Our Dessie

MY STORY

Thanks for stopping in...

How about a cup of coffee, just made it :)

I'm happy to see you, and I think about you all the time. I never stopped loving you and never will stop loving you.

Life is only about love. Without love there is no life.

I was born in Chicago in 1920. My mom's name was Jane, my dad's name was Nick.

I was one of 9 children.

I spent my first 13 years in Chicago. It got really rough when the depression hit. Then my dad died of Tuburculosis at only 44.

My mom decided to move us all back to Yugoslavia. This was just after I finished 8th grade. At least in the "old country" (where my mom, and eventually my daughter, were born) we could live off the land and have chickens, goats, and a cow. Then the war broke out.

There were two wars going on, actually. A civil war between the Croations and Serbians (our side), and of course the invasion by Germany.  

When it comes to Yugoslavians fighting with each other, what else is new? They have been fighting and loving each other for centuries.

A civil war is very hard--on your body, mind, and soul. You may have to come into combat with people you know and like.

The real problem though, was Hitler. He was intent on setting up beach front on the Adriatic Sea. All he had to do was march through Serbia and make his way to shore.

We, the Partisans, never let it happen.

After a few years, I became a sergeant in charge of 20 soldiers. We worked by ambush and smarts. You might say we were geurilla solders.

Sometimes we didnt have shoes and sometimes it was so cold you didn't know if you would see tomorrow. I lost two of my brothers. It was very painful.

But somehow, with the help of God, who watches over us all and is the only one who knows the reason for things, I was able to survive. I was proud to be on the winning side, and help the Allies win the war. Yes, and very glad we turned Hitler away and sent him packing back to Germany.

During the war, I escaped from German concentration camps twice, contracted malaria (all my hair fell out, ugh), and ended up having amnesia for several months until I snapped out of it.

War is hell.

I had my precious daughter in 1946. Then met my two sons' father and had Steve in 1951 and Nick in 1953.

Parts of my life were always a struggle. It never seemed easy. Things came hard but there were so many rewards and so many wonderful people along the way.

After I divorced the boys' father in 1955, I started all over again with pennies in my pocket. I vowed to scrub floors and do whatever honest work I could do to raise my kids.

We had tough times and beautiful times. Again, with the help of God, we made it.

We had many wonderful memories--school, vacations, the beauty salons, and of course, Mom's kitchen in Wisconsin. It was an old fashioned drive in restaurant, with a mini golf course and trampolines. The kids grew up learning how to run the business.

After I sold the restaurant I took off like a vagabond (a dream of mine) and bought a Greyhound Bus Ameripass. Traveled all over America and met a friend, Mary, who was ten years my junior. She was crazy and fun. We had a blast.

Then I got back to work. I moved to Arizona and became a licensed realtor, owning a restaurant along the way. I had a knack for buying and selling land at a profit. That was fun.

I'm so happy to have spent time with my grandson, Steven. He's quite a guy. Handsome, too. :)

Then there's my special friend Leitha. She was there for me whenever I needed her. And I needed her.

Lilliana was a sweetheart and I know she cared for me.

Miranna was quite a comforting friend too, later on, and I can never forget Slava.

Today, I'm watching over you--all of you.  Please be good to yourself and never give up on your dreams.

See ya one of these days  (but not too soon:)