About George

George Parker Getselman passed away last Friday, February 27,2009.As you know he has been very ill. He had Chronic Lymphacytic Leukemia. I met George the summer of 2002Mom had died in March of that year and when I came back for the funeral I met some people who skated. So in June I started skating again. Somehow I never noticed him there but one Monday night he was beside me during a Paul Jones skate.I asked him what it meant when they blew the whistle and he said it meant he would skate with me the rest of the night--and he did. He invited me on a date a couple of days later. It was a motorcycle date. He was 69 and I was 62.I became a motorcycle Mama at age 62We went for a ride around the lake, stopping at the Vikings for dinner and then we went on to the Gerry rodeo via motorcycle.He often said he should not have ever had me on that bike at night with all that traffic.He loved my place at the Vikings and soon knew all the neighbors and the little dog Sassy next door. She knew when his car pulled in and yelped until she could go see George.
He asked me if I would like to go with him to his place in Brooksville, Florida. I saw no sense in that but I went down to check it out and stayed.We had a lot of fun times there going out with his friends on motorcycles, skating and even dancing. He said his wife would kill him if she knew he was dancing. He had never done that before.I did miss my family and going to the beach while there but He was always good to my company and made them feel at home.
I also spent time at his place in Collins, NY. He had acreage. A long driveway with walnut trees on each side went to the barn. His home was actually 2 homes put together. It was over 100 years old.Christina and Jessie like to come there. They really worked at cracking walnuts.I took some oil painting classes when I was there.He took me to the Olympia restaurant so I could get my Greek food.One summer he had his cataract surgery. It was not a success. A blood vessel blew in the eye so now with a cataract on the other eye he is considered legally blind. I had to stay with him all the time and drive him to Jamestown when we went to the lake.
Then he had lab work done and his white count was quite high. They kept watching it but it kept climbing.When in Brooksville he became very ill with weakness, coughing etc. and was in and out of Tampa Veteran's Hospital. They gave him chemo pills. He got well enough to drive home but was sick again that summer and was in WCA hospital a couple of times.He was so sick but detemined he was going home. I called his family at that point and told them he shouldn't be driving and that I needed help. I couldn't do this alone any more.They met him when he got home.It was decline from then on.He continually lost weight and didn't feel good.He has suffered more than he needed to.This all ended last Friday.
Now I have to cope with how I feel. I thought it would be easy to walk away when I did..My mind just keeps going back to all the memories and I feel so melancholy.He is where he should be and with his wife. She's waited a long time for him.I feel that maybe I should have held on and stayed with him to the end but I know that was impossible.
He taught me some valuable lessons. Don't talk about others and definitely don't tell others your business. (especially at the skating rink) Always wear protective gear when on a motorcycle. A helmet, padding at the elbows, jeans and boots are a must.Your motorcycle doesn't have to be loud to be good. He never had a smoke or a drink (except they used real wine at communion when I went to church with him) His father was an alcoholic. And especially KISS "keep it simple stupid."
George was a Great Grandson of Col. Thomas Jerrerson Parker on his mother's side. He was in charge of the Gowanda unit in the Civil War. The drum and knives from this unit are in an upstairs bedroom. Other items have been donated to the Historical Society and are on display there.I worked on his Genealogy while there but I have left it all in the house in Collins for his son Gary.
My plans have changed for the first two weekends.Hetricks didn't come and the pizza party is called off.The weather has changed. It is cold but due to get warmer later this week.