It is with a heavy heart I write this blog as my thoughts have been a tangled weave of memories over the past few weeks. Life, that magical mystery tour that we all experience has ended for two people I loved dearly. I've been trying to write this post for days but couldn’t bring myself to do it till now. The pain of losing not one but two family members has been too great.
Within one weeks’ time I lost my Uncle, Albert VanLaecke and my Cousin, Jim VanLaecke.
Their passing has had me searching through my minds memory vault and finding hundreds of wonderful memories and times we spent together over the years. They will both be cherished forever within my heart
My Uncle Al was 93 when he died on March 25th and I can say he truly enjoyed life to the fullest in everything he did. We would sit for hours and talk about the “old times” and how his parents came over from Belgium in 1910 to start a new life in the United States. He and my mother painted vivid pictures of “Belgian Town” in Mishawaka for me where their family had owned a tavern at one time. They told of the hard times during the depression and of the fears of World War II. I would write feverishly as they shared stories of their childhood life in the early 1900’s so I might be able to capture their memories for years to come in my genealogy records. I don’t think I can remember a time when my Uncle Al didn’t have a smile on his face and welcome me with open arms and a great big hug and kiss. How I’m gonna miss those incredible hugs and his smile!!!!
April 1st, the phone rang and I learned that my cousin Jim VanLaecke had died that morning, it about broke my heart in two.
Jim and I were the same age, OK, so I was a few months older. He was like the brother I never had and as kids we got into trouble more times than I can remember. I will always cherish the memory of the two of us as we walked along the railroad track, near our grandparents house, picking the most beautiful roses you’d ever seen and then we’d take them down the street and go door to door trying to sell them to the neighbors so we could go buy penny candy at the store down the street, oh if Grandma Helen ever found out we would have been in so much trouble! Jim served in the Marines, married and had 3 beautiful children; Belinda, Nicholas and Beth. He loved his children dearly and always told me what they were doing whenever I spoke with him; he loved you kids more than you’ll ever know.
Jim had many talents other than being an accomplished accordion player, and I don’t think he ever really knew how talented he really was. Like me, Jim became and EMT and then became an EMT- IC. How proud I was of him that he’d taken it one step further than I had and became an EMT Instructor and would teach others how to help save lives. We often would share mutual stories of the fragility of life via email.
He was kind, funny, a great listener, had the sweetest smile, loved riding his motorcycle, enjoyed the water and fishing and loved nature, he truly lived life to the fullest.
My heart aches at the thought I will not see my Uncle Al or Jimmy again, but I know they are up in heaven awaiting the arrival of the rest of our family for one great big reunion. I love you both and miss you more each day!
Their lives remind me of the story of “The Dash” - How do you want to live your dash?
The Dash
By Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on his tombstone from the beginning…to the end.
He noted that first came the date of his birth and spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time that he spent alive on earth
And now only those who love him know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own, the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives like we never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile…
Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is read with your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?
My Uncle Al was 93 when he died on March 25th and I can say he truly enjoyed life to the fullest in everything he did. We would sit for hours and talk about the “old times” and how his parents came over from Belgium in 1910 to start a new life in the United States. He and my mother painted vivid pictures of “Belgian Town” in Mishawaka for me where their family had owned a tavern at one time. They told of the hard times during the depression and of the fears of World War II. I would write feverishly as they shared stories of their childhood life in the early 1900’s so I might be able to capture their memories for years to come in my genealogy records.
Jim and I were the same age, OK, so I was a few months older. He was like the brother I never had and as kids we got into trouble more times than I can remember. I will always cherish the memory of the two of us as we walked along the railroad track, near our grandparents house, picking the most beautiful roses you’d ever seen and then we’d take them down the street and go door to door trying to sell them to the neighbors so we could go buy penny candy at the store down the street, oh if Grandma Helen ever found out we would have been in so much trouble! 
