Retirement and Travel

Retirement

In 1992, Julie’s cousin Barbara decided to move in with her boyfriend, and Julie asked if she could move back in with us while she decided whether to find a new place of her own or return to school. At the time, she was still working for the Southern California Gas Company. We were more than happy to welcome her back home.

None of us realized then how important Julie’s return would become in the years ahead. Through all of life’s changes and challenges, she remained by our side. Even today, she continues helping care for me in my old age, and I remain deeply grateful that she was there when Madeline needed extra care during her long illness.

After my medical retirement from JPL in 1992, I entered what I jokingly called my “Honey-Do” phase of retirement. For the first time in many years, I finally had time to do the things I truly enjoyed. I spent countless hours doing yard work, going fishing, and then doing even more yard work and fishing.

Eventually, Madeline retired as well, and together we finally had the opportunity to enjoy life at a slower pace. We traveled extensively over the years, taking cruises to Mexico, the Caribbean, Alaska, the Mediterranean, and the Hawaiian Islands. Whenever possible, we vacationed in Maui, one of our favorite destinations.

I also continued taking fishing trips to Baja California and Alaska, while still managing to fish locally almost every week whenever possible.

In 2006, Madeline and I traveled throughout Italy, visiting Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Pisa, Siena, and the breathtaking Amalfi Coast towns of Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi. Those trips became some of our happiest memories together.

Meanwhile, Mark returned to college and, in 1995, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications. I hoped the accomplishment would help him develop more stable work habits, but unfortunately that never fully happened. He frequently quit jobs for one reason or another, often because he became dissatisfied with management or disagreed with his supervisors.

At the same time, Mark and Stacy’s relationship was falling apart, ventually, she took Daniel and returned to her mother’s home.

Determined to remain involved in his son’s life, Mark began legal proceedings to gain full custody of Daniel. The process became a long and emotionally draining battle that lasted nearly a year. Finally, in August 1996, Mark was granted full custody of his son.

Despite our travels and retirement activities, life was far from carefree. We still had a busy household to maintain, with Julie, Mark, and Daniel all living with us. Around this same time, Yvonne and Greg separated, and she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, with Joey and her new boyfriend, Michael.

Although Yvonne remained in contact with us, life became increasingly complicated for her. She always made sure that Joseph spent holidays with us in sunny California whenever possible.

During Christmas of 1998, we had planned for Joseph to come visit as usual. Yvonne told us she would make the travel arrangements and call us with his itinerary. As Christmas approached, however, we still had not heard from her.

Concerned, we called her home in Albuquerque. Michael answered and told us that he had not seen or heard from Yvonne in over a week.

Alarmed by the situation, we immediately told him to pack Joey’s belongings and take him to the airport. We purchased his ticket ourselves and brought him to California for Christmas.

It would be four long years before we heard from Yvonne again.

When she finally returned, we learned that she was suffering from a rare autoimmune disease called scleroderma. We welcomed her home without asking many questions about where she had been or why she had broken contact with the family. I suppose she had her reasons, and at that point what mattered most was that she was safe.

During those years, Joseph remained with us. He graduated from high school and grew into a fine young man. About a year after Yvonne returned to Albuquerque, Joey joined her there.

In 2001, Julie graduated from college with a degree in Computer Science. She initially worked for a credit corporation until many of the company’s computer operations were transferred to South America. She later accepted a position as a subcontractor supporting Boeing Corporation. After that contract ended, she joined Boeing full-time and remained there until her retirement in 2025.

Meanwhile, it became increasingly clear that Mark was unable to consistently provide the stability Daniel needed. After many discussions, Madeline and I decided that we would adopt our grandson ourselves.

We sat down with both Mark and Stacy and explained that we believed Daniel would have a more secure and dependable future living with us. To their credit, they both agreed. In 2003, Daniel officially became our son.

In truth, very little changed in our daily lives. We had already been raising Daniel since he was a baby, caring for him as though he were our own child. The only real difference was that we now carried the full legal responsibility for his future and well-being.

As the years passed, Daniel continued to make us proud. In 2015, he graduated from college, an accomplishment that brought great joy to our family and reminded Madeline and me that all the sacrifices we had made over the years had been worthwhile.

Not all of those later years were happy ones, however. In 2013, after a long struggle with scleroderma and other health complications, we tragically lost Yvonne. Losing a child is something no parent is ever truly prepared for, and her passing left a deep emptiness in our family.

There were also brighter moments along the way. After years of searching for stability in his career, Mark finally found the job he truly loved when he became a longshoreman. He remained in that profession for the rest of his working life.

February 17, 2024, after a long illness and many difficult years of declining health, my beloved Madeline passed away. Her loss changed my life forever.

Madeline had been my partner through every stage of life—through military service, constant relocations, raising children, health problems, financial struggles, travel adventures, and retirement. For decades, she held our family together with strength, patience, and love. Even now, it is difficult to imagine life without her.

Sadly, in 2024, we also lost Mark due to cancer and cardiac complications.

Looking back, retirement turned out to be far different from what I had imagined. There were wonderful years filled with travel, fishing, family gatherings, and precious time with Madeline. But there were also challenges—health problems, family struggles, unexpected responsibilities, and moments of heartbreak.

Through it all, however, family remained at the center of our lives.

The house in Buena Park became more than just a home. It became the place where children, grandchildren, and family members could always return when life became difficult. No matter how complicated things became, our door was always open.

Those retirement years taught me that life rarely unfolds exactly as planned. Yet even during the difficult times, there were blessings to be found in simply being together as a family.

At 89 years old, I am happy and content to have had such a wonderful life.

Final Reflections

I want to speak now to my family, my friends, and to all those who filled my life with meaning.

Every chapter I have written carries pieces of each of you, your laughter, your support, your kindness, and the countless moments we shared together. My life was never lived in isolation; it was built upon love, sacrifice, and the bonds that tied us together through both joyful and difficult times.

If these pages have reminded you of anything, I hope it is that love and perseverance can carry you through any storm.

Cherish one another. Be kind. Work hard, and always make time for family. Forgive easily, love freely, and remember that happiness is found not in possessions, but in people.

I have lived a full life, one of faith, service, laughter, and love. There were trials and mistakes along the way, but there were also triumphs and blessings beyond measure. I am deeply grateful for the journey and for every soul who walked beside me.

When you think of me, smile. Remember the good times, the stories, the lessons, and the laughter. Know that I carry all of you in my heart, even beyond the final page.

May my words remind you that it is never too late to grow, to love, to forgive, or to begin again.

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to my children, grandchildren, and especially my daughters, Julie and Lisa. Through all of life’s changes, hardships, and challenges, they never stopped standing by our side. I will always be especially grateful that Julie was there for Madeline during her long illness, giving her the extra care, comfort, and devotion she so greatly needed. Even now, in my later years, Julie continues to care for me with the same love and dedication, while Lisa is always there beside her, helping in every way she can. I would also express my deepest appreciation to my grandson, Joseph for helping Julie with my care. Their kindness, loyalty, and love have been among the greatest blessings of my life.

With all my love and gratitude,

Eulogio Murillo