October 31, 2009

Emily got ready for Halloween and says that she had about 75 Trick or Treaters.  Valdis went about 7:00 and helped her until most of the crowd was gone.  She says that he really did most of it.

Emily is busying herself trying to sort out what all things need to be done and tackling them - sometimes simultaneously.  She is going through all of Gene's medicines now.  David Judge will be coming by tomorrow and she is planning to give him all the old prescriptions in the hope that he will be able to use them in the mission work that they do. 

This afternoon Alan and Lynn helped get the cabinet doors above the refrigerator raised enough to clear the top of the new refrigerator, and Emily set right to work getting the dishes back in them.  She keeps busy with one project after another.  She is also going through the process of the mail that comes in every day and "papers" that she needs to work on.  She says that she's decided to just turn on the TV and go through things while she watches something that is interesting to her.

October 30, 2009

This afternoon Emily went to the funeral for Tom Sircy.  Gene and Emily met Tom and Dean Sircy when they began to attend First Cumberland Presbyterian after they moved to Chattanooga.  After the funeral Emily and two other women who have recently lost their husbands, went together to the National Cemetery where all three of their husbands are buried.  They visited all three of the grave sites together.

Emily had a visit today from Gene's cousin Mia and her son Clyde.  They lived for two years across the street and have now moved to a different neighborhood, which makes seeing one another a once in awhile occasion rather than an every day event.

Emily is keeping herself busy with organizing her space and taking care of things as they come along.

October 29, 2009

Today Emily said she tackled several things and even though she thought it didn't look like anything got done, she felt like she had accomplished a lot.  She and Valdis loaded up some things in the truck and made a trip to the dump.  She will probably want to do that a few more times.  It also looked as though she was beginning to sort through the things in the bathroom that Gene used. She also continues to work on straightening up the storage areas outside.

 She seems to be growing more confident about driving her "new" car.  She can't see the hood - the front of the car in this new car.  When she drove the Mercedes, she could see the hood ornament on the front of the car and had a good line of sight to position herself in her lane on the road, as well as knowing exactly where the front of the car was. Russ gave her a visual to get herself lined up in the lane, and she's beginning to get accustomed to driving it.  She seems to be very pleased with it. 


A bit at a time, she is beginning to find her way in what she referred to once as her "new reality".  

October 28, 2009

Emily had a new refrigerator delivered today. The refrigerator they have been using was one that was in the house when they bought it 6 years ago. The ice maker had given up the ghost quite awhile ago and Emily had been talking about getting another one for a couple of years now. While Steve and Pat were here over the weekend, they helped her measure, shop, and get it ordered. Russ stayed over today to help make sure it got delivered and put in OK. They had to remove the baseboard, and it is a tight fit, but it is in there just great. She is so pleased and this evening was busy reloading everything into it and remarking on how much room she has now.  She will even be able to turn on her ice maker in the morning and have ice on demand again. The upper cabinets still need a little fixing to open, and Alan will get those fixed in a couple of days.

Emily also has a new to her car!

The Mercedes that she's been driving for about 6 or 7 years was ready for another loving home. It was one of Russ's old cars - maybe about a 1985 or 86. It was quite fun for her to drive it, but she really needed a more reliable car. Her children know that she will want to drive to see her sisters, her children and grandchildren, and just around town to her normal activities. So over the weekend Russ, Steve and Pat, Alan, and Emily made a trip to B & F Auto to take a look at Volvo's.  There were four there, and she found one that she liked.  Everyone talked it over during the rest of the weekend, and on Monday morning, Russ and Alan took her down and they made a deal.  They even took the Mercedes in on trade!

So Emily has a good refrigerator and a good dependable car.
Please continue to pray that she will be blessed with strength and peace as she goes through this transition to living on her own.

October 27, 2009

CHATTANOOGA NATIONAL CEMETERY

1200 BAILEY AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, TN 37404

(423) 855-6590

HOWARD, EUGENE W  

SGM   US ARMY

SGT   US ARMY WORLD WAR II

DATE OF BIRTH: 01/22/1925

DATE OF DEATH: 09/27/2009

BURIED AT: SECTION DD-3  SITE 533

HOWARD, EUGENE W.	Section DD-3  Site 533

October 26, 2009

Here's an untitled poem found in Gene's notebooks sandwiched between a poem composed in 2005 and a meditation composed in 2003.  Any occasion could become a reason for Gene to compose a poem.  Many people who received cards or letters from him would find a poem or meditation with them in mind.

This poem was written for Lynn's birthday, which is today... and found it's way to the inside leaf of a birthday card one year...signed as always, "Mother and Daddy"

Little girl who just arrived
So tiny, helpless and O so fair.
I quickly counted your fingers and toes
And noted the color of your hair.

I looked for teeth
But there wasn't any
I looked again at your fingers and toes
There were tiny nails aplenty.

God, why did you send us a little girl?
Why not another boy?
God answered, "I made her for you.
She will be better than any toy."

What shall we call her we wondered.
Carol Lynn seemed to fit her fine.
When she cried it sounded like a song,
And she smelled like ancient wine.

Thank you God, for a little girl
Sent from Heaven to be with us,
To warm our hearts a little more
And be a sister to brother Russ.

Fairest of the fair she grew
Cherished by brothers and Mom and Dad
Sent to us as a perfect gift
A precious girl to make our hearts glad. 

October 25, 2009

Russ, Steve and Pat, and Emily all went to church this morning.  Afterwards they stopped to get some flowers and then went to the cemetery where they were met by Alan and Lynn and just a little bit later by Joyce.

Gene's headstone has been placed and it was the first time any of the family had seen it.  It was a very moving experience for everyone.  The gravesite is just absolutely beautiful and is very befitting Gene.  There was a older gentleman there at the cemetery at his wife's grave.  Both Alan and Emily went over and spoke to him.  He was having such a difficult time.  He said that he didn't know what he would do without his wife. I think all of us know how he feels.

Russ is staying on for another day or so, Steve and Pat headed back to Atlanta for some church obligations they have. Joyce was only down for the afternoon and was welcome company.  They have gotten lots accomplished during the time they've been here to help Mom take care of things that needed to get done. It has been a good visit.