Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Losing Grandpa Gene

One of the tough things of this summer was the death of my dad’s dad, my Grandpa Gene. On June 2^nd he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, it was very advanced and they warned us that the end would be very quick. Little did we know just how fast that would be. On June 22^nd he passed away surrounded by all his Children and a few of my cousins. Those last weeks were incredibly stressful and hard on him but we are all thankful that he was not in pain for long and that he was able to have time with all of his kids in those 3 weeks. I was able to fly out to Baltimore with my family for the week to spend some time helping to tie up loose ends and to spend some time together. Amazingly our entire family was able to be at the funeral, all 4 of the kids, spouses, and all 8 grandkids and spouses. It was a tough week but also full of fun and laughter and the usual insanity that comes with that group of people. There is no doubt that grandpa’s death and cancer was sad and hard on everyone but I’m so thankful for an amazing family that could process it together and still have fun together.

Gpa's Funeral

The Whole Family

The post funeral dinner, good to have everyone in the same spot for a night

Sophie always makes the thumbs up pose and so this is us mocking it...in response to her face here she said, "well you all took my pose, so I didn't know what to do!"...hilarious

We have so many pictures on these steps...funny how when everyone is grown up you can't see the steps at all, to many people on them!

Love this Porch

A crowded Dining room, always full when we were in town

Fells Point downtown Baltimore, this used to be Gpa's police pier

Grandpa's Obituary...

Eugene J. Wysocki

Baltimore police officer
By Jacques Kelly
June 28, 2009
Eugene J. "Gino" Wysocki, a retired Baltimore police officer who patrolled the harbor and spent his free time playing the trombone at East Baltimore social events, died of cancer Monday at Franklin Square Hospital Center.

The Dundalk resident was 77.

Born in Baltimore and raised on Bank Street, he studied music with his father, who was organist at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Fells Point.

Mr. Wysocki also attended its parochial school and the old W.S. Seipp General Vocational School on Broadway.

He served in the Navy during the Korean War and survived a 1951 Narragansett Bay capsizing that claimed the lives of 18 servicemen.

Family members said that Mr. Wysocki was an excellent swimmer, a skill that would serve him in later years. He served aboard the USS Yellowstone.

He joined the Baltimore Police Department in 1956 and was assigned to the Eastern and Southeastern districts. For much of his time with the department, he worked on a police patrol boat, the Charles Gaither, based at Thames Street and Broadway.

"In the time he worked on the harbor, there were fires on the old wooden piers and in cargo holds and disturbances on boats he'd be called out for," said his son, David Tirrell-Wysocki of Canterbury, N.H. "He was a very good swimmer and didn't mind getting wet."

As part of his duties, Mr. Wysocki would be called upon to recover suicide and drowning victims.

His son said that his father, who had an upbeat personality, had a stock reply when friends asked him about removing the dead from the harbor: "Well, at least I never had one of them take a swing at me."

Mr. Wysocki also once saved the life of a man who filled his pockets with heavy pieces of masonry and jumped into the harbor at the foot of Broadway.

Mr. Wysocki dove in the water and retrieved the man, who later thanked him profusely.

On another occasion, Mr. Wysocki was pushed off a pier by a surging crowd that had assembled. Dressed in a heavy turnout coat, he sank to the bottom of the Patapsco, shed the coat and rose to safety, his son said.

Family members said he received departmental honors and later served in the department's community relations section before retiring in 1992.

He played in a police combo, the Sounds of an Era and also performed with the Melody Kings and other groups.

"He'd walk into a Highlandtown bar or social event, and maybe a band would be playing polkas," said Ray Bastianelli, a fellow musician. "Gino would say, 'Let's liven this joint up' and then bring out his trombone and start playing big-band numbers."

Recalled as a born entertainer who loved an audience, he was a devotee of the music of bandleaders Glenn Miller andTommy Dorsey and was recalled for his renditions of "In the Mood."

Mr. Bastianelli, who often performed with Mr. Wysocki, said his friend could play any instrument he put his hands on.

"I don't know what he loved more, his music or his family," said John Kaufman, commander of the Parkville American Legion Post No. 183, where Mr. Wysocki was a member. "He was extremely proud of his children and grandchildren."

His wife of 52 years, the former Eleanor Mazzulla, died in 2003.

Services were held Friday.

In addition to his son, survivors include two other sons, Gary Wysocki of Westminster, Colo., and Christopher Wysocki of Abingdon; a daughter, Linda Gates of Woodstock, Ga.; a brother, Alfred Wysocki of Timonium; a sister, Adele Misiora of Baltimore; and eight grandchildren.

Sweet Summer gig

Towards the end of the school year I wasn’t sure what I was going to do for a job or where I should be living this summer and in the midst of that got hooked up with a pretty sweet offer. I have some friends who work at the Covenant Church in Marin, CA. and knew that a family in their church was looking for a housesitter for 3 months. Enter me…! So I loaded up the car and my friend Brooke met me in Denver and we made the trek out to California. Living here has been so great, and I fully realize that it is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of deal. I don’t have a job so I get lots of time to unwind and explore the area. I get tons of time with Michele (she and Ben live just 20 min from me), time to explore the area and all the new scenery, and time to be with good friends in the area and make some new ones too. I’ve also had plenty of time to watch seasons 1-4 of LOST (a post graduation goal), and read almost 8 novels. All in all, it’s been unbelievable and so relaxing. I never realized how wound up and busy I was in Chicago until I got here. I just have a few more weeks to enjoy this lifestyle before I start my new adventure.

Dinner outside with Michele

Some pretty rough pool days:)

Inside the Casita (where I live)

Pretty rough view

Jam making day in Santa Cruz with the Mazzariello ladies

Pt. Reyes lighthouse...real foggy

Pt. Reyes beach

Done and Done

That’s right, after 3 years of classes and one year of an internship I finished up my MDIV this past May. The last semester felt so long and I was SO ready to be done. But then of course the whole week of graduation was so surreal and made me feel like the whole experience had flown by. I never thought that I would be able to complete the MDIV but am so glad that I stuck it out. My 3 years in Seminary were challenging, lonely at times, really busy, really cold, inspiring, formational, and full of great friends. So yeah, it’s hard to sum up. But more than anything I’m thankful for the chance to have gone there and been formed more into the kind of person that I should be.

Here are some pics from graduation…

Monday, June 15, 2009

Spring in Chicago

ok, ok...I know I'm a little behind in the blogging these days...but the good news is that I'm totally done with school and in theory that means that I might have a little more energy to get this thing updated (we'll see how it goes). This past spring feels a little like a whirlwind of shifts at the hospital as I did me chaplaincy, finishing up school work before graduating, trying to pursue jobs and figure out what my life would be like after graduation, a family trip to San Fran to see Ben and Michele, trying to keep up with my work on upcoming events (mainly annual meeting and CHIC) and trying to fit in some great Chicago things once the weather turned nice. Somehow it all happened and I lived to tell about it! In typical "angie" fashion when I am months behind, you will just get a little highlight of all these events in pictures.

A Kelsey and Ang spring break tradition, dying the river green

Wysocki Ladies in Cali

Wysocki Guys

Sheri's Graduation

Skipping class for the Giants vs. Cubs game...so worth it

Sunday, March 1, 2009

1st and ____

Somedays it's annoying to be asked about the Fray so much but somedays it's just really funny. For instance here is a conversation from last night...

Friend #1: "Angie, I just have one question for you"

Me: "What's that?"

Friend #1: " What the heck happened at the corner of 1st and Arlington"

Me: "What...?"

Friend #2: "Dude, don't you mean 1st and Amistad?"

Friend #1: "Yea, 1st and Amistad..."

oh my...

Friday, February 27, 2009

Connection '09 UNDONE

Back in the fall I was offered a position as an assistant producer to Katie Martinez for the national worship events for the Covenant Denomination. The events that this included were the Connection, Midwinter and we are currently working on the Annual Meeting that is coming up this summer. This job has been challenging and also incredibly rewarding. I was a little worried about coming off of my time in Zambia and being thrown into this producer role so quickly. But God was gracious and I felt strong and the whole experience was incredible powerful for me. While there were very stressful moments, lots of details and not much sleep there were also many glimpses of exactly why I love the Covenant so much. These are my friends and the people that love and know me best and it was refreshing to worship with them and be lead in worship by them.