Family News

© 2001 Shawn Vidmar

This is the spot where I tell you how well everyone is doing. In retrospect, we've had a really fortunate year.

• Edna May Zoet

• Derek Vidmar

• Molly & Brett Crannell

• Bill & Barb Vidmar

• Me

Edna May Zoet

My maternal grandmother, Oma--Edna May Zoet--moved from Bellingham, WA to Pueblo, CO in April. She'd broken her arm in the beginning of the year & had been moved out of the Willows--a retirement community where she'd been living for over 14 years--and into an assisted care place. She started spiraling into poorer, and poorer health. Each daughter, Marjory Bankson, Mimi Cummings & Barb Vidmar (mom), were spending 4 days to a week with her each month. Realizing they couldn't go on like that, Marjory & Barb started talking about relocation. Mom said that if they were going to move her, probably Pueblo was the closest & least traumatic. Marj lives in Alexandria, VA & Mimi in Kalamazoo, MI. Marj suggested this to Oma as she dropped her off to get her hair done, and by the time Marj picked her up, she was telling everyone goodbye because she was moving to Colorado.

Within a few weeks the girls had packed Oma's stuff and Marj & mom were heading to Colorado in a rented van because Oma believed her health was too delicate to fly. Granted this was her story for many years & she had missed many college graduations as well as three marriages of her grandchildren because of this misconception.

When she arrived at the Villa Towers apartments in Pueblo, she really was in bad shape. Her weight was dropping and she kept falling down. Her memory was bad and she just didn't seem all that with it. We were prepared for the late night phone call.

Well, I did get a phone call at work one day. The staff told me that Oma's blood pressure had bottomed out and they were taking her to the hospital. Her doctor on record hadn't ever seen her, so he ordered a bunch of baseline tests as well as a hospital stay. It came to light that she was at toxic levels in many of her prescription medications, that she doesn't actually have a heart problem and that perhaps the halcyon sleeping pills were making her unsteady at night. Once purged of the 14 or so different meds she was taking, her life took a drastic turn for the better! Combine that with the return to the sunny southwest, she grew up in Phoenix, and we have a whole new woman. 

She felt so good, in fact, that she FLEW to Phoenix for a long reminiscent weekend with mom this fall, and is hoping for another trip. 

I try to hook up with her once a week for lunch or dinner. She keeps mom busy with doctors & other appointments. Lately she's been working on a digital hearing aid with mild success. She also finished her autobiography--5 years in the works. As well as enjoyed a Thanksgiving with 2 of her 3 daughters & spouses--Marj & Pete Bankson, Bill & Barb Vidmar--and 5 of her 6 grandchildren, Derek Vidmar, Molly & Brett Crannell, Drew Cummings, Phoebe Cummings & me. 

Derek Vidmar

My younger brother, Derek, spent the past year completing the National Automotive Dealer's Association (NADA) Dealer Candidate School in McLean, VA. He is now going to be named Dealer Principle at Vidmar Motor Company. He will soon begin buying the shares of stock that our parents, Bill & Barb, currently own. He's excited about the change & come January will be moving into Bill's office, formerly Granddad's office. Bill will move to Barb's old office in the Honda Building, and Barb is moving her office home. She's retiring from the Car business, but not from working.

Vidmar Motor Co is facing some major changes. As more manufacturers force dealers to build them a separate building of their design, and as the I-25 project takes shape to flatten the current VMC location, more attention is being paid to available land and possible building designs. With GM announcing the phase out of the Oldsmobile division, the franchise Jake T. Vidmar (our founder) began with over 60 years ago, we feel we are losing an old friend. Even the addition of Daewoo through GM, isn't filling the void that the loss of Oldsmobile will leave. 

Derek has a lot on his plate but has the energy to face it.  He has plenty of support from his family & friends as well as co-workers, that I feel his transition to dealer will be seamless.

But don't fret, he's not all work & no play. He's on a year-long Roller Hockey team in Colorado Springs. In the winter he skis at least once each week, and in the summer he plays golf. This year he & Bill will be heli-skiing in Valdez, AK. 

Molly & Brett Crannell

Molly & Brett are enjoying their careers in California. Brett bought his boss' share in the business this spring and exceeded his financial goals for this year in H and B Imaging. He takes pictures at golf events, prints & frames the pictures to distribute at the end of the event. Usually he is commissioned by the Golf Club. He was able to do Hackers this year and a few other tournaments in the Pueblo Area. They have also been refinishing their ranch-style house in Northern California. It was finally finished for Molly's 30th Birthday Bash in November. 

Molly is working hard at Robertson Advertising as an Account Executive and Office Manager. The owners, Scot & Cherie Robertson have indicated that she'll be able to make an offer when they are ready to retire in ten years or so.

But the biggest news is that they are expecting their first child in June 2002! It will be the first grandchild of our generation for our parents. Everyone is thrilled to death over the news and it is fun to be expecting a little niece or nephew for next summer.

Bill & Barb Vidmar

After celebrating their 33rd Anniversary, Bill & Barb seem closer than ever. They are both very involved with the Automotive industry, giving back to the industry that has provided so well for them. Barb continues to put out fires at AIADA, and Bill is working his way up the ranks at NADA. Walking around the NADA convention with them is like being with a celebrity. It's kind of weird to see the impact they've had on the industry, because I always see them as my parents.

Although they're not participating in the day to day operations of the dealership, they are always available for advice and wisdom. Although Barb says she's retiring, we're keeping her on retainer for her valuable input. Barb is also involved in a new local bank being put together called Southern Colorado National Bank. Since Minnequa Bank was purchased by Vectra Bank, it has become obvious that there is a niche available for a local bank. It should be open come March 2002.

Me

Well it's easy to see how the year went so quickly. I'm always amazed at the bigger picture. I didn't think I had accomplished much this past year, but in the glimpse I've seen putting this site together, I realize I did quite a lot.

The Shaver's (great family friends, Mike & Bill were college roommates) and the Vidmar's vacationed in Cabo San Lucas this March. We were spread out among three pasadas at Club Cascadas. Melissa & Barb made up snack food each morning, usually a pasta salad, and there'd be plenty of tortillas & cheese for anyone & everyone. We snacked all day between games in the pool, poolside & just lounging under the pallapa (or as Bill called it, the floppa). It was very low key and fun.

Then in May I got to go to Berlin for a VW meeting. I went a little early and stayed a little late. I worked on my German--I can understand way more than I can speak. I saw amazing things, historical, beautiful, strange and sad things. I am such a visual learner that history doesn't really make sense to me until I see it, smell it, take pictures of it. It's neat because each time I travel to a new spot in this world, it's like another piece of the puzzle called world history fits.

Then, in June two of my best friends got married in Idaho, so I went back for their wedding. It was great to see everybody who had gathered for the event which took place near Bone, a rural town outside of Idaho Falls, in a really cool mountain cabin. They Honeymooned in Paris, so it's been neat to see their pictures, videos & hear their impressions of the City of Light.

Later in June I bought some land off of Siloam Road near Beulah, CO. It's about 30 miles from the dealership to the edge of my 36 acre plot. I often have my head in the clouds designing my dream house. I spend my spare time with the dogs. I've trimmed down my schedule so I feel like I'm getting something done each week instead of turning my wheels because I have too many somethings to do.

I celebrated my 32nd birthday climbing Mt. Quandary by full moonlight with friends. I taught Spinning at the YMCA  until a recent hiatus. I've begun teaching again, and I feel the rest renewed my ability to lead & my energy levels.

The Vidmar Motor Company website won Best in Pueblo for the second year in a row, and I'm learning more every day. I've become 5-Star certified in System Administration for Chrysler & passed the tests for the Honda iNetwork. I'm more confident in troubleshooting our network & will be cabling the Hwy 50 store when we link the two stores together via Wide Area Network.

And finally, I look to bring in the New Year standing in the meadow of my land with a wee little dram of MacCallan Whiskey. "Prost!"