Grandpa Thoughts: Thelma

I remember taking special note of the weather because Dad will ask me over the phone “what’s the weather like there (and temp)”? If I didn’t know, he really felt I had missed out on an important part of each day--and he probably was right.On Saturday mornings, I still catch myself wanting to have my early morning chat with Dad (he should be back from exercise now).I knew Dad was gone for sure when I had to delete Dad’s name and number from my cell phone. I took a long pause, and thought before I pressed the delete button. That seems such a final step! (the delete button)Last night I read the “Courage” poem which Dad asked that I type up and mail to all the grandchildren. We had also distributed it to all the guests and friends at his 90th birthday party. The thoughts in that poem are just as if Grandpa (and Dad) were talking to each of us personally. It has encouraged me many times. The thoughts means so much more when you feel you know the person has actually experienced the things in the poem. I hope most of you still have that poem, for he wished you to refer to it often.I still miss his calling me with little tidbits of information about people or relatives and their “happenings”; or, his just calling to see how I was doing. I wanted to make sure all of the family knew that, even in his pain, he was thinking of others. The day they were preparing him to move from the hospital to York, he motioned me to come closer to his bedside. Then, with what I felt was from great strength within, he said slowly, with difficulty, but plain as day “Are you all right?”. I felt he was concerned about how I was dealing with his illness and if I was holding up OK. I assured him that he and Roger had seen to it that Marie and I were very comfortable in a nice motel and that we were getting our sleep and taking time to eat regularly. Well, most of that was the truth! Sometimes we didn’t sleep for thinking about what tomorrow might bring, but he didn’t need to know that. Nice to keep in touch. Aunt Thelm

Memorial Stones - 2 Generations

I took these with my phone so they aren't very good quality. When time permits I may Photoshop them a bit. Or maybe they aren't appropriate to post and I'll remove them. Anyway I wanted them for my own files.