PHOTO JOURNAL - VISITING FREDDIE

[wheeeone]

Hi everyone,
When I read that DeDe would not be posting her visit to the crypt on this board and have watched for weeks as you all have looked forward to"being a part of the day", I was saddened. I have seen the love pour out from all of your hearts for Freddie and know you want to feel as if you were physically there. I thought I could give you a frame of reference by driving back out to Forest Lawn today and "creating" a photo journal of what it is like to be at Freddie's final resting place. In case anyone is not comfortable viewing photos of the Memorial Park, cemetery grounds or Freddie's crypt in the Sanctuary, I created an album in Yahoo for viewing. The pictures are in order from driving up the lane to the Courts of Remembrance. Hopefully, you will be able to see for yourself what being there would be like....
I also added three close-ups of the gifts placed at Freddie's crypt from Atlangel, Bella66 and myself.


The address to view the Photo Journal named VISITING FREDDIE is:

http://photos.yahoo.com/wheeeone
It was a bit of work...boy, I do NOT envy those of you who have created websites as I realize what a labor of love it truly is now.

[wheeeone]

Just wanted to add that the flowers seen on the left side of Freddie's crypt were there when I arrived along with the two single flowers stuck into the top of the nameplate and the small Puerto Rican flag. I arrived at 2:50 PM and left around 3:00 PM.
Sadly, there were four individuals (two male, two female) who were "milling around" when I arrived wandering the Courts. I say sadly because they were being somewhat loud and that is highly unusual for the final resting places of everyone's loved one's. It seemed very disrespectful and irreverent. I have never encountered that in a Memorial Park before.
I also noticed that the metal plate that lists the crypt number's for Freddie's row (including Freddie's)has been pried off of the bottom of the wall. It was there in January when I visited.
When I returned on June 23 to create the photo journal the only new "gift" at Freddie's crypt was Atlangel's flowers. I arrived at 4:30 PM and left at 5:15 PM.

[Anna]

Wheeeone, Thank-you, I`m so glad you did that,I was wondering the flowers above Freddie Crypt that said happy Fathers Day, were they for Freddie??? I hope so. That was very thoughtful of you to do that for us. You too have a kind and loving heart.

[Cheryl Harrell]

Thanks for the pics! It is nice to see what his burial place looks like!

It was very sad seeing his crypt. It really got to me bigtime. I went thru 3 hankys viewing them. Thanks for posting them. Thanks to those who left flowers & visited the grave! You represented those of us who live too far away to go...

[This message has been edited by Cheryl Harrell (edited 06-24-2001).]

[DeDe]

I will not post about visiting Freddie on this board, everything was going great. I am still posting but on MY web site, so those who want to read what happened and see the pictures we took, can easily find it on our web site. You live closer than we do, you live in Woodland Hills, We on the other hand had to travel over 400 miles there and back. We went a long long way to do this for everyone. I know everyone is going to be greatful for what you have done and at the same time I hope they do not forget what we have done. I lost a day's pay to go there, my youngest daughter lost a day in summer school to join us. So I pray that everyone enjoys both.

[Tracy-Prinze]

To Wheeeone, I had to calm myself down and not reply to Sacred Emotion because I have a TEMPER and I would have blasted that person out but I did not. But this makes me ANGRY. You live in the area, the valley. You could have done this for all of us from day one as you wacthed everyone pour their hearts out, you could have said well since I live right here, I'll do this for everyone but No, you pick a grand opportunity to put us down by saying the ONLY gift was there was Atlangel's, you should have seen what was there when we arrived, There was NOTHING. All you had to do was drive yourself there. We had to travel there and spend over $400.00 and walking in that baking hot sun.
And then I break my neck getting the pictures developed at the 1 hour photo so that everyone can see, which was more money. We have the same pictures that you have. You could have did that easily for everyone. DeDe said she would not post about visiting freddie on this board but she said she will put it on our web site. Now I am wondering if Sacred Emotion is you.


SORRY TJ, for replying on your board like this but this makes me very angry. It took a lot of time, money, and hard work to this. We had to pay for three tickets to get there. My mother missed work and my sister missed school. We did not mention how rough it was getting to get to Southern California on what we went through. We just went right to the story of being at the crypt. We did not eat breakfast, just breaking our necks trying to get there and my sister was about to pass out from the heat and we did not mention that, we just went straight to the being at the crypt. We did not mind because we wanted to do this for everyone that lived too far away and read the poems to Freddie and everything. The time we get back, all we hear is, how DeDe post and he is talking about what saddens him.

Please forgive me TJ, I need to calm down right now. I just had to get that off my chest. I will not reply anymore regarding the crypt.

[chicofan4ever]

I want to say Thank you to everyone who has posted pictures on this site. I really appreciate it, as this is probably the only way I will be able to visit Freddie's final resting place. I would also like to say one more thing; Please don't start fighting about who put pictures where and why; I would love to see all the pictures. Could someone post the address for DeDe and Tracy-Prinze's site? Thank you for your time!

[Pitooey]

First let me say that Wheeone your pictures are beautiful. I've never been there and I felt like I was there. One day I will go to his crypt in person but, I want to Thank you for sharing it with us. We all wanted to be there for his birthday and in a way we were.

Second DeDe and Tracy I will see your pictures when you post them on your site. You did go through alot of trouble and we indeed want to see the pictures.

Third I agree with the poster before me. This is all about Chico and the man, Freddie, Jack, Louie, etc. Ocassionally we will get a poster here or there that we will give us an opinion we don't agree with but, you know that's life. Let's just do this for our favorite show and for our favorite people who unfortunatly have passed on.

Fourth the flowers were beautiful..........

[atlangel]

I agree with Chicofan4ever. Please let us not get upset with each other. Everyone here is clearly motivated by LOVE. This was Freddie's Birthday. We are all deeply grateful to each of you wonderful ladies who took your valuable time, money and effort to travel to his final resting place. You all were generous and gracious enough to take momentos, cards, flowers and other gifts from us that expressed our love for Freddie. Each of you took photographs of this momentous day for our benefit. We understand this and appreciate your hard work. I know it was hot and uncomfortable. However, you were so kind as to make this sacrifice to give all of us who could not be there, a sense of what it is like. That is a spectacular gift to us. We are all grateful and appreciative for all you each have done. From my heart, I mean that. I cannot get to Tracy and DeDe's site. So I was really enjoying the postings here in installment fashion. It allowed me to linger and relish each step along the way. Please don't be upset. We are all wishing we could have done more. The truth is -- we all wish that Freddie was still here. That is probably why emotions are so close to the surface. Please let us maintain the loving, kind, understanding, and compassionate spirit that has ruled this message board. You guys mean so much to me! (Don't you know that?) You all have made me feel so welcome and accepted when those in my life do not understand or even try to relate to my feelings about this wonderful man. You ladies, were actually friends with Freddie. I, unfortunately did not have that pleasure and honor in this life. So being in touch with you is a priceless gift to me. I look forward to meeting all of you one day. I want only for us to continue to share and remember "Our Prinze". He was a splendid individual who was worthy of so much more happiness, honor, and glory than he received. Here, at this message board, we are righting a wrong. We are letting the world know who this man was; What he means to us; How he touched us; How he impacted us; Why we cannot/will not let go;

Truly, Freddie would not want us to have harsh feelings. Love for him is our motivation. Nothing more. He is the reason we are all connected. Our hearts are broken over losing him and his light. Obviously the pain is unending. But so is our love. Let's treasure him and each other. Afterall, he knows how we feel and is honored by this. We have so often brought smiles to him in heaven. I just want to keep that going. It is always the case that we are here in recognition of Freddie's life and his greatness. We miss him and we always will. We remember him and cry for him. We hold a flame of love in our hearts for him that can never be extinguished. Those are the facts. Please let us join together in love and unity and give each other a big, group hug. I know I need one.

If the lovely ladies: Tracy, DeDe and Wheeeone would kindly write me at my e-mail address listed here in my profile, I would with all the love and gratitude in my heart send you each money orders for your trouble. I know it took money,gasoline, film, film processing, time, effort and WORK to manifest such a grand tribute to "Our Prinze". I always seek to let people know that I recognize their generosity, labors and sacrifices,especially when they did not have to do it. Which is the case with all of you. If you would just write me privately, I have no problem showing my appreciation in a tangible way. Because it is so true, if I had been fortunate enough to be there myself, I would have spent money. You all gave me that gift. So I am all too happy to try and repay you. Even though I know I cannot, because what you have given us here, is priceless! It really is! So please write me soon with your addresses and I will quickly rush that off to you.

To everyone here, you are my friends. I don't want anyone to be upset. I cannot make it without you. The chain of love was broken when Freddie left us. Through the wonders of this and other internet sites, he has reunited his friends in love. He stands in the midst of us, smiling and is happy because he knows how we feel for him. I can almost see him taking our hands and linking them one to another. It is a beautiful vision.

FREDDIE FOREVER!

[MariposaLKB]

wheeeone thank you so much for the wonderful pictures! They just made tears come to my eyes. How fortunate you are (admittedly in a very sad way) that in visting Freddie you are visting a real friend! The rest of us for the most part never had the privileges that were given to you, but through your postings and now these pictures we all feel as though we knew him, met him, and were with him on his birthday. God bless you!

Atlangel, bless you also for your eloquence here and elsewhere on this board about the
wonderful way Freddie has brought us all together regardless of who or what we are. I just pray that everyone will take your words to heart, and that rifts which open from time to time are quickly mended as we remember the loving spirit of the man who is the reason we are ALL here. Thanx mucho!

[EdBrownJr]

Ok here is my view on whats going on in this thread. I think wheeeone worded there post wrong. Im not sure whether it was written that way intentionally or accidentially but it looks like it was written intentionally you make it seem as if they are not gonna post anything about there trip at all and forget about all of us that were not able to be there. I think you should have mentioned that unfortunatley she would be posting about her trip on her website now instead of the board due to what happened on the board yesterday. It also seems as if your trying to be a hero and save the day by running up there and making a photo album of Forest Lawn. Now its a free country and certainly anybody can go visit Freddie's final resting place whenever they want and i got no problem with you going there yesterday i think it is good that you went cause from what i have read so-far about Tracy's and DeDe's trip posted on there website it seems as if there arent too many people that visit him. I think you could have worded that part better as well and that is why it seems to me that you posted it that way intentionally. Now i could be wrong and it was written that way by you accidentially and you didnt mean a thing by it but this is just my view and opinion of what happened here in this thread.

For everyone here who dont know the link to Tracy's and DeDe's site its http://tracy_prinze.tripod.com/theentertainerswelove/
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GET OUT OF MY GARAGE!!!

[This message has been edited by EdBrownJr (edited 06-24-2001).]

[wheeeone]

In response to the posts directed at me...No, I am not Sacred Emotion and why was anything negative read into my post? I WAS saddened that Tracy & DeDe were not going to post on this board. In response to Tracy, you and your Mother had already committed to doing things for the other members of the board and being as I am disabled and keeping a commitment to go on a certain day is not anything I can guarantee I did not offer my services to anyone.
I am very surprised that doing a photo journal is a problem to anyone. I simply followed my heart when I read the posts and tried to give as much information as I could of surroundings, gifts, etc.....again, why is anything negative being said? I truly do not understand.
My motivation is Freddie's memory, life, and those who care for him...I was not aware that there was "attention" to steal as some of you have insinuated. I'm confused at those responses but will not respond to any other's as I will not tarnish Freddie's memory or spirit with negativity directed at an act of love.....anyone's act of love.

Let us all remember that we are hear because of Freddie. Dee and tracy you post your trip on your site. While wheeone post on here. Its nice reading two stories of visiting Freddie. At least he is being visited now. And that is what really matters isnt it? Dee thanks for doing what you did. It meant alot. I went there a few years back Didnt know how to get to his place. A voice kept telling me which way to go. I didnt even find out at the office where he was. I just drove in and when I got near him I got out. and followed the voice. Sure enough I found him. It had to be him because I have never been there before and found him on my own in that big place. he knows who is loving him.

[EdBrownJr]

I dont have a problem with you doing a photo album. The more sites on Freddie the better it keeps his memory alive. The only thing i question is the way you worded you post and i was pointing out the reasons why i felt that way. It was unclear in a large part do to what happened with the post by "SACRED EMOTIONS" yesterday the nature of your post.

Do you atleast understand what im trying to say? The way your post was worded it makes your intentions look like you had bad intentions in that post especially after what happened yesterday afternoon.

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GET OUT OF MY GARAGE!!!

[bloogoose]

My Goodness, Tracy
Aren't you getting a little mad. Isn't this the sort of thing you and your mother wanted to avoid? Everyone is entitled to their opinion here...even those who do not nessessarily agree with you and it does you no good to get all huffy and spew on the board. I think what wheeeone did was a wonderful thing. You, on the other hand have made it sound like going to visit Freddie was more trouble than it was worth. Nobody here asked you and your mother to go and endure hardship. You took this upon yourself to visit. I commend you for your trip to Forest Lawn but for heaven's sake, don't make it sound like you did all this just for us. Don't make it sound as if were "put out" by going. Those of us who weren't fortunate enough to attend would have gladly given up our money and time to go. But you make it sound as if you had to walk 20 miles, in the snow, barefoot, and uphill both ways to get there. Be glad you went and consider yourself fortunate. But remember, no one here BEGGED you to go on their behalf.