Paul and Gail are moved into their apartment in Chicago (see previous post for address). They arrived shortly before noon on Sunday 11/1/2009 and a large group of family and friends moved Paul and Gail into their apartment. They will take the next week or two to settle in and make everything just the way they want it.
There are so many people to thank in conjunction with this event; they are listed below in no particular order. If I missed anyone, I apologize. So many people offered to help that it’s nearly impossible to keep track of them all! Even if your help was not needed at this specific time, the offer alone meant a lot to us all.
Some of you contributed money to the Paul Bergren Family Fund. The money contributed went a long way in making the apartment a beautiful, clean, and safe place for Paul and Gail to move into.
Some of you contributed by buying or contributing decorative items, paint, food, and/or paper goods. There is nothing like the small touches to really make a place feel like home. Also, having some essentials in the pantry and fridge so they did not have to head right out to the store was a great contribution.
Some of you came and worked on the cleaning, paintin,g and renovating of the apartment. What a transformation you helped to complete! You were instrumental in making the apartment a really nice place to live.
Some of you helped with the move itself. Everyone on the Wisconsin end helped for the last month-and-a-half to go through and pack up everything that was coming with Paul and Gail to Chicago. They also had the rented trailer packed and ready to go when Glen and I arrived to make the move back to Chicago. Everyone on the Chicago end helped unload everything into the apartment and get things into place.
Here are all of the folks who contributed in one or more of the ways described above. Bruce, Al, Shane & Julie, Wade, Louisa, Hunter, Autumn, Paige, Nathan, Logan, Sarah, Chuck, David, Mike & Barb, Bonnie, Mary Lou, Kelly & Jason, Paulette, Charmaine, Holly, Donnia, Sarah, Judy, Matt, Sean, Bill, Janet, Jimmy, Michael, Brent and his helper, Reddo & Kim, Mary, Robin, Mrs. Sifner (her prayers are the best medicine), Ginnie, Nick, Kevin, Joe Wop, Dave, and Joe Sly.
There are a few  people whom I want to thank individually for their contributions:
Glen Miller. Glen drove to Wisconsin on Saturday morning, leaving his house at around 4:30am to pick me up and drive to Paul & Gail’s house in Wisconsin. We arrived at around noon and around 1:oopm we had the trailer hooked up to his truck and he drove from Paul & Gail’s to his hunting home about a hour away. Sunday morning at 4:15am he drove back to Chicago and upon arriving around noon proceeded to help get the trailer, his truck and Paul/Gail’s car unloaded.
Glen, thanks for everything, you are truly a great friend. Your help with the move was so very important. You came through in a big way even with the sore back/ribs from your fall the night before we left for Wisconsin. The night at your hunting house and the next morning was so much fun, I can’t remember the last time I laughed that hard.
My wife Victoria. Vickie went to the apartment nearly every day for 3 weeks. The first week, she was not working, so every morning by 6:00am she was headed over to the apartment and performed the initial heavy duty cleaning that the apartment so badly needed. Then over the next 2 weeks as the renovation work was being done, there she was each and every day after work and in the morning on the weekend cleaning, organizing, painting, running out to buy needed items and helping in any way she could. Her willingness to give of herself and her time was truly a wonderful thing to experience first hand.
Victoria, you are the most giving and generous person I have ever known. You are my friend and the love of my life. Day after day, you teach me how to be a better person. You are truly an amazing person and I am lucky to have you want me as your husband.
Lastly, Henry (Hank) Rasinskis. Hank & Ginnie made a tremendously generous donation to the Paul Bergren Family Fund. Then all Hank proceeded to do was perform an unbelievable renovation of the apartment. Every day for two weeks Hank went to the apartment and worked his ass off. He shopped with me (we were the perfect gay couple) and helped select everything needed for the renovation. He took down a drop ceiling in the kitchen and hallway. He ripped open the bedroom wall and installed a pocket door. He installed a new front screen door, replacing the old door that wouldn’t completely close. He patched all the ugly spots on kitchen ceiling and all the walls throughout the apartment. He removed all the old light fixtures and replaced them with new ceiling fan light fixtures. he replaced all the old 2 prong electric outlets with new 3 prong outlets and also replaced the old light switches. He replaced the front stairway light with a new motion sensor light. He pulled down ceiling tiles throughout the apartment for painting and replaced them after the painting was done. He lined up his niece’s husband (a professional carpet installer) and helped professionally lay new carpet in the living room and 2 bedrooms. He replaced a broken and leaking pipe under the kitchen sink. He painted, hammered, sawed, screwed, secured and took care of every little and big thing that needed to be done.
Hank, on behalf of Paul & Gail, Vickie, my sisters and all our families, I want to thank you for all that you have done for Paul. Your generosity is so overwhelming, I am afraid I will never be able to repay the debt you are owed. You are truly heaven sent and we all love you. You and your family will always be remembered in our prayers. If you or your family are ever in need of anything, we are here to help.