sflattem's profile

sflattem

sflattem has passed away, he will be missed.
updated over 2 years ago

65, Male - Eons member since Oct 24, 2007

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Relationship

Single

Hometown

currently Wisconsin...orig Mpls MN

Places I've been

We lived most of our life in the Twin Cities area (spent first 1 1/2 years in Madison WI). I used to live in Burnsville, southern suburb of Minneapolis, approximately 15 minutes south of the Mall of America. In summer 2008 I move to the northwoods of Wisconsin, Burnett county. We have traveled to Canada, Mexico, some of the US, Europe, mostly France. I am now in northern Wisconsin

Education

Inver Hills Community College, AS Degree Paralegal - 1968 to 1969

Work

Benson Optical Company, Manager Retail Optical - 1968 to 1988
Lakeville Products, Snack food route sales - 1989 to 1995
Anchor Hocking Plastics/Homz Products, production scheduler/pc help dexk - 1996 to 2004
Gopher State One Call- call before you dig, customer service - 2004 to 2006

More about me

Hello...long story short, my wife was diagnosed with a brain tumor in late October 2006, she had surgery right away, and I stopped working to take care of her. We spent every moment together until August 16, when she died.

I was a average student, wasted time in college and got a job in the retail optical business, became a master optician and worked in that field for 22 years. I quit to return to school and earned a degree as a paralegal. Even with a 3.8 GPA, dean's list and experience writing memoranda for the court, I wasn't a young, good looking female, willing to pour a cup of coffee.

I next had a snack food route. This worked great until the owner sold to someone of less than desirous integrity. I reached a point of quitting, he called the cops when I was 1/2 hour late returning my inventory. I, in turn, discussed his fradulent insurance claim with his insurance company; I also contacted the FDA questioning his practise of storing food product with paint. Evidently, his business practices weren't in agreement with his insurance company and with the government...his corporation failed shortly thereafter.

I next got a job in the plastics injection molding business. I needed a job and this one had the benefits I needed. I worked my way up from assembly to inventory control and next to production scheduling. I was also the IT goto source.

After 9 years, the company decided to close our plant and move our jobs south of the border. Fortunately, my high school Spanish allowed me to explain my methods to the new supervisors.

Back to school again, this time paid by the government (part of a program for displaced workers). I also started an eBay business selling collectibles and antiques.

While learning the database field, I got a job working for a ‘call before you dig’ company. This was a good company to work for…they were exceedingly fair when I needed so much time off. I used the FMLA, vacation and leave of absence to spend all my time with my wife.

I met my wife early in my optical career. We were married in July 1969, moved to Wisconsin with job transfers, returned to Minnesota, bought a house and had our son.

My wife Terri, got a travel bug in the early 1980s. We had started camping, in fact we camped in every state campground in Minnesota.

Terri wanted to go to Europe, and we planned a trip landing in Germany, going east to Vienna, south through, Austria, west to Paris and back to Frankfurt. Our plans were specific, yet flexible. We took our 10 year old son Bryan. After 3 days, we chopped Vienna and Paris off of our schedule…we wanted to enjoy everything and couldn’t at our planned pace.

Terri and I returned the next year in spring, and went back with Bry the following year. We skipped a few years, spending time biking, cross country skiing, hiking, camping and then Terri got rheumatoid arthritis. This stopped most of our fun.

We did return to Europe in 1989, with my parents and her mother. Job loss and lack of money delayed our traveling until the late 1990s. Now with paid vacation, the travel itch was being vigorously scratched. Bahamian cruise, Cancun twice and Europe every year (twice one year) kept us busy and very happy. France became our home away from home. We also learned to rent a house or apartment, rather than stay at motels. It was actually less expensive and more enjoyable living the live, rather than just visiting.

We were actually getting ready to go to Paris again, when Terri was diagnosed with brain cancer. The flight was with frequent flyer miles, the apartment rented.

On the way to surgery, I told Terri that we could just take the next exit, go to the airport and take off for Paris…she smiled and said ‘next year’. Next year never came.

Over the years, I have changed from having a cynical, negative attitude to an understanding, open mind, respectful, positive hopeful person.

My outlook, statements and actions are now complicated by the death of my wife of 38 years. I have since joined her and am survived by our son, his wife and our 2 precious granddaughters.

This was my most recent life…

I had entered the next phase of my life in my new 'normal'... that is if anyone were to question what is normal...it is: living with my dawg...Buddy, in northwestern Wisconsin, temporarily in our old camper until our house is sold, which happened. It went on the market Christmas eve and a full price offer was made before the end of the year. I accepted, and we closed in 3 weeks. I am on the corner of paved road and gravel road, an area we visited every weekend, staying in our camper near Webster, WI. The campground, Mallard Lake Resort, eventually kicked us out (15 year seasonal residents) mostly because we didn't spend any money at their lodge, preferring to save money and cook our own meals and supply our own beverages...they gave up $1500/year to put a road through our campsite....and not once, during the communications spent while we moved, did they acknowledge offer consolation re Terri's brain tumor...and yet they proffer that they are 'christian people...evidently only on Sunday'

After Terri passed, I bought a couple of lots in a resort typecommunity in northern WI, and although I am a member of 'the country club'...my land (and life) is far from the golf course (and landing strip which runs through it). I am in wilderness, have my own forest of Big Toothed Aspen and Red Oak plus Jack Pine. There are several lakes in the area (all have fish), the closest lake sends the call of the loon at night. Our old camper is serving me well, despite the fact that the furnace isn't presently working. Fortunately I had spent many a night in the trailer, it is small, but it works (especially considering I coulnd't afford to keep the house on the survivor benefits of Terri's social security). While the camper is small, the outside is big and just looking out the window, I lose any closed in feeling.

I just bought a 2000 Breckenridge park model trailer, it is in excellant condition, and with the slideouts has more room.

Living in the old camper has been a learning experience... the guage on my propane tank stuck on 20%, when in actuallity, it was almost empty, and then became empty...on a Friday night, so I had to wait until Monday morning until I could place an order for a refill. I have had water problems...even though my water pipes were buried (36" underground), and my pumphouse was heated and insulated...i still had freezing problem. Thankfully, spring is here and I am ready to move.

Unfortunately, I never got to live in my new trailer. I died the same day it was brought in and set up.

Thank you to all my friends here for keeping my spare time occupied, and teaching me about yourselves. I cherished the time we had together. (new text by family)

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