A Dear Friend of ours Needs your Thoughts and Prayers ( Archived) (38)

Thank you friends - I'm with my family now and things are tough as both JJ and Rebecca can attest. I've broken down and cried on both of their shoulders today and it has helped, knowing that I have friends here of the caliber of all of you.

We lost my father (also Don) about 5 1/2 years ago to Alzheimer's and after learning the circumstances of my mother's passing, I thought I'd share it with my wonderful friends here - It is beautiful, if sad, and I think we can take many lessons from it:

My mother, who was in the prime of health and a very young 75, died this morning from a massive stroke. My cousin Becky was visiting at the time and they were sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee when Mom looked out the window and said to Becky; "Oh, well here comes your Uncle Don - I'd better get my purse!" Mom got up, walked into the living room and sat down on the sofa and reached down for her purse. As she straightened up, the front door blew open - Mom looked up and said, "I'll be right there, Honey!" Then she leaned back, closed her eyes... And went with Dad.

She was a cantankerous old battle axe who never hesitated to help another soul. She could get on your nerves quicker than almost anyone I've ever known and remove a bandaid so gently that you'd barely feel it. She never hesitated to give someone Holy Hell, if she thought they deserved it and she loved the same man unconditonally and unequivocably from the time she first saw him when she was 15 years old. They were married for 51 years and 1 month at the time of Dad's passing and raised 5 strong sons together.

And now she is with him again and we are left to pick up the pieces of our broken hearts and try to move on with our own lives.

And I thank you my friends - No matter how tough it gets in the next few days, I will take strength and solitude in the knowledge of knowing you are here and thinking of us.

Thank you...


...Don...

(A.K.A. The Kansan)