OMGOODNESS...... I don't even know where to start! I have that problem a lot...i have so much to say, but i hope to say it so you get as much out of it as I did. I want to show honor and respect to this gentleman in the utmost way. So, if I find myself jumping around from here to there, i will try to refocus! I admit, sometimes I have troubling focusing!
Ok....i think as long as i have been at Valley Oak Dental Group ( a mere 32 years), I believe this gentleman has been a patient there. Of coarse, him being friendly and me being polite, friendly and courteous, we had spoken in the hallways before, yet when I was moved from Dr. Ciccarelli to Dr. Hochhalter, I was blessed to be able to get to know this man. There's not a person one at Valley Oak Dental that doesnt just adore Mr. Rundberg. Sure, we have talked, and i have enjoyed sharing back and forth, but this past week, something was different, and that different has made me a better person, a luckier person, a more sentimental and emotional person (I know, some are probably thinking how is that possible??!!), that different has made me another true special friend. I would like to share this situation, this person, this friendship, this respect, this man with you. I would first also like to say, i sent Dr. Hochhalter a text and asked him if he thought it would be ok if i blogged about Mr. Rundberg, or if i should call him Mr. R or just leave his name out and let you wonder who i was talking about. You see, I did not want to cross the line of patient confindentially or break the HIPPA law. a little time passed and i hadnt heard back from Dr. H, so I looked up in the white pages on my phone and I found Harold Rundberg's home phone number. I called him, left a message and in no time, he called me back. We had a brief conversation about our earlier in the week conversation and I told him what i would like to do and he graciously agreed and in addition, he invited me over to his home so we could talk some more and he could share some pictures with me. I was so excited, and honored that this man would take the time out of his day for me. I pulled up to the community area that he lives, dialed the number he told me, he answered and opened the gate, made a right, a left and couple dozen houses down on the right, he was standing outside waiting for me. I parked, and he so kindly showed me into his home. We sat at his kitchen table with a perfect view from a large picture window, watching the wind sway the tree branches, seeing a reflection from his swimming pool, nice green and groomed lawn, a large print thick hardback book on a stand on his table, an 8x10 picture of his lovely wife and 6 month old daughter, taken in the Phillipens. We talked about cooking, the welcoming commitee he is on, training sight-seeing dogs, his travels, his passions and desires, my family, my passions and desires, my travels, mutal friends and what a wonderful dentist he has and that I work for! We both agreed that DR. Hochhalter is a true gentleman, sincere, considerate and fun loving! I promised Mr. Rundberg my blog wouldnt be about the composite filling we just did on tooth #28 verses a crown! LOL....we would be leaving business out of this blog!
ok....the beginning....On Tuesday, May 28th, Mr. Rundberg was scheduled for his dental appointment. As I brought him back, we started talking about his recent whirlwind of a trip he just returned from. I was in awe! I knew right then, i wanted to blog and share this man with the world! (not that many read my blogs, but that's ok). I am honored to know this man, and couldnt help but want you to know him too! He was one of 39 people from Northern California...not just people....he was one of 39 WWII Veterans that was flown to Washington DC and honored at the WWII memorial. Gosh, I'll tell you like he told me that day, then I will share more about this man that i learned about him while sitting around his kitchen table. At the time of boarding the plane, they were the first ones to board, the fire department sprayed their hoses with enormous amounts of water spraying in an arch over the top of the plane. According to Harold, Virgin airlines is very nice, lots of room, tv's for each passenger and the 39 Vets were accompanied by 12 guardians and guides to help them with their luggage or any other needs for the trip. Lunch was served and once they landed at Dulles Airport in Washington DC, once again the fire department sprayed the water arches over the plane, the Veterans departed the plane first, as the remaining passengers applauded them and hundreds of people awaiting and respecting their arrival. They were then escorted to the hotel, served dinner and had time to mingle and share stories. The next day, they were taken to the WWII Memorial and honored and recongnized.
(shoot, i have some pictures that Mr. Rundberg shared with me, but for some strange and frustrating reason, I'm not able to upload like i normally can, guess I need Mariann's help again!)
As Mr. Rundberg was beaming and holding his hand over his heart, , i couldn't help but noticea slight quiver in his voice and his eyes filled with tears....tears of pride, tears of joy, tears of emotion? maybe, thats just my assumption. They flew home on Sunday, filled with so many more memories, so many more friends, so much more to talk about and so much to talk about with others and so much over flowing in their heart.
This is somewhat how the few minutes went before Mr. Rundberg's dental appointment....he left me wanting to know more....more about his family, more about his life in the service, more about his love for life and love for people, more of this 91 year old man that is such an inspiration to others. So, therefore, he invited me to his home where I learned more about him. I learned that he served 14 years in the Navy following 7 more consective years in the Airforce. He retired from the service having traveled all over the place, from the Philipens, to Rhode Island, to Santa Ana, where he was on the squad that flew blimps, his amazing wife was willing to go whereever he was. They have 2 beautiful daughters who both reside in Portland Oregon. He enjoys visiting them there, but much perfers the California Valley's heat! He just beamed when speaking of his wife Lois who passed away 8 years ago. Harold probably thinks I am about as dumb as a doorknob! Shouldn't admit it, but I had never heard about Goose Bay in Labador, where he and his family lived and i was shocked that at times it was 52 degrees below zero..I thought he was talking about the dog Labadors at first, but then our conversation did go into Lab's the dog....Mr. Rundberg has and still is extremely involved in training Lab's for sight-seeing dogs, in fact next week, Pricillia is coming to stay with him for 10 days as her trainers will be out of town. Mr. Rundberg worked for fairchild electronics, Motorolla, and here and there, he at one time was in management and enjoyed working, teaching and learning from others. He has taken to retirement very well, keeps very busy and would rather be half an hour early verses 1 minute late! We both agreed on that, and understand each other. This has been very fun, and intriging to get to know just a little more of this true gentleman. He is a hero to many people and i again thanked him for his service and fighting for our country. I am honored and a better person because of Mr. Harold Rundberg....May God continue to bless you
because of His Amazing Grace
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