After a few rather depressing posts about Gambling, I’m hoping to get back to the lighter side of life. The day after acquiring the Cadillac DeVille, I woke up on Sunday and asked dad if he wanted to go for a drive. It was a gorgeous morning with the sun shining and the promise of …
I have been saving this one for last because this is the most egregious of Vitauts’ gambling vices. While he spends a few dollars on the fraudulent contests and a few dollars on the scratch tickets, he spends hundreds at the casino. I have idly sat by for the past year watching him go “Across …
Scratch tickets. I remember when they first started in Nebraska. I was either in middle school or early in high school. I did a quick check, but the exact date isn’t readily available. I am trying to figure out why these kinds of gambling games are legal, while others are not? Mom always enjoyed scratch …
This is one of the harder posts to share with the world, but I think what I have to say on this issue is important. If to no one else, then to me. Vitauts has always liked games of chance. From an early age, I watched him play poker, solo, solitaire and many other games …
After deliberation, Vitauts decided to let the Mercury die. I had to explain the insurance situation a few times. Basically, he had three choices after we found out that the fuel pump was broken. 1) He could fix the car’s body damage and the fuel pump and end up paying $1,000 or more out of …
As the mercury has fallen, so has dad’s Mercury Grand Marquis. After getting into his accident a few weeks ago, and as we wait patiently for the State Farm insurance people to call, the car has fallen into a state of disuse and perhaps a slow death cycle. As you may know from other posts, …
A week or so ago, I came home from lunch and dad was a bit excited about the mail. I asked him what it was, and he showed me a package from Venezuela. “Who do you know in Venezuela,” I asked. He looked at the name and thought aloud, “Guntars Gedulis… Guntars Gedulis…” He paused …
On any given night some thirty years ago, Vitauts Grinvalds could be seen in these same stands, or, more likely, standing up along the fence of the Yutan Chieftains’ football field watching the game and smoking his pipe. His sixth child, Alan, was a star on the team and one of dad’s few family engagements …
I am writing this still in the euphoric afterglow of Nebraska’s incredible comeback against Michigan State this Saturday. It was one of the most amazing games that I have ever watched, and I watched it with dad. Usually, two or three random siblings and other relatives or friends will show up for a big game, …
This is going to sound rather awful, but since my dad has been living with me, my siblings and I have all shared our biggest fear: Dad will eventually hurt himself or someone else while driving. The big question is, “When do you take away the keys?” I have had this conversation with many of …