Viseslav a.k.a "Willy" Djordjevic

7 years without you here with us......
Remembering some memories in your honor Buco, in no particular order, just as they come to mind:
....sleepovers at Gramps', watching Dukes of Hazard, eating Gramps' "sutlijas" (Rice pudding)
....the day we got the ducks (Paja and Rajanica) and took them over to Boba's house, and then we dropped Paja and he had a permanent limp after
.....many accordian competitions and running around the Radisson hotel knocking on doors; we had a term for it but it was not very PC so I won't write it down
.....my 16th birthday when you bought me a giant bottle of TresEme shampoo and conditioner (sweet thought because I was very much into hair)
....Running around by ourselves in Dalmatinsko Kosovo (you were 13 and I was 16)
.....fighting in downtown Beograd (I was going to throw a rock at you....sorry!)
.....going swimming at Portage High School
......playing in the backyard with the ducks and chicks
.....taking pictures in front of a small Green Fiat in Beograd. We thought it was so cute because it was so small
.....riding our bikes around the neighborhood
.....wading through the flood (totally unsanitary now that I think about it)
......you giving me a ride on your first dirtbike. I think you were 12.  As I remember, we snuck it to an empty field when mom and dad weren't home and you drove while I sat on the back.....then we crashed it. Thank goodness we didn't get hurt.  (you should have stopped then!)
....you driving Deda's car back from Arkansas....you were about 13 or 14 (completely unsafe but you made it)
......my wedding, the singing chicken.....and taking pictures with you in front of the fireplace
......hanging out at your house for New Years (your first year in the house)
....."Buba & Buca"
.....and many more.  Thinking of you every day and still missing you...

Tvoja sestra

Today I stumbled upon this site, while thinking about my dear friend, Ljubica. I knew Willie as Ljubica's little brother, but he was much more than that. He was everything noted in these memories, from those who knew him well, but he was also a Djordjevic. This is the most loving family I have ever had the priviledge and honor of knowing. It's not surprising that Willie was generous, loving, thoughtful and loved by so many people........he comes from a family that instills those values in everyone they touch. My memories of Willie will always be of him and his dad tinkering out back on some car, or dune buggy or souped up lawn mower. Ljubica and I would run in and out of the house, eating everything we could get our hands on because we were so broke in Chicago all week. But every weekend, there was Willie waving to us with a smile. Whenver Ljubica had to move, which was all the time, Willie and Chuck were always there to give a hand. Ljubica was right when she wrote that whenever her car made a strange noise she called her brother to look at it. I would know, I was in every volkswagen she owned and was pieced together by Willie. I am so sorry for the pain his passing has left. He touched so many people in ways he could never know.

Many memories, but lately I've been thinking about the summer of 1989.  Remember that summer? I bet you do. We went to Yugoslavia with dad.  I think our sense of adventure was quenched for quite a while after that. I remember sitting on that stinky school bus for 3 days, bumping around as everyone else drank and sang until we reached Kosovo (Dalmatinsko) for the giant celebration that was going on. I think we were the only ones on that entire bus who had any sense of hygiene! 

Once at the "celebration," we were basically completely on our own. Dad took off somewhere and you and I were basically in the middle of the middle of eastern europe surrounded by hundreds of drunken revelers and pseudo-revolutionaries. Thinking back, I know we had our guardian angels watching over us that summer.  The odds weren't always with us but somehow we came out alright.  Mon was so worried about us. I guess she had good reason to be. You and I made up rules for each other, so we wouldn't get lost. Then we'd argue about whose rules were better and which ones we should follow.  We created a budget for ourselves and then argued over how to spend the money.  You thought I was not being thrifty enough, wanting to buy the handmade goods that were being sold. I thought you were being stingy! I remember us walking around the stalls filled with food and buying cheese.  Lots of cheese and bread to eat.  In hindsight, it probably wasn't the smartest idea to eat homemade cheese in an area that was not familiar with the concept of refrigeration and pasteurization! We wandered around for hours, finally locating dad right before the bus left.  A little nerve wracking, to be sure.

I remember jumping in the beautiful crystalline lakes when the bus stopped for a break. The bus people looked on horrified. After three days of sitting on a smelly bus the idea of washing off apparently only came to us. You were a little embarrased yourslef, but you gladly took the shampoo I offered to you! We swam near that beautiful waterfall in Knin but didn't have the nerve to jump off the cliff near it.

More interesting memories from that monumental summer.... I can see us now, walking around Monte Carlo admiring the cleanliness and beauty of the city, strolling along the rocky beach in Cannes thinking about where we could afford to eat and looking at the cars in Monaco.  You were practically drooling over yourself as you saw all your favorites at that time, porche, delorian, lambourgini, etc.  We were the only two travelers that weren't allowed to go into the casinos. That's because we were 16 and 13, the youngest travelers with the tour group. It was just the two of us, taking care of each other.  I remember getting into the car accident when we left Cacak. Scary.  Dad was knocked out when he hit his head on the steering wheel. You had put on your seat belt at the last moment. Thank goodness because that little european car didn't even have a front dash! After the accident, the local villagers treated dad to a shot of some homemade stuff while we waited for the Kumovi to pick us up.  We never made it to gramps' place of birth. 

We also visited churches, and more churches, and still more churches.  Wandering around in churches, around churches, through churches. Lots of crowds, lots of drink and lots of food.  We visited the church in Belgrade where the monks paint the icons. That was pretty cool, seeing how the icons are made and blessed. Quite the trip we had.

A quirky memory that comes to me is the first hotel we stayed in when in Cannes. We thought it was soooo fancy.  We couldn't figure out why the bathroom had an extra little "sink." Years later I learned it was a bedet, basically a toilet.   We went to the fruit market and bought some giant peaches and didn't know where to keep them. We were trying to be economical with our finances.  We thought we were so thrifty and clever.  The peaches, we were afraid, would go bad if they weren't kept cold.  Well, I won't go into detail and embarrass both of us on how creative we got with the "sink." I will have to go through the mountains of videos we took that summer and try to find the ones of us in Cannes. That was pretty amazing, getting a chance to go there. Not to mention the fact that we were merely kids ourselves, with no supervision, no boundaries, no rules. Only the rules we created for ourselves.  When left to our own devices, we did pretty well. Probably because we were scared knowing that there was no one there to help us out if we were reckless. 

So many memories from that summer....some sad, some eye opening, but none that were boring.  I am so humbled to have shared that with you.

your sister

Here we go again. Round #3 about a week away. I guess I'll tell another story...stop me if you've heard this one. So Willy used to have a go-kart. Home made and Serbian-fied. The gas pedal broke so you had to reach back and grab the throttle cable with one hand to speed up and slow down, steering with the other. So I'm... on it, reaching back, pull the cable for full throttle and it sticks. I try to make the turn onto Belmont from Aspen full speed and I totally rolled it. Willy runs up and basically says, "My go-kart...what did you do!!!!" Pauses and asks if I'm alright. I should have said no...

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow nor sun without rain, but he did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.

 

God doesn't give us what we can handle God helps us handle what we are given.

 

Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass it's about learning to dance.

 

Love life as it is not as you want it.

 

Live well laugh often love much.

 

What we call an accident may be a well planned event by God.

 

Our lives should be focused on what we have not we do not have.

The Rainy Day

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;

It rains, and the wind is never weary;

The vine still clings to the mouldering wall.

But at every gust the dead leaves fall,

And the day is dark and dreary.

The day is cold, and dark and dreary;

It rains;and the wind is never weary;

My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,

But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,

And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still,sad heart! and cease repining;

Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;

Thy fate is the common fate of all,

Into each life some rain most fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

Almost 1 1/2 years since Willy has left his family,friends,Kumovi,and his wife. It feels like an eternity on 1 hand and on the other, time has gone by so fast. I continue to think of Willy first thing in the morning, right before I fall asleep and all day long-every day. I don't know who I am or who I have become. I continue to have this void in my life that can not be filled. It is amazing how in the blink of an eye my life and everyone else's, life has changed permanently beyond anyone's control.

I try to focus on the positive and be an optimistic as we all should. Easier said than done. We all need to experience the negative as well as the positive in life. With each experience in life we grow and learn a lesson. Death is a funny thing that brings out the best and worst in people. It casts a light on the truth and makes life blindingly clear. We need to try and live life without regrets. God decides when it is time for ourselves to move forward, when it is time to leave this life. Death makes us fall apart and then we have to rebuild ourselves. Willy died and I am not the same person anymore, I will never be that same person again. Without loss we do not appreciate what we have. Falling apart is what must happen so that we can than put ourselves back together, in a new form. We can not have regrets -we learn from our experiences,they make us who we are and we we aren't supposed to go through life without making mistakes. Letting go of our regrets helps us move forward. We have to forgive ourselves before we can forgive others. Growth and change are what we can not escape in this "game" called life. Without pain no pleasure can be felt. Pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses our understanding. All of life is a constant state of change. Death wounds us, but wounds are meant to heal, and given time they will. Do I really believe all of this? Yes, of course, but applying it to my life is the hard part.  

Just thought about how me, you and Dad would meet at that restaurant, What's Cooking, for lunch.  You and Dad were working at Amoco and I was in school.  I'd drive down and meet with you both and we'd have a nice lunch.  Then, when dad would step out to go to the bathroom, you would vent about this thing or that thing that happened at work with him.  I miss your funny stories about the goofy things dad would do.  He was so proud of you and I know that you were proud of him too. That didn't mean that you two didn't get on each others' nerves! I was proud to come visit the two of you at work, seeing your messy drafting tables (dad's of course was always super messy), and seeing all the drawings laying all over  the office.  It looked so official and reminded me that, although you were my little brother, you were doing well for yourself.  We'd always talk about where we would go for lunch, and inevitably, we'd end up at What's Cooking, eating fattening Polish food.  Boy was it good.  I hope you enjoyed those times as much as I did, because they are special memories now.  Still, and always will, miss you.

Your sister

Moving? I knew who to call.  Car needs to be fixed?  Guess who I called?  Ran out of gas...yes, you got that call too.  Too many memories to recount.  Thought about how you came at midnight to bring me gas years ago when I got stranded on Old County Line Road on New Years Eve.  I was so glad you answered the phone, instead of Mom or Dad.  I remember us driving the Volkswagon bug, arguing which one of us should drive it to school.  I don't know why it was such a discussion, considering you didn't even have your license yet! Well, that never stopped you.  Sneaking the classic Ford Fermont to Dairy Dip.  I remember when we drove out to Prudue to pick up Chuck and you drove the Subaru home.  I think you were 15 at the time.  

 

So many cars, so many memories.  You helped me pick out my first Volkswagon...the lovely bronze 1981 Rabbit.  You found a replacement windshield on my next Volkswagon, the Fox.  You also "fixed" the Volkswagon Golf, the two toned one, when I was in Chicago.  Imagine my surprise when one day the front grill fell off.  When I called you, thinking that someone stole it, in classic Buca fashion you replied, "Yeah, it probably fell off because Dad and me attached it with a wire hangar."  Of course!! Why didn't I think of that!  Oh, there are other memories too...the lug nuts that fell off the "other" Golf,(while I drove it) the Volkswagon Truck that caught on fire on the toll road...the volkswagon van.

 

I think about the first motor bike you had, and the lesson you gave me on how to drive it.   I crashed it; you laughed. Memories of riding behind you on the four wheeler, next to you in the dune buggy and tagging along on the snowmobile.  You sure liked your toys!  I lost count how many you had! 

 

Lots of cars, lots of fun memories.  Even now I want to pick up the phone and call you when I hear some funny noise in my car. 

 

Ljubica   

My Vish,

10 whole years together!!!! This May 2nd it would be 11 years, this June 5th 4 years married. I remember at some point thinking we would never get married! We had so many memories together good bad and sad- all part of a true relationship.

You taught me so much, and I guess that was to prepare me for the future of being alone.

You introduced me to off roading with the Toyota, 4 wheeler, Odyssey and sandrail. This summer at Silver Lake was bitter sweet. I could actually hear your voice telling me how to ride. I know you would be proud that I finally drove the Toyota. I think I scared Dawn, but it was fun!! Mario has the sandrail you both were working so hard on. Who better to have it?

We both experienced so many joys and good times. We had the birth of our two beautiful nieces, Savka and Milana. You even introduced Savka to 4 wheeling. We were both there for our 2 wonderful cousins, Addison and Anna. You moved up in work from BP to Mcdaniel's to RASK. You supported me through the rest of nursing school and all of my shift work. We traveled to Iowa to see the nation's largest indoor tropical rainforest and outside zoo. We went to Alabama. To Key West with Mario and Dawn. We went to Alabama and numerous times to Illinois for concerts and other festivities. We traveled for 2 weeks in Florida to different places in Florida. We were both a part of Mario and Dawn, Derek and Robin, and Mike and Sarah's weddings. We went to ND football games, Blackhawk games, and Cubs games. You even came to 2 of my mini marathon races. You always brought me flowers, unexpectedly and for no reason. Our wedding was amazing and beautiful. We were there to see Ristan, our god child and were honored to be the Kumovi of Ozzie and Mimi.  Lilly was also born.We were overjoyed when your Baba moved to the States. We were there to see Andy have a child of his own, Katherine.

We also endured the death of your grandpa and Baba Rada and my grandfather. We watched my grandma's health slowly deteriorate. We had our disagreements and fights. We remodeled(and still are) our home. You and Andy drove me crazy so many times with your secret plans, like buying the Spitfire!!

The things I complained about, I now find myself doing, like taking the taxes in the last minute, showing up late, being on my cell phone more than I want or at not the best of times.

It gives me some comfort in knowing you led a very great life. You worked hard played hard and everyone loved you. I know how much you loved me and did not want to leave me, family and friends. I can only partly imagine what a wonderful peaceful relaxing time you are having in Heaven. I think about you all day every day and it is a struggle every day even to get out of bed. My heart aches without you by my side and I keep thinking I am living someone else's life or I am dreaming. Apparently God has a plan for everyone. Why I am left without you and the house to finish I don't know. I just have to hold on until the day comes where it finally becomes my time to greet you in Heaven. I hope you will always be by myside, watching over me and helping me make good decisions. I can't imagine going on without you, so I just live 1 day at a time. That is all I can do. Yes, it is unfair and hurts tremendously. I love hearing 1 of your favorite songs or seeing something that reminds me of you.

Me, friends and family miss you so terribly. This is so hard to accept.I am sure you know you will never be replaced or forgotten.

I am happy you are with my grandma, your grandpa, Baba Rada, my mother and the rest of our family and friends.

Vish, you are the very best thing that has ever happened to me. Even though I hurt so bad now, at least I had you for 10 years. We will be together again someday, which I anxiously await. Memory eternal.

With all of my love always and forever,

Tracy