Tour of New England

We had an enjoyable time on our tour of New England. The weather was beautiful. Pleas click on the link below and enjoy the pictures we took.

http://picasaweb.google.com/tciarriocco/NewEnglandFall2007

OCS Reunion

During the first week of May, I attended a reunion of my OCS class, which graduated in June 1970, in San Antonio, Texas. In addition to the Alamo and Riverwalk, we toured Fredricksberg, Luckenback, the LBJ Ranch and more missions.
Please click to view my pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/tciarriocco/OCSReunion2007

My 60th Birthday

Yesterday was my 60th birthday. We had a good dinner at the Derby Restaurant in Arcadia. These special birthdays are a time for reflection. I am very grateful for what I have in my life; not the material possessions, but mainly my family. I've got a wonderful wife and as fine a son that a man could hope to have.
My Mom is 83 years old and is doing fine. My brothers and sister are well. We have a strong, though quiet bond, among ourselves. I am blessed.

Gamble House in Pasadena

Gamble House

We visited the Gamble House in Pasadena on Saturday, March 10. Photos of the interior were not allowed.

Mom's Birthday Party

We celebrated my Mom's 83rd birthday at my sister's house.

Grandma Bea's 83rd Birthday

Ascent of Half Dome

Half Dome

I made it to the top of Half Dome in June 2000. This was an exhilerating hike. Those tiny 'ants' are really people using the cables to assist the climb.

Newport Beach

Newport Beach

It was a very cold and windy Friday evening in January as we went to Newport Beach to meet Timm and Crystal.

Bill's Funeral

Funeral

It was with sadness that we buried my father-in-law on September 19, 2006. The following eulogy was given by his grandson, Phillip.

My Grandfather’s passing was the first time that I have lost somebody close to me. This experience has made us all feel a variety of emotions. There is obvious sadness in that our family’s father figure who gave us all an abundance of love and affection is no longer with us. There is regret, in that even though he was in most of our lives for such a long time, some of us may wish that we could have one more chance to let him know how much we appreciate his love and work, and how much we all loved him. However, I also feel a deep sense of happiness, in that I was blessed with a Grandfather who was incredibly loving and adoring, and who always made it a point to show the love and pride that he had for his children and grandchildren.

There are many ways in which I will remember Grandpa. He was an old-school guy with a deep-booming voice, sported a crew cut and was always meticulous about keeping a neat and sharp appearance. He also enjoyed the company of his brothers, friends, and family. But what will always stand out in my mind will be the way he would greet me each time I saw him. Each greeting, without fail, would include an enthusiastic “How Ya’ doin’ Cowboy?” followed by a firm handshake and a smile. My Grandpa always had a natural way of making people feel welcome and comfortable the moment anybody walked through his door. At the end of these visits, Grandpa would always make it a point to tell us how much he loved us and cared for us and would send us off, with a “Good Night and a God Bless You.”

Throughout my entire life, Grandpa was always telling me how proud he was of me. Even though there were times growing up when I felt unsure of myself and undeserving of his praise, he still made it a point to instill his confidence in me- the way only a Grandfather can. However, as I grew up and begin to shape the direction of my own life, I developed a deeper sense of respect and admiration for him and what he had accomplished. It’s easy to forget that our parents and grandparents were young people at one time-full of hopes and dreams of the future. One of my favorite pictures of him shows him at 19 years old in front of a church in Miami, AZ. This photograph shows my grandfather as a strong, proud young man, with his whole life ahead of him.

As a young man, not yet twenty years old, Grandpa left his beloved home and family in Globe, AZ to go half way across the world to fight in the war. Over the years, I had an abundance of questions in my mind about his experience while in the Army as it undoubtedly had a profound effect on him during his formative years. Yet, I respected his reluctance to really discuss it in detail. I was told that it was his way of protecting his family. It’s pretty amazing when I think of how the events of his young life would lead him to have quite a brush with history. As a young soldier, he steamed out of Hawaii, where he witnessed the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. During his time in the Army he would also serve as a personal guardian to General Douglas MacArthur and, at the close of the war, my Grandpa was present in Tokyo Bay when Japan surrendered on the USS Missouri in September of 1945.

My Grandpa always spoke of this experience in brevity and with modesty. A few times he would mention some rather harrowing experiences that he had as a soldier. I don’t know the specifics of where he was, in what year-those details I will have to defer to our resident war historian-my Uncle Bill. But I thank God that he made it home safe and in one piece. So, tomorrow, I will be filled with a deep sense of pride when his service is recognized at the Veterans Cemetery as we say our final goodbyes.

Immediately after completing his military service my grandfather returned home where his young wife, my Grandma Mercy was waiting for him to start their lives. Together, they worked hard and built a home for their three children-my Uncles Bill and Rick and my mom Delia. All of us children and grandchildren have enjoyed some great memories in that home and I think it’s appropriate to express our gratitude to my Grandma for her and my Grandfather’s hard work in providing us that opportunity.

My Grandfather’s devotion and loyalty to his family were apparent to everybody. He was a hard worker, who answered the bell day in and day out for 40 years to provide shelter, food, and comfort for his family. Without question, he was great model for what a family provider should be.

It goes without saying that my Grandpa Bill liked to be social, especially in his younger years. Grandpa also had a sharp, sometimes devilish sense of humor. Many of his witty comments probably wouldn’t be appropriate to share here tonight. But they were funny nonetheless. In recent weeks, it was great to see that he was still capable of cracking up those who visited or cared for him at the convalescent home.

For those of us here on Earth, Heaven remains a mysterious place. But I would like to think that Grandpa is up there enjoying a few drinks and some laughs with his beloved family and friends from Globe while reminiscing about old times-and I know that everybody is glad to see him.

Throughout various points in a man’s life, deep in his private thoughts, hidden away from everybody, he will stop and take stock of his life and wonder about whether he has done enough for himself, his family. He will think privately about his aspirations and concerns for the future. Yet he will maintain an appearance of confidence and stability without seeking assurance from anybody-that’s what Fathers and Grandfathers do. Those of us who rely on them usually don’t recognize this as we are too wrapped up in our lives, nor do we express our gratitude for their efforts as often as we should. But, if I could have one more opportunity-I would tell Grandpa that he has left a Grandson who is inspired by his life and is full of admiration for the man that he was and I would also thank him for giving me the best mother that anybody could ask for.

Time will move on. As his descendents, we will strive for greater achievements and build homes and families of our own, knowing that we are passing on some of his morals and values that have imprinted our lives, just the way Grandpa would have wanted.

80 years of life on this Earth-a dutiful son and brother, loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Here’s to a job well done, Grandpa. Goodnight and God Bless you.

I gave the following eulogy.

At last night’s services, we heard from Bill’s grandchildren, Lynnette and Phillip, and his great-grandson Gabriel. They each spoke from the heart how important Bill was to them. I’m sorry for those of you who were unable to be there, but, in short, they described a man who was strong, loving, caring, protective, fun-loving, playful and polite. I would like to add my perspective as his son-in-law.

For over 30 years of marriage to his only daughter, I’ve come to appreciate that special bond between a father and his daughter. However, I needed help to find the words to express this and I found a short poem.

A little girl needs Daddy
For many, many things:
Like holding her high off the ground
Where the sunlight sings!

Like being the deep music
That tells her all is right
When she awakens frantic with
The terrors of the night.

Like being the great mountain
That rises in her heart
And shows her how she might get home
When all else falls apart.

Like giving her love
That is her sea and air,
So diving deep or soaring high
She’ll always find him there.

Bill was certainly a mountain of a man with a heart of gold.

Like each one of us, Bill has played many roles in his lifetime. On the day of his birth, July 3, 1926, he became the son of Delia and Augustin Salazar. He was also the brother of several sisters and brothers, including his last living sibling, Dan Salazar.

He was nephew, a cousin and a grandson.

In the 1920’s and 1930’s, he grew up in Globe, Arizona where he was a friend, a playmate and a student. The only story I remember Bill telling about school was the day the Vice-Principal caught him smoking on the steps of the school.

As you all know, he loved Globe. He knew every inch of the town and every family that lived there. He probably told each one of you a story or two or three about Globe. I feel like I know every inch of the town.

The 1940’s were a critical time for Bill. He became a soldier, fighting in the Philippines and he eventually went to Japan as part of the occupation forces.
But more importantly, he became a husband when he married Mercy.
He became a father when Billy, then Rick and Dee Dee were born.

During the fifties, he was a co-worker and a friend to many at Wiggins. He was Uncle Billy to his extended family in Banning.

In the sixties, he assumed new family roles, first as a father-in-law to Diane and Sally; then as a grandfather when Michelle was born, followed, in later years, by Lynnette, Cheryl and Carol.

On August 14, 1976, he became my father-in-law. I recall once when Bill had just returned from one his many bar inspection tours, he grabbed me around the neck with his massive arm and had me in a chokehold. He said, I love you, Tony, but get a haircut and shave your moustache. I now stand before him with shorter hair and clean-shaven.

In 1978, Dee Dee, his little Skeeter, gave him his only grandson, Phillip.

In the eighties, he became a great-grandfather when Lorraine was born. She was followed by Marina, Andy, Gabriel, David, Matthew and Katy Rose.

He lived a long time on Vancouver Avenue, where he was a friend and neighbor to folks like Tony and Carmen and Ruben and Donna.

In the convalescent home, he was everyone’s Compa. He was friendly to everyone there, from the Director of the home to the janitor. He was grateful and personally thanked everyone who helped him throughout the day. They were all sad when they lost their Compa.

The one facet that characterized all these roles was, in a word, love.

He loved his Mom and Dad, his brothers and sisters. He never stopped talking about them. And, boy, how he loved Globe, Arizona.

He was very much in love with Mercy. He loved his entire family and all of his friends.

And I will always remember him, and will always honor him, because he loved me, too.