Special Messages

Mommy, I would have to write a book to even scratch the surface of how much I LOVE YOU! We just had Christmas and New Years again without you . . .I guess you were there, but we can't see you. Without you, such a huge void fills my soul. I don't quite know how to make it feel less painful. You are so special to my life and not having you in it hurts. So many good things are happening and I can't call you to tell you 'the latest.' I am so very THANKFUL that I had the most incredible Mom. I can't imagine life without a great Mom and I don't understand how you turned out to be such a beautiful person with all of the tragedy you faced as a child and the fact that both of your parents died when you were just a little child, plus, the fact that you never had the luxury, like I did, of being truly Loved by your Mom. You were just 2 years old when you lost her, you never got to know her and had no memory of her . . . your heart was always soooo big . . . you were always so giving . . . so loving. I always loved how you 'spoke your mind.' That's the best kind of honesty, I could always count on you to set me straight . . . even as an adult . . . you always looked out for my best interest and if you thought I was making a bad choice, you'd tell me on the spot . . . I loved that about you and that advice was priceless. Sometimes, as an adult, we like to 'think' we have it all under control . . . it was so nice to have a Mom that 'cared enough' to speak her mind even if we probably weren't going to be too receptive at that moment. As always, Mommy, you were 'always' right.' When I was little I used to wonder if you had a crystal ball or something. You always had such great fashion sense and I could always count on you to help me with matching clothing styles, that was very cool. I guess we were spoiled . . . but not spoiled rotten, just plain 'spoiled' with Love. I love that we were 'friends' also, not just 'Mother-Daughter." I miss laughing with you and visiting with you. I miss your advice, I miss your cologne, I miss your embrace, I miss your blessings, I miss your little sweet hand waving at the window when I'd leave after a visit. You were always to 'brave' too. That quality is such a huge inspiration to me . . . it seemed that you were not afraid of anything. I tend to be that way because of you. I have this saying, "I'm scared of a T-Rex . . . that's about it!" Watching you dodge the tribulations of life with the grace of  a choreographed dance is now my strength . . . guys are usually strong . . . but, women are usually more delicate . . . you were delicate and tough at the same time . . . I liked that no one could walk all over you and that you loved Janis Joplin, BB King, Alan Jackson and even Britney Spears and didn't limit yourself by boundaries imposed by society. You were way ahead of your time and I'm forever in debt to you for giving me the tools of survival and enjoyment of life.I miss your awesome cooking . . . every time I smell Spanish food, I dream of the countless awesome breakfasts, lunches and dinners you made for us....snacks and things made with such loving hands. Even with the recipe, I can't make my food taste  as good yours always was. I could go on forever, Mommy, about how great you always were to us, so I think I'll close this by saying that I look forward, with 'great' anticipation, to the next dream I have with 'YOU' in it. It's not the same as having you here, but it's all I have. It's so great that there are so many 'GREAT' memories I could look back on, that bring a smile to my face and sometimes gets me laughing even now-a-days. 'I MISS YOU' can't explain how much I still need you. I LOVE YOU, Mommy, I'll catch up to you in a dream! Thanx for all of your blessings, I wear them on my heart proudly.
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Wandita, I never had a chance to know you. I could only wonder what a beautiful sister you would've been to me.
Guess God had big plans for you up there that were urgent, because, at only 6 months old you left our side.
Mommy and Popi were devastated, permanent broken hearts.....
..........and I'm sure Pito was old enough to remember that horrible day, and so,
I imagine his pain is deep as well. I only remember a vision of you crawling and I also remember the chaos on the
day of your funeral........I remember they were carrying your little casket and everybody crying. I was too young to really
know what was going on......guess I was about 4 yrs old. or so, I was so little and everyone was towering over me.
When people ask me, "how many siblings do you have,?" I say 3.......sometimes I slip and say 2.
I'll never know you, but I do feel you.........I do feel like I have 2 sisters even though one is in heaven.
Your picture, just weeks before you crossed-over, is so angelic as all babies are......but, this picture has a
special vibe and the way you're looking up and the way your hands are out tells me that 'that' probably
was a 'sign' that you were going to be called. Though your presence was short, your impression is forever
in my mind and heart. I Love You and very much miss the sister I couldn't have.

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Hermojenes, my Abuelita, my beautiful Grandmother passed-away in November of 2002, one month before my most recent  car accident . . . "I'll miss you Abuelita. I was at Walt Disney World recently and saw a necklace that said "Abuelita", I wished I could bring it to you. The example of your endless kindness, forgiveness, strength and Love will always "reign" shelter us." One of the big lessons I am learning with each passing year . . . is that losing loved ones is something inevitable . . . I can never 'prepare' for it and I always find myself wishing I would have spent more time with my loved ones who are now gone. Abuelita you were always the pure example of infinite patience . . . I always dreamed to be as forgiving as you . . . I still have not reach that incredible level . . . I will always remember how you blessed me every time I came to see you and how you showered me with blessings every time I left. You made so many people happy with the baby clothing you professionally made for all of your friends and everyone in the church and neighborhood. The most precious,to me, being the bridesmaid dresses you custom-made for my wedding. They were "so" magnificent and perfect. It's so hard to believe, Abuela, that you were 80 years old when you made those dresses for me. I could always expect your sweet smile to receive me and your cute little giggle to fill the visit. Your jokes were great too . . . you always had something funny to say . . . and your sayings were both funny and cool. You truly spoiled me and Lisa, when we stayed with you for the summer, you treated us like llittle queens . . . you'd never let us do any dishes or laundry and you inisisted on making our beds too. I loved playing in the back yard and always admired your awesome garden and orange trees . . . I always admired how you, so patiently, hung the laundry everyda....pin by pin just right so the sun would dry them without wrinkling them. It's hard to believe you're gone, I miss you. Abuelita, te quiero con todo mi corazon, y que descanse en paz en los brasos de Dios.

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Luisito, my precious Uncle. Even it's been years........your smile is as clear as day in my mind. You were always to happy
to see me and were always to sweet. You were always happy and laughing. I never saw you mad about anything.....ever!
Your sudden loss was a true shock.........how could someone so wonderful be taken away......somone who made this world
a better place.......I dont' understand. Cathy, Little Luis and Michelle now have to go on without you. I don't know how
they can do it.........you were such a joy and the life of the party all the time. We never got to spend too much time visiting
and I feel guilty about that........but I guess you life was just as busy as mine and we mostly got together on holidays.
That was always something I looked so forward to.........now, with so many of my loved gones gone.....the holdays are
somewhat bleak...........my nieces and nephews help ease the pain of missing loved ones over the holidays, but it is
never enough to make me forget you. You will always have a special place in my heart and you will always be a
great example to me. I will always aspire to be as 'happy go lucky' and easy going as you always were. So, during
the holidays when you're not there in person, I'll see you there in spirit. I hope God has given you real big wings
to hold that huge glowing smile you always had for everyone. Thanks for always making me feel so special. I Love You!
I miss you!!!XXXOOO
 

Mike Piel a dear person to my heart and respected talent and mentor in Florida entertainment shocked us with his passing in October of 2002. Mike, you devoted your life to entertainment and you brought smiles to hundreds of thousands of audiences, your passion for music changed the lives of so many musicians and on a local level your belief in us kept us striving. You gave and gave to your family, friends and community . . . . the most awesome part is how you managed to give 110% to all of us! Your career spanned the globe, you graced so many lucky people with the fiber of your grasp for the appreciation of life. Your fabulous stories told with so much zest in every word were captivating in both content and charisma. Personally, I'll always remember your encouragement and how you always said, "If you love singing, keep singing . . . even if you never become a huge star, just sing for the Love of it . . . and Mike I will" . . . I'm still shocked that you've crossed-over because it feels like you're still with us.  I bet you're twirling up there to your favorite tunes with that 110% smile and genuine eyes. I can't recall if I've ever seen anyone so excited to be alive . . . you had such an adorable spark in you step, you immersed yourself in everything you did and helped so many people in your journey. I don't want to imagine Wendy's pain . . . I know that you were both 'SO' much in LOVE!!! Watching you two gaze at each other was so sweet. Wendy, I know that your pain must be incalculable . . . Mike is so lucky to have had someone to Love him with the same energy that he gave his Love. Being able to be by his side when he crossed-over must've meant so much to him. and to you. It's so hard for me to talk about these things without crying . . . when new things are going on with my singing . . . I always say, 'I wish I could call Mike and share this exciting moment with him and hear his beautiful voice' . . .Mike always made me feel like a star . . . Mike always made EVERYONE feel like a star!!!XXXOOO
Mike, you were so modest, I'm sure you didn't realize how much you were loved and still are.
You will be very missed by all of us!

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Tom, you were so busy 'giving,' I bet you probably didn't even know how many peope Loved you. I bet you didn't know how special you made people feel. I never thought I'd have to write a message like this to you.

--- REFLECTIONS About Tom Dewey ---
"The last time I saw Tom was just two weeks before we lost him. We had dropped in at Casselberry's to visit our friends JJ and the Classics who were performing that night. It was one of my first times out since the accident
and Tom came out to take some pics as I sang one song with the band. I asked Tom for a picture 'with' Tom in it and Nicki took his high-tech camera and took the pic with Tom, Kevin and me together. I'm so glad we did . . . Tom was very shy about being in pictures and was always the one 'behind' the camera . . . it is one of ONLY a couple of pictures Kevin and I had a chance to take with Tom. It is so unreal that Tom is not coming by anymore to say hi and tell us stories about his exciting model photos and new developments in his exciting world of photography . . . part of our brain doesn't want to believe it . . .we still feel as if Tom is here with us."

BIG PLANS: Tom had so many big plans for new photo-shoots for the new "Showdown" album . . .  losing Tom just five months after Siara's accident was yet another huge blow to Siara's heart. "Tom was so young and had more talent in his pinky nail than most people ever have . . . . . I just don't understand why these things have to happen to 'good' people." Tom is 'very' missed, his passing has left a huge open wound in my heart. Tom's wife, Michele, is such a sweet and wonderful person . . . the weight of her suffering must dwarf the weight of a thousand mountains . . .
it breaks my heart to see her having to deal with this at such a young age". Just one week earlier, Michele had lost an uncle and next would, tragically, soon lose their two precious dogs Bruno and Jeffy who were also missing Tom very much
and were two of the most loved dogs in the world. Tom and Michele even took them camping with them.
10 Bright notes to this tragic story . . . Michele, with a heart too big to measure . . . took-in a female stray dog she named 'Goldie.' There was a group of  homeless people trying to care for the dog, they asked Michele if she would adopt the dog and care for it, there was no hesitation . . . irregardless of her busy professional career and dealing with the heartbreak of recently losing her entire family unit, Michele gave Goldie a home . . . Goldie is full of life and was a handful to take-in, but about 4 weeks later, Michele would discover a "Houseful," that's right, Goldie turned into 9 more little Goldies! The 9 cute little bundles of joy have brought much joy into Michele's home. You can't look at those adorable faces without giving in to a huge smile on your face. Tom was also very giving, and sometimes I wonder if he was too giving and caring. Tom and Michele enjoyed a very loving marriage for 17 years and were 'High School Sweethearts' . . . Michele, just like Tom, is a creative genius and is a professional 'Voice-Over' talent writing and starring in commercials and voice-overs for some of the biggest companies in Orlando!