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Bones
10-16-2006, 02:42 PM
It is simple amazing the changes that can occur in a person life in just three short months. Here is a snapshot of my wife's and mine last three months.
The last part of July my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. #banana# My mothers wish was that all her kids and grandkids come and help them celebrate. For some familles this might be an easy feat. However for our family it took some heavy planning. See our family was a large family (although not as large as my wife's) and over the years we had spread out all over the world. For my parents 40th my sister and me could not attend as I was in Nairobi Kenya at the time and my sister was in Iceland. I have fours sister and one brother. I was now retired and being out of the country was no longer an issue and my sister was divorced now and living in our hometown. I had a sister that lived in Bremington, Washington and my other sister and brother lived two hours away. However we also had to consider the plans of 12 grandchildren that were now spread out even more than my brothers and sisters were for the 40th. This being the summer months made it somewhat easier as those in college would be home. So with lots of planning, pleading and bribing we able to bring all of us home for the first time since December 1991.
My parents had downsized their house over the years and my sister was first in town so she had dibs on my parents house. My wife and I decided on a hotel that way we could spend some alone time with our kids who we had not seen together since last Oct for my retirement celebration. So the week before the event we all began trickling into town. My son missed his first flight out, we had planned to pick him up on our way home but due to a miscommunication he next flight was 12 hours later. Finally he arrived and we arrived in my hometown. The next day at the hotel my son and myself went to the hotel desk to find out when the pool would reopen from cleaning. We walked right into a man having a stroke. My son and myself began CPR until the ambulance arrived and took him away.
The next day we went over to my in-laws house to begin rewiring it (house was built in 1926 and had knob and tube wiring) While there my father-in-law could not get out of bed. My wife called 911 and off he went to the hospital. Turned out he had a heart attack and was now going to be there for a few days. The man we had given CPR was there as well and was doing well except for some memory loss. Thursday our daughter flew in and now the whole family was complete.
House was finished rewiring in three HOT HOT July days.
My parents anniversary came and we had a big church remarriage (my father could not be married in the church in the 1950's because he was not catholic) followed by a big celebration.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/SeabeeBones/2006-08-09_0161.jpg
We all went home and our lives returned to normal.

Bones
10-16-2006, 02:45 PM
August almost one month later, we received a phone call from my sister in law. My father in law was in the hospital and it did not look good. We packed quickly and started another 8 hour drive home we called my daughter but could only email my son as his ship was somewhere in the Pacific and would not pull into port for three months. My FIL was in a coma and stayed that way for a week before he passed away. My wife has three sisters. 1 half sister and four brothers there were 21 grandkids and three great grand kids. We found out after his death and my Mother in law gave me his DD214 that he had been in the Korean war and had two bronze stars. Since most records for those in the Army were destroyed in a fire in 1973 we probable will never know what he did to deserve those bronze stars. He never talked about his tour in Korea even when asked he said very little. He was buried with full military honors and his flag and shell casings were stowed in an Oak flag box I had built.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/SeabeeBones/casket.jpg

While he was in the hospital my Sisters Mother in law was brought in with similar symptoms but survived until she was moved to a nursing home and then passed away two week later.
Flash to last week. Lunch time I received a call from my sister my Mom had a stroke and things were not good. Wife and I packed quickly and began the drive back up again. Phoning my daughter who was now in Mexico being a bridesmaid for a friends wedding and an email to my son AGAIN because he ship was still out at sea somewhere. My Mom passed away before my one sister or I made it home she had a brain aneurysm and was pretty much gone before she reached the hospital. But they had airlifted her to Indianapolis to see if there was anything else they could do. Her request was to donate her organs so her body was kept on life support until a recipient could be found but she was declared dead almost 18 hours before. Her liver went to recipient while he other organs went to research. Her casket was a handcrafted oak casket made by some monk in Southern Indiana. It was a rather handsome casket and seemed to us to be much better than the traditional ones you see in funeral homes. It was ordered on the day she died and was delivered the next day. It was reasonable priced. $2000 and was Oak. Her showing was attend by more than 1000 people in four hours we had to extend her viewing by an hour. She truly had made an impact on quite a few people in her life. This from a woman who was a mother and a devout catholic so people do not ever downplay what you do in life no matter how mundane it might seem because you can make a positive impact.
We are now home and hope and pray that the next three months will be much better and if not we will take these knocks head on as well.
http://www.abbeycaskets.com/caskets.asp

http://www.abbeycaskets.com/aboutus.asp

StephiLou
10-16-2006, 04:36 PM
So sorry to hear of your losses the last couple of months. I hope things can stay calm for awhile for you. Take Care.....

Steph

MeLonghunter
10-17-2006, 03:51 AM
Wow..........Will pray and keep you and yours in our thoughts........

gypho
10-17-2006, 04:24 AM
So sorry, for your many losses... will pray for peace in your family now. Ya'll could sure use it.

gypho

alma
10-17-2006, 05:04 AM
Thanks for sharing your sad experience with us.
It helps to remind us all to be thankful for our blessings while we have each other.
What a great family!
You have been blessed in many ways.
I always wanted a lot of kids, and had only two, and only one grandchild, and no more of the next generation in sight.
Hope you can rest for awhile now. love, alma

Faye
10-17-2006, 06:28 AM
As a southern woman all I can think is "Bless your heart". I thought we went through a lot when we(Roy and I) lost our parents all in exactly 1 year. I am so sorry for your loss. Please take time to grieve. It is a tremendous adjustment and requires time. I will certainly be lifting you and your family up in prayer.

Mysticdream44
10-17-2006, 08:40 AM
I am so sorry for all your losses. I hope things will be calm for a while.

MYellowRose
10-17-2006, 10:57 AM
Bones so sorry to hear about your losses. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.