R.I.P. EUGENE K.

Many family members, sometimes me - although not always - have always blamed Eugene K. for our dear David's drug overdose death. Bottom line - David made poor choices and while Eugene may have been a "contributor" - it was David's choice to take that poison. Subsequently, and through her own intention, David's grieving mother died of a massive stroke. When David died she adamantly refused to take any of her diabetes or high blood pressure medications. She also made a number of direct attempts to kill herself.

Now Eugene has died of a brain aneurysm, I'm told, and at age 27, a bright and charming young man has gone from us and from his grieving parents.

Drugs are the bane of human existence and young men who think they are immortal have a great ability to find themselves dead as a result of playing with them in their ignorance. It isn't just the rich and famous, you know. It's also the young and stupid!

Meanwhile, a brilliant and beautiful young man is gone from us at a time when we need all the brilliant and beautiful we can find.

Rest in peace dear lad. I'm sure I'll be seeing you one of these days.

TODAY WOULD HAVE BEEN IRENE SAVKO'S BIRTHDAY!

To my enormous sorrow, that beautiful and much loved woman died at the age of 58 in 1974. I still miss her. She was bright, funny, opinionated (if anyone wondered where it came from) and the best mother anyone was ever lucky enough to have. She taught me a lot, but not how to cook. No patience. My aunts and my father instructed me in the art of cooking. But from my mother I learned to appreciate good literature and pure-Lord crap literature. Her opinion was that you could learn something from everyone and everything - if not what to do, then what not to do. She was beautiful and loving and I loved her for every minute that I had her. And I've wanted her with me every day since she died.

I love you Mom!