For Carmen--A new beginning--A new journey: I learned a lot!!!!!!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

I learned a lot!!!!!!

On the left is Audrey and on the right is Faustina
I went to the Mall of America and Southdale and learned many things. Some of them:
1. Driving in the Mall of America parking lot on Sunday afternoon you need Nascar driving skills and then a little luck may be good too.
2. Almost everyone at the MOA is younger than this dinosaur.
3. If you were to buy a cup of coffee at every coffee place at the MOA you would have to go to the bathroom often!!
4. There is NOTHING I need to buy.
5. I think everyone in America shops on Sunday afternoon.
6. There are many more lookers than shoppers.
7. Victoria's Secret is misnamed. As I walked by I looked at the pictures and she has no secrets!!
8. I have read that ads for Abercrombie and Fitch are suggestive. I walked into the Southdale store and that is not true, they are porno.
9. Too many people eat too much food at the malls
10. If you go to the MOA take your coat off as soon as you arrive!
11. I was reminded again that now that Gail is not here my desire to shop is perhaps 10% of what it was and I wasn't big on shopping before. Much of what I would window shop or just look and dream about was related to Gail so end of story.
Now you know what I learned. Not too useful. I also found out that I am out of the loop as far as shopping goes. I went looking for a store that doesn't even exist anymore. How bad is that?
I am doing nothing the rest of the day and I think that will be OK.

3 comments:

Andy said...: I wouldn't feel too bad about finding out that a store isn't in the mall anymore. It's happened to me more than once. Stores come and go in the MOA all the time. God bless!; December 27, 2009 at 10:01 PM
Anonymous said...: Brave Man! You actually braved the mall during the Christmas season?!? You do realize that the Christmas Season ends on Feb.1. Good points all around with VS and A&F. Those ads get worse as the years go by. Have a good one :); December 28, 2009 at 7:46 AM
Mr. Adkins said...: Hilarious!; December 28, 2009 at 8:52 AM

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The first reading at Gail's funeral September 18, 2009

I know of no one who fit this better than Gail

Proverbs 31: 10-31
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm.
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously:
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her;
Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Well done good and faithful servant, your praise is much and your reward is to be with God forever.

Our Story

Our story begin in 1951, when Carmen was 4 and Gail was 5! We met as our parents were at a camera club. Fast forward--Carmen begin to attend grade school in town in 1957, the same school that Gail went to. Fast forward--We had our first date in the winter of 1964 in Gail's senior year of high school. Again--we were married June 1st of 1968. We moved to St. Paul in October of 1977 and lived at 2094 Niles Ave until Gail's death September 14 of 2009.
Gail first breast cancer was found in October of 2003. After surgery, chemo, radiation and infusions for a year she felt well and we lived life in our normal mode. Carmen retired in June of 2007 and shortly after that we quit doing the paper route as well. In the fall of 2007 we went on our dream vacation. We camped for 7 weeks in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia and in the New England states. Sleeping in our truck and eating over an open fire we felt that we had experienced heaven. Then in January of 2008 we spent 3 weeks in Hawaii with friends and again had so much fun. In the fall of 2008 we did much work on the outside of the house and we were so excited to enter 2009 with big plans and dreams. In January Gail was diagnosed with new cancer. For the next 7 1/2 months we prayed, changed our life style, laughed and cried often. As the end of Gail's life drew near she was peaceful and family cared for her at home until she met Jesus. It was a journey that was wonderful, exciting, blessed, full of life and full of love but of course it was too short. Gail is so missed but I know she is in a better place so my journey must continue on without my true love.
I enter a new decade as the "I" that I never wanted to be but I have hope. Hope of things not experienced and hope that life will again, in 2010, become something that I look forward to each morning. My hope is based on our Lord who gives all, who is all and who gives love to all who believe. I enter this new decade with so many questions and so few answers but with faith that all will be well.

For Carmen--A new beginning--A new journey

Sunday, December 27, 2009

I learned a lot!!!!!!

3 comments:

The first reading at Gail's funeral September 18, 2009

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