Frances’ Mid-Lifestreaming

It seems the Universe decided we needed some drama in our lives today.

A brake malfunction on a circular saw left the Picture Rocks Desert Viking with a leg wound and an opportunity to meet the local Emergency Room crowd. He has 11 stitches and a good reason to relax and read for a couple of days.

When we arrived at Northwest Medical Center in Tucson there was an elderly man sitting in the Emergency Room crying. He was alone, sitting and shaking his head, sobbing softly.

I asked him if I could help him.

“No,” he said. “Notre Dame lost by three points today.”

He continued to shake his head and sob.

I said a silent prayer that Penn State would have a better day.

Another day in the desert.

What a week! Camilla Esther is already a week old. What a precious child!

I am eternally thankful for the serendipity that brought Camilla’s mother into our lives. I cannot imagine a more wonderful loving life partner for my son. I cannot imagine a more wonderful mother for my granddaughter. (I love the funny face photo of the new Mom. This child will live in a world of smiles and joy!)

I am also thankful for the joy and privilege of sharing descendent lineage with the Pangborns.

I am overjoyed today.  God’s Hands never felt so close … they are as near as the Daddy’s arms holding our littlest princess this morning in Happy Valley.

When he was a small child his parents bought a house on Boyd Avenue in Jersey City. He was an entrepreneur at an early age. He had a small printing press and he created raffle tickets for his sister and brother to sell. There are many laughs connected with tales of irate Polish ladies in that neighborhood who were very unhappy with the quality of the worn, used rosary beads they won in those raffles in the 1930s. 

When he was 15 years old he ran away and joined the Marine Corps. He served as a corporal with the U.S. Marines in the South Pacific during World War Two. The young Marine engaged in battle on Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, and many other bloody campaigns in the Pacific Theater. He won a Purple Star and other medals and taught his children that war is folly and a failure of leadership. There was never a day he did not succumb to tears. Television battles triggered tears and recollections. My father’s soul never recovered from the fractures sustained in that conflict.

His cousin. Adam Olszewski, invited him to meet his wife’s beautiful friend, Irene Maliszewski. They met at Adam and Wanda’s house and watched “The Milton Berle Show.” The next day he declared to his best friend. Charlie Daniels, he met the woman he would marry and with whom he would spend the rest of his days. Their next date was at a bowling alley. They courted for a time and married in 1950. They spent their first three years of marriage in a cold water flat on 13^th Street in Jersey City. He worked in the Budweiser Brewery and she worked at Chase in Manhattan until she had her first daughter (me) in May, 1952. Linda followed 13 months later. In July, 1953 the Flynn family of four moved to the country, to a small, three-bedroom ranch home on a 75x100 lot. There was a driveway and a large yard. They planted trees and bushes and lots of red roses.

Two more children followed, Theresa Ann (1957) and a son, Jeremiah John (1958). Daddy held a job as a U.S. mail carrier for years. In his spare time he loved to write. He wrote stories and poems that were published in Sign Magazine and various poetry anthologies.

I remember his joy when he became a reporter for The Bergen Evening Record. He became a distinguished newspaper editor and magazine editor.

He loved unconditionally and he was loved dearly.

He and his wife shared a special, sacred devotion to the Blessed Mother.

He is survived by:

·         Four children: Frances Flynn Thorsen (Tucson, AZ), Linda Licata (Colleyville, TX), Theresa Terlemezian (Paramus, NJ), and Jeremiah J. Flynn (Ringwood, NJ).

·         Ten grandchildren: Jens Holger Thorsen and Andreas Holger Thorsen (State College, PA), Anthony Licata, Ph.D (Palo Alto, CA), Nicholas Licata, Ph.D (Dresden, Germany), Joseph Licata (Dallas, TX), Christopher Pertuz (New York City), Gregory Pertuz (Amherst, MA), Eric Pertuz (Paramus, NJ), Jeremiah E. Flynn and Jessica Flynn (Ringwood, NJ).

·         One great-granddaughter: Camilla Esther Thorsen (State College, PA).

The word “Unfriend” has taken on new and significant meaning in our lives, in social media and in real life.  My recent blog post leads me to think a good blog post is in order on this topic.

I will share some personal observations and I welcome input from other souls who are unfriended, unfollowed, and blocked by others in social media.

You can participate in a variety of ways:

1.       You can leave a comment here and I will consider your comment for inclusion in the article.

2.       You can e-mail me your thoughts … fran@therealtygram.com

3.       You can e-mail me to set up a time to chat and we can include your thoughts

a.       With attribution

b.      On background, anonymously

“NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) – "Unfriend" has been named the word of the year by the New Oxford American Dictionary, chosen from a list of finalists with a tech-savvy bent.Unfriend was defined as a verb that means to remove someone as a "friend" on a social networking site such as Facebook …”

I find it a useful tool to eliminate toxic thoughts and energy. I take it one step further, using the “Block” tool in Privacy Settings for more egregious toxic offenders!

There’s a longer blog post coming on this topic soon! Watch http://RealEstateSocialMediaPolicies.com blog for my thoughts on social media friends and “unfriends.” I’

This little lady was born last night into the arms of the most wonderful Mom and Dad in the world. The family is rejoicing in all corners of this planet. She is the first in a new generation of Pangborns and Thorsens.