For Carmen--A new beginning--A new journey: A hot day

Friday, July 16, 2010

A hot day

Here are Aaron and Amy on our family camp out. They look both serious and busy and like they are having fun.
A hot hot day. I spent time outside hanging clothes, washing the car and a little biking and it was sweat weather. Hard to keep enough liquid in the body. I think it is supposed to be about the same tomorrow so the air will be off tonight but go on early tomorrow and stay on most of the day.
The latest word on the monument is that I will go to see the granite on Tuesday and they say it will be in within a week after that. That means that it should be in place by July 27. I was hoping that it would be in place before John/Mary go to South Bend and that should happen.
I am finding that more and more and more I am becoming the single guy. I don't really like that idea but given my life situation right now it is what it is. I am finding that even though I like to be alone some of the time I have found out that I would not be a good hermit and I really do need people in my life. I am not so sure those people need me as much as I need them. I am finding that nights are not so bad and I can and do function fairly well in the "alone/I" mode. Today I washed a load of white clothes and hung them out on the line and it was not so bad. I will never get to the place that Gail was and that was really loving those clothes hanging on the line but it is OK. That reminds me that I do need to get them in before dark so they stay dry. Now I just need to get into the place of not only bringing them in but folding them and putting them away. I have come to believe that I never will learn how to keep white clothes white. It seemed that Gail could put white clothes in the machine and like magic they would come out and look snow white. Well my socks and T shirts are FAR from that but if they look OK and are clean I will be fine with that.
I continue to get some exercise in and watch fairly well what I eat so I have lost some weight but I do have a goal for this fall and hope I can meet it. Like so many others perhaps I have a fist full of pants etc. hanging that I want and need to get into and I do think that can happen.
I need to put an egg dish together tonight as there will be 5 men here at 7:00 tomorrow and they will be needing something to eat. I will be using a dish that Aaron's Amy gave me and it should be pretty good.
I was able to get the car washed today and it looks nice. It is amazing how fast it gets dirty. Now that has not been a priority for a LONG time but now it is kind of fun to vacuum and wash it so that it looks nice.
I have not seen John/Mary for a few days but as I drove past their house today I think one of her sisters is there. I t will certainly look funny the first time they come to visit and their plates on the car are either IN or MI, I think I have those letters correct.
No here it is past 7:00 and I told myself that I would try to watch some of the Twins game so will close for tonight.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: Okay, you're going to have to learn some womanly things here! Clorox! That's a really good thing for white clothes. The directions are on the label and it works. Folding and putting away is good but do you iron? That is an entirely different process! Making a bed is pretty easy as well. When we next see each other I'll give you some pointers. After being in the Air Force I know how to bounce a quarter off one made properly. Not that helped me in life but it is what it is! What time you had with the camping trip really looked like fun.
Helen; July 16, 2010 at 10:57 PM

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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

Friday, July 16, 2010

A hot day

1 comment:

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

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