Life goes on and stories abound in this residence, they are sometimes lovely stories, and sometimes so so sad..but of course, this being a Seniors residence, well one realizes this goes with the territory.
Today Lettie, and I were waiting for the Teapot bus that takes us shopping at IGA every Tuesday. You may remember my stories about Lettie the 91 year old friend here in the residence. She was the first woman Anglican priest in Canada; her husband was the one I used to look after while she was getting over a broken hip. then if you recall, he broke his hip too, and not too long after he improved but then had cancer as well as a type of dementia and died. How sad is that; and no matter how old one is of course she like myself misses her husband so much; but life goes on.
So today there we were waiting for the bus in the lobby of the residence when we saw Darlene. I call her Darling Darlene, she is always so much fun. She is a sweet looking young woman who works serving in the dining room also she often is the companion to take the ailing residents to their doctor or hospital appointments. That's what she was doing when we met her.
She was not looking too happy or fun loving as she wheeled Mrs. Hood along to the door. When she saw Lettie and I she came over to us and just shocked us when she said, "did you know my husband died last week."
I could hardly believe it, her husband was only 50 years old. She said she woke up in the morning and there was her husband in bed, and he had died.
Apparently the doctors do not know how he died. He had been healthy - in fact I saw him last week driving his car into our parking lot He had come as usual to pick her up Darlene. We were completely shocked at the news. I could see that Darlene is kind of in a state of shock too, she told us in a calm voice, that they had an Irish Wake..two hundred and fifty of their friends and relatives came and supported her and their teen aged boy and girl. The wake she told us went on for nine hours..and she explained that's what we Irish do. She is kind of walking in a state of disbelief..Lettie and I were also in disbelief..
Then just as she was telling us, our bus came and we got on the bus - the bus driver and the two young girls who help with groceries, and all the ladies on the bus were saying how they are getting ready and excited. The bus driver with his santa claus hat on.. and as for me, I could only think what a Christmas this will be for Darlene and her family.
These days I have been thinking..what a Christmas this will be for myself and my family. How will I stand it..well, I know I will stand it, I've been so fortunate, 63 years of a loving husband, and father..I will have a grateful Christmas, I will, how could I not have one..when I think of ..
poor Darlene, she had been married thirty three years they were together since she was seventeen.
And so it goes. We must always remember how fragile and precious is our time with our loved ones, and our time here on earth. Appreciate each moment, and care for one another..enjoy each Christmas we are here remembering that no one knows what the future may hold so Love one another, as the man said whose birth is what we celebrate... g'nite.
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