Final Goodbyes

First of all, please be so patient with me as I have not been able to post as much as I would have liked this summer.

It's been a busy one.

But I can guarantee that very soon, I may have more time on my hands than I want and you may get tired of all that I have to say!

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I was out of touch for a while. I mean, I was DISCONNECTED from the world of the Internet and it was killing me!

We spent about 6 days visiting Hub's family, and let me tell you, it ain't easy not having the Internet for that long.

I think I'd started going through withdrawals! Shaking and sweating and stuff... 4 real, ya'll!

Okay, so we had a death in the family unit.

Well actually, she wasn't blood family, but, even to me, she was like a family member.

Mrs. Ottley was 95 years young and, oh what a feisty something she was! She was a neighbor to Hubs' mom, and someone I met right after we were married and took fondly to right away.

Mrs. Ottley called her self our auntie and treated our kids like her own grand kids, I guess since she had none herself.

Growing up, Hubs use to go down to her house, help her out with anything she needed done. Bringing in the mail, taking out the trash, raking leaves, whatever. And she paid him for it, probably what she thought was a lot, but many times was probably enough for a value meal.

But he didn't do it for the money. Hubs has a good heart. He saw someone with a need and he was there to help.

At the funeral, he spoke with tears in his eyes about how she helped to mold him into the person he has become. Her giving him little odd jobs to do kept him out of trouble and gave him a sense of responsibility and respect and pride. She help to raise him, so to say, like in the old days when every older person on your street was able to set you straight. He loved her and in the short time that she was apart of my life, so did I.

Have you every sat and listened to your elders tell stories for their young days? Boy, that was my favorite part of out talks. She told me the story of her life and those are the times that I will cherish the most.

So this I have to say, as I'm sure you all have heard so many times before:

You never know when some one's last days might be. You may never be able to say goodbye. Call and talk to those that you love now. Cherish them when they are here. Send my flowers while I'm living! I'd rather be able to know how you feel while I'm living rather than hear in in my final goodbyes.