Memorial

 Saying goodbye..

but first,  hello...

It must have been about 38 years ago when our little Anita was taking swimming lessons, at the Y, and her teacher, Ann, was getting married.  Ann invited us to her wedding.  Turns out, Ann and her family lived just three houses down the back trail.

The family had connections in Hawaii and there were lots of Orchids.   That is the main memory we have of that occasion

No, these are not orchids,  but i do like to add a picture 

Soon hubby made his way down the path and was able to do some tree cutting.   And more tree cutting.   

Around Easter, he went to the woodpile and there were lots of colored eggs tucked in between the logs.  

The men got pretty well acquainted through the years. But  it was not long ago we heard that our neighbor lost his struggle with hard health issues.

We learned quite a bit at his memorial

Just down the road is a park.  Bridle Trails Park. That is where our neighbor spent many hours watching and helping his girls ride ponies, then horses. 
And, that is where we gathered.

Lots of pictures.   Coffee and treats. 

Then we were seated around the corral.  Our neighbor was a good neighbor.  He was a physician at our nearby hospital.  He loved to garden. He loved to share.  He was fun, positive and cheerful.  He was generous.  

His younger brother, living in Hawaii, sent a tape. Pretty special  to listen to some "stories" about this fun loving and adventurous man.  Oh, and he loved animals.  Collected animals... ducks, then pigeons, then rabbits ( not for long, they kept multiplying) Loved kites. Made them. Model airplanes, the list goes on

 And a few others shared about this special man.

At the end, a tape by the Odle Middle School Orchestra  ( made while his granddaughter was first chair violinist )   Concerto in D- J S Bach

( I am listening to a version right now on Youtube)

We paid our respects  to the family and went home

There was something missing.  His faith.  And that is something I hope to find out.  I have invited his wife to come by, and I hope she will do that, soon.

 

I live an exciting life