and law), as Tat did. He didn’t seem to fret about his qualifications or worry about his ability to pull off a performance or task. He just arose to the occasion, time and again.
4. Eat a little something sweet right after dinner. Just don’t eat too much of it.
5. Always be good-natured. Tat was easy to talk to. He didn’t judge. He didn’t try to change you. He didn’t put you down. He was positive and good-hearted. He made himself a pleasure to be around, someone who’s company you would always welcome. People flocked to him because he made them feel comfortable.
6. Don’t spend too much money on your decor, your clothes, or your food. Going through pictures for our slideshow, I was reminded how much Tat loved his blue Member’s Only jacket. But as we all know he was generous with others. And he wasn’t afraid to dress up. Tat was the only man I know who needed his own tuxedo. He looked great in it, too.
7. Golf. It never caught on with me. But I think Tat would be happy to know that my son Nathan just got his first set of clubs.
8. Live close to your kids after they are grown. I always lived within ten miles of Nana and Tat, and that vicinity throughout my life fostered an easy camaraderie and closeness between us. I wouldn’t change that for the world.
9. Believe in the goodness of others. Don’t be spiteful and petty. Like Tat, I do think that most people belong in the good category. But I think you’d all agree with me that Tat did not...he was special; he was one of the absolute best.

In Loving Memory of Tat

George L Pederson

1924-2015

George Ludvig Pederson, age 90, of Valencia, CA passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 9, 2015. He was born on December 4, 1924 in Ft. Dauphin, Madagascar. He was the youngest of nine children born to Lutheran missionaries Christian and Petra Pederson. He spent his childhood living in a missionary school with his siblings and exploring Madagascar's exotic natural beauty. He immigrated to the United States when he was 13, settling first in South Dakota and then Minnesota.

George came to California in the early 1940s and joined the navy during World War II. He served on four ships in the South Pacific over the course of three years. He loved being in the navy and looked back on this time in his life as a great adventure.

In 1950, George married his wife Verlene and settled in the San Fernando Valley, where they raised their daughter, Terry. After a brief stint as a milkman, he embarked on a career in law enforcement, serving on the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for 31 years, first in West Hollywood and then in the Santa Clarita Valley. George was well-known as captain and commander of the Wayside Honor Rancho (now known as the Pitchess Detention Center) in Castaic. He retired from the Sheriff's Department in 1984.

Upon retirement, George moved to, and continued to be active in, the community he served for so many years, the Santa Clarita Valley. He especially loved emceeing events--from fundraisers to beauty pageants to roasts--earning the nickname, "The Bob Hope of the SCV." A long-time supporter of the SCV Boys and Girls Club, George was the chairman of their annual auction, proud of his ability to raise money for this special organization.

George was involved with numerous charities and local causes over the years, including the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, the YMCA, and the SCV Senior Center. He was a member of the Santa Clarita City Formation Committee, a group that successfully pushed for Santa Clarita's cityhood. In addition to his philanthropic activities, George reinvented himself time and again during his retirement, as the coordinator for the L.A. County Sheriff's Department Training Academy at COC, a jail consultant, a member of the Los Angeles Regional Planning Commission, and, perhaps most memorably, as a local politician. George served on the Santa Clarita City Council, from 1992 through 1996. One of his proudest accomplishments was being "Earthquake Mayor" in 1994 when the Northridge Earthquake struck. He mobilized and headed recovery efforts from a tent outside of city hall and played an integral role in helping Santa Clarita recover from the disaster. After a run for the California State Assembly in 1996, George left politics and served as foreman of the Los Angeles County Grand Jury and a hearing officer for the National Association of Securities Dealers. George was named SCV Man of the Year in 1997.

When not serving the community, George enjoyed golfing, traveling, and spending time with his family, to whom he was devoted. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Verlene. He will be deeply missed by his daughter and son-in-law, Terry and Walter Breitinger of Newhall, CA; his grandson Matthew Breitinger of Newhall, CA; his granddaughter and her husband, Kristin and Brendan Conrad of Saugus, CA; his great-grandsons Nathan and Evan Conrad of Saugus, CA; and his sister Solveig Bailey of Northfield, MN.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 25816 Tournament Rd., Valencia, CA 91355. Memorial contributions may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley or the SCV Senior Center.

Words about Grandpa Carl

The following text was what I said at Grandpa Carl's memorial service on April 22nd. I'll admit it was extremely difficult to communicate with Grandpa, especially for me because of my mousy voice. I honestly don't think Grandpa heard much of what I had to say in the last decade. But I heard him--loud and clear. And his words, and his actions, spoke volumes...

"Growing up, I had a special drawer in my dresser. It was full of things like: seashells, rocks, feathers, foreign coins, postcards, egg shells, trinkets, and even, if memory serves, a dried-up seahorse. This was known for years as my “Grandpa Carl Drawer.” The drawer no longer exists, but I still have some of its contents--minus the seahorse. To me, this drawer illustrated a memorable part of Grandpa’s personality: his love of sharing.

Grandpa loved to share stories, memories, facts, and trivia. From his travels, he brought back postcards, pictures, and slides. He shared brochures, programs, and church bulletins. He shared produce from his surprisingly-prolific little yard in Oceanside, tangerines, nuts, stuffed dates, and maybe an expired Cracker Jack box or two. And many of us here today will fondly remember Grandpa’s long-time habit of breaking out a slew of comics and cartoons he had clipped from the newspaper, to pass around at the dinner table. He even brought a pocketful to our wedding.

For Grandpa, sharing was caring. It was something he truly loved to do--to share his interests and anecdotes with his captive audience, time... and again. It’s a uniquely endearing quality that I’ll always remember about him. And I think our lives were enriched because of it."

Never Forgotten

Carl Louis Breitinger

Obituary 1916-2015 Carl Louis Breitinger, age 98, of Valencia, CA passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2015. He was born on September 6, 1916, in Cleveland, OH to Louis and Mathilda Breitinger. Following the untimely passing of his father and younger brother, Carl and his mother, "Tillie," made the cross-country trip in their Model T Ford to start a new life in the Golden State. During his childhood, Carl developed a life-long passion for the outdoors and nature while living in the then largely undeveloped areas of Los Angeles, CA. Carl graduated from Garfield High School in East Los Angeles in 1933. He then graduated from Los Angeles Junior College in 1937 and the University of California, Berkeley in 1939 with a degree in forestry. For nearly 30 years, Carl worked for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, achieving the rank of lieutenant. Following his career in law enforcement he and his wife Elfreda worked seasonally for the U.S. Forest Service. Carl and Elfreda loved to travel ~ they visited all 50 states and over 80 countries. Carl's wanderlust and love of learning led to countless adventures all over the world. Never shy, he loved to immerse himself in the cuisines, cultures, languages, and landscapes of the areas he visited. His travels provided Carl with material for another of his great joys: storytelling. When not traveling the world, Carl and Elfreda called Oceanside, CA home for several decades. Carl was an active member of his church, gave generously to numerous charities, enjoyed visiting with his children and grandchildren, and spent many years volunteering his time for the Meals on Wheels program, often delivering meals to those younger than he was. In 2006, Carl and Elfreda moved to Valencia to be closer to their family. Carl was a resident of the Sunrise at Sterling Canyon community and worshipped at Christ Lutheran Church. Carl was preceded in death by his first wife, Ellen, and second wife, Virginia. He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Elfreda; his daughter Lynn Lopez of Los Angeles, CA; his son Walter (Terry) Breitinger, of Newhall, CA; his daughter, Ann (Peter) Raugh, of Coeur d'Alene, ID; 8 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Six Years

Dear Evan,

You’ve finally drifted off into a deep sleep after another big birthday filled with a long school day followed by a baseball game and dinner at Souplantation. I just wanted to jot down some words before I drift off, too! It sure is crazy for me to think that six years ago tonight, you were such a helpless little baby in the NICU, because you’ve certainly come a long way since then!

Just a year ago, you were celebrating your birthday with your preschool friends, with thoughts of kindergarten on the horizon. Now you still have many of those same friends. Caleb and Mitchell are in your class this year, but you’ve made many new friends, including Anthony, Tre and Kayden. You enjoy socializing and having play dates any chance you can get. Your list of “best friends” is quite long!

You’ve been learning to read and write since starting kindergarten in August, and you’re getting better at both by the day. You can now read early reader books by yourself, though you still love it when I read the Berenstain Bears books to you. You’re fascinated by numbers, too, and you spend lots of time in and out of school writing your numbers from one to….wherever you decide to stop. You also love to write words and compose emails to family members. Sometimes those emails reference “poo.” Hey, you’re six!

But no one can deny that your absolutely favorite activities revolve around sports. You are playing your third season of Hart baseball right now, on the Detroit Tigers, but you’ve developed a passion for soccer and basketball, too. Rarely a day goes by that you don’t ask one of us to go outside and play one of those games with you. You also love playing soccer every chance you get at recess. You’re fiercely competitive, and your skills improve all the time, You took a Kidz Love Soccer class in the winter, and we’re looking forward to starting you on your first AYSO team this fall.

You’re strong-willed and sometimes quick-tempered, but you’re also quick to love and appreciate those around you. You shower me with “I love yous” and “thank yous,” and it always warms my heart. You and Nathan have a rollercoaster relationship, but I know at the end of the day, you are brothers--and best friends--to the end.

You and Nathan both really enjoy Minecraft, which you get to play on weekends, along with Cars 2 on PlayStation. You do love spending time over at Grandma T and Papa’s house, where you get to play with Uncle Matt and little Daisy the dog.

When I think about all the ways you’ve grown over the last year, it’s hard to think where you’ll be a year from now. Right now I just want to enjoy you--every vivacious, loud, giggly,

aggressive, sweet, smart, sleepy, hungry, thirsty, sporty, creative part. Because when you put all those pieces together, it makes one really great kid. I love you, Evan! Happy birthday, my sweet!

Love,

Mommy

And They Lived Happily Ever After...

I just posted this as a review of the final Harry Potter book on Goodreads. I thought it was worth saving here on my rarely-used-but-glad-I-have-it blog:

So, as I stayed up until 11 p.m. last night (which, by the way, is my equivalent of 4 in the morning) binge-reading the last fifth of this book, I have to say I surprised myself. It started with misty eyes...then a few tears...then, I'll admit it, I had an ugly cry. I have enjoyed all the books, of course--they are, without a doubt, timeless children's lit masterpieces. But I never got too, you know, emotionally wrapped-up in them, even at the end of Book 6 when...well, you know what happens at the top of that tower...

But I always knew there was another book, another chapter, another session at Hogwarts to enjoy. It was surprising how bittersweet it felt to let go of this world and these characters. (And, seriously, Albus Severus? I can't even.)

On a personal note, I also recognized this as the end of a special time with my older son. We began reading the series several years ago. At the time, his reading level wasn't quite Harry Potter-level, so I read the first two books to him word for word. It. Took. Forever. But it was worth it. He became so enraptured in the books, that he insisted on reading the rest on his own, where he could go at his own pace (and he wouldn't have to endure my Hagrid accent). I never read the books when they first debuted, before I had kids, so each one was a new adventure for me, too. Although we read the books separately (with me going at an often annoying snail's pace), we always talked about the books together and watched the movies after I "FINALLY" finished each one. While we still have the last two movies to watch, the stories are now history. But I'm happy these books became such a beloved part of my kiddo's childhood. Hopefully my kindergartner will choose to delve into them before too long, as well.

Today was "Dress Like a Super Hero Day" at my sons' elementary school. I volunteered during the lunch hour, and as I watched the sea of kids in Batman and Superman capes, I had to fight back the waterworks again as I spotted my kid, the only one wearing a Hogwarts robe and a Gryffindor tie.