1921-2008 Rest in Peace ,Doc.

On August 22, 2008 Doc passed away. This is the third anniversary of his death. We always mark on grave markers and pictures and other places the year of the birth and the year of the death with a dash in between.. The 'dash' represents the life in between birth and death. Doc's 'dash' lasted for 87 years

The Registry from Rattermans and the cards off of flowers and the sympathy cards and letters of condolence that I received were all saved in a box in my closet. I had put them all away and knew that one day I would take them all out and read them again. Today was the day. .

The first days after his passing were all so busy. I had to adjust to a whole new way of living. I had spent sixty-six years as part of a 'couple'. After all that many years, your thoughts and actions concern 'we'. If it affected me it would affect him and his actions affected me as well as him. We were a pair! 'for better or for worse'. We had a lot of hard times together and a lot of great times together. But the 'we' became 'I' with his last breath.

The days and weeks following a death are filled with filing papers, signing papers, making hard decisions, evaluating your assets and your status. Sort of starting over, so to speak.

Today, I opened the box and sat for the greater part of the day and read all of the cards and letters and looked at the registry and felt the urge to let people know that their words, prayers and thoughts had consoled me and meant so much to me at the time but mean even more to me today, three years away from the sorrowful days that I received them. I can still recall the soothing words of some of the callers, some of the visitors, I felt all over again the sincerity of the feelings of sympathy and love. I vowed to express my sympathy to the people I care for and help them heal in their losses. It doesn't have to be elaborate or costly, it just has to be heartfelt. It is surprising how just knowing that someone took the time to let you know that they care can lift your spirits.

I put all of the things back in the box to perhaps, read another day. Three years seems like a long time, in some ways, but seems like yesterday in others. The memories linger on. The third anniversary seemed like a good time to take my memories out and look at them.I'm glad I did. Ciao.