Dreams, Moments, Travels
This is a cheat and has been taken on one of the days I could get out to take some photos, but what the heck, it’s about the coast, and that’s where I’m at. Only, I don’t see the ocean on a daily basis, and do you really want to see the open-heart zipper scar my uncle has running down the middle of his chest? Yep, I’m still in Santa Barbara and will remain through Christmas.
Getting away to take photos has been extremely difficult as I’m cooking, cleaning, driving, shopping, and helping rehabilitate my uncle. I managed to sneak away early in the day to capture this 6:00 a.m. sunrise photo down at Santa Barbara Harbor in California. I can’t wait to see Caroline again.
This is where I’ve been spending a good part of the day into the evening while my uncle Woody recovers from his open-heart surgery. Three bypasses to correct six blockages. We started on the 2nd floor, where his surgery took place and where Intensive Care is located, and then moved up to the 4th floor. Today was his last day at the hospital.
Woody and my aunt Ann are joined by Woody’s father, Isaac, in this photo taken on my aunt and uncle’s wedding day back on August 3rd, 1946. Woody survived being hit by a train when he was 12, survived landing on Omaha beach during the Normandy invasion during World War II, and marched to the Battle of the Bulge, paving the way for him to survive 59 years of marriage.
Update: In 2023 I ran this photo through Photoshops restoration and colorization filter.
This is the great aunt of mine I am visiting in Santa Barbara, California. She was born Anna Mary Knezetic to her father, Robert Knezetic, and mother, Louisa (Lillian) Priezula Knezetic, on October 9, 1926. On August 3, 1946, she married Woodrow Burnstein, who, after the war, had dropped the ‘Stein,’ and the two became Mr. and Mrs. Woody Burns. My aunt has always been known to me as Tata, which I was told was Croatian for aunt, but upon looking that up, I found that Tata actually means “father.” After more than 40 years of her being Tata, I guess it’s better to leave it that way. Tata is the youngest of seven children; her siblings have all since passed away. Her sister Amelia was my father’s mother. Her brothers were Bob, George, John, Frank, and Mike Knezetic who just passed away this past April.
Update: Here in 2023, while updating some things, I looked at running this photo of my aunt through Photoshop’s photo restoration and colorized filters and felt it needed to be shared.
At the same time, I realized that there was one other thing I should have shared back on this day. While helping organize and clean some things, I came across this bottle of 409 All Purpose Cleaner, a common cleaner for sure, and at first glance, you might not notice anything special.
But look closely at the label, down at the bottom left, can you make out the date? This brand-new bottle of 409 was made back in 1977 and is now 28 years old vintage.
Following our Monday return to Phoenix, I made hasty arrangements for my return to Santa Barbara, California, to help my aunt and uncle following my uncle’s triple-bypass open-heart surgery. Tired from the 510-mile drive the day before, I left Phoenix before 9:00 a.m. and managed to miss any major traffic jams from Los Angeles through the San Fernando Valley into Ventura and Santa Barbara.
I arrived at 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. in Phoenix) in time to meet my aunt and visit my uncle. Recovery is progressing, but this is going to be tough for this 81-year-old great-uncle who probably found it easier being part of the Normandy landing during World War II. Updates to my Photo of the Day are going to be difficult for a few days; bear with me.