ADDAMS FAMILY HALLOWEEN

POIGNANT NEWS

THOMPSONVILLE — Derryl James Jones, 61, of Thompsonville, died Sept. 23, 2010, at his home. He was born in Cadillac on Nov. 14 1948, the son of James and Ardith Jones.

After graduating from Cadillac High School in 1966, Derryl entered into the U.S. Army. After finishing basic training he completed flight school and served three combat tours in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot in the 1/9th Air Calvary Division, B Troop. While serving in Vietnam he received numerous commendations, including three Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts and a Silver Star.

Prior to his third combat tour, he married his beloved wife of 39 years, Christine Trojanek.

In 1977, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a Michigan Conservation Officer, serving in Monroe, Roscommon and Benzie County. In 2003, Derryl retired from the DNR after 26 years of service. During his career, he distinguished himself in many ways by serving as law division pilot for 10 years, playing a key role in the Mesabi Fur Company sting operation and spearheading the C.W. Bowman gill netting case.

After retiring, Derryl was able to rededicate himself to his hobbies, which included fishing, duck hunting, Red Wings hockey, monthly poker game, babysitting his trout pond and gardening. He made annual fishing trips to Lake Missinaibi, Ontario, Canada, with family members and a core group of great friends. He and Christine greatly enjoyed traveling the country to visit family, friends and interesting places.

Derryl was a giving man who was very dedicated to his family and friends. He enjoyed family barbecues and fish fries, hunting and fishing with his sons and grandchildren, visiting friends, giving away the produce from his garden, holidays with family members and spending time with his two grandchildren, Liam and Mia. He was greatly loved and respected by those who knew him, and he will be sorely missed.

He is survived by his wife, Christine; children, Michael (Ana Carolina) Jones and Will (Chantelle) Jones; grandchildren, Liam and Mia Jones; mother, Ardith; and siblings, Doug (Chris) Jones, Diane (Eric) Fernelius and Debbie (Bob) Hoeltzel.

He was preceded in death by his father, James; and grandson, Jose' Daniel Jones.

Burial will take place at a later date in the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Derryl Jones' died just a few months after speaking at my brother Jake's memorial service.  Jake and Derryl had served as soldiers together in Vietnam, working as a team on a helicopter, with Derryl piloting the craft and Jake as the observation gunner at the door of the chopper.  The one thing that was crystal clear to anyone who attended that memorial service was that Jake and Derryl loved each other.  The bond between them was clearly very special.  A soldier returns from war changed and perhaps the only people who can understand them are those with whom they served.

".....the war was still in him, and it would be in him for a long time to come, for soldiers who have been blooded are soldiers forever.  They never fit in.  Even when they finally settle down, the settling is tenuous, for when they close their eyes they see their comrades who have fallen.  That they cannot forget, that they do not forget, that they never allow themselves to heal completely, is their way of expressing their love for friends who have perished.  And they will not change, because they have become what they have become to keep the fallen alive." (quote from A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin)



GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME

After an exhausting flight home from Italy we were welcomed home by this green sight. Jake got the pasture next to the house planted! It's a project that had been sitting on the "back burner" for many many years.

ARRIVEDERCI ITALIA

arrivederci italia

(sound "on")

OCTOBER 2 - 3 LAKE ORTA SAN GIULIO

Even in the mist you can see the tiny Isola San Giulio from our hotel window.

We arrived at Hotel Bussola in Lake Orta right around lunchtime.

We had lunch in the plaza on the shores of the lake and then shopped for gifts for our grandsons.

In the afternoon we crossed over to the tiny Isola San Giulio and checked out the pretty chapel and took the Walk of Silence.

That night we had our farewell dinner at the hotel.

There were lots of hugs passed around as most of our friends were catching connections for their flights home out of Milan the next morning.

We will have many good memories of this trip.

We will have many good memories of all the people we met on this tour.

A map showing our route and ALL the places we saw.

Arrivederci Italia

OCTOBER 1 - CINQUE TERRE, LEVANTO, AND A FEAST

After breakfast with Carlo the owner and chef at Albergo Primavera (a breakfast that included scrambled eggs and bacon! A first on this trip!), we caught the train back down the coast to the most southern Cinque Terre town of Riomaggiore where we do the "Lover's Walk". Harry and I had done this walk in 2006 with Petters and Vissers when we were on a Mediterranean cruise. This was a different experience because this time we made the walk in the pouring rain!

Remembering 2006 Lover's Walk in the sunshine!

The walk takes us to the next Cinque Terre town, Manarola. We have time for a cappucino and a piece of chocolate.

Manarola does not have a suitable port for the fishing boats to be, so all the boats are pulled up onto the streets when the fishermen come in from the sea in the afternoon.

Like all the Cinque Terre towns, farming is done on terraces formed on the steep slopes. Grapes, olives, and almonds are the products grown here.

We reach the next town by both train and then a shuttle bus, which brings us to the top of the hill, where Corniglia sits. Harry and I have lunch with a soldier who was finished with his tour of duty and travelling throughout Europe, with Rick Steves' travel book in hand, before he would head back home to Ohio. After lunch, we met our tour friends and walked down the hill back to the train station.

Catching the train to Vernazza.

In Vernazza Harry and I climb a tower to get spectacular views of the village and the ocean.

Then it's time to head back to our hotel in Levanto.

Harry and I don swimsuits and take a dip in the Ligurian Sea, which is just a short walk from our hotel.

Before the feast which Carlo, our host, has prepared for us,

we have wine outside on the patio. I don't have any pictures of this special evening, but it was the best...the food, the company, the wine!

As the end of the tour is approaching, Tricia gives a little Pinnochio to all the men in the group and decorative note pad to all the women. We are feeling sad as we anticipate saying goodbye.