Another of the Greatest Generation is passing.

[magic452]

Don't know what happened but I'll try again

Magic

[magic452]

My Mom.

She is in the family room, her bedroom now so she would feel part of daily life, slowly slipping away. She is at peace and is comfortable. She has maybe hours not days of her life remaining.
I’m here alone with her as the rest of the family won’t get to Reno till tomorrow and I just had to share some thoughts with someone. My friends at Subsim.

She and my father had a wonderful life. They went through all the hard times of the Great Depression and WWII. I think this gave them a appreciation for the good times and they defiantly had many of those. They had a full and happy life and now it’s time for her to pass.

Mom was a Rosy the Riveter during the war building the P-38s my dad designed.
Ration books for almost everything, worry about loved ones at war, sending goodies overseas
She sent so much stuff “overseas” in the war years and later Korea I though overseas
was a country. You can’t have those cookies they are for overseas. She was responsible for nearly half of the fruit cakes that are still circulating around the globe, nobody ever really eat these things.

They had great friends and did most of the things they wanted to do.
They loved horse racing and spent many a day at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park.
Mom was a good enough handicapper to have been able to make a good living from the ponies
if she had so desired. Dad wasn’t all that bad himself but they contented themselves with $2.00 bets, five at the most. Camping was another pastime they enjoyed as well as visiting the casinos of Reno and Las Vegas. Dining out with their friends was also a favorite.

She raised 4 very active boys and one angelic girl, you know the kind the one that NEVER did anything wrong, at a time when there were no convince foods or convince things at all. Everything was made from scratch, laundry was hung on a close line, no air conditioning much of the time. I even remember having an real Ice Box and the ice man coming every few days and never once did I ever hear her complain, not once. She spent much of her time cooking, 7 people eat a lot and there were always pies, cakes and cookies, all from scratch.

She was always there when we needed her but gave us enough rope to hang ourselves and when we did we paid the price. She was really into personal responsibility and it’s a lesson I still hold dear. They never accepted help from anyone, even the family, except towards the end when they simply weren’t able to do what needed to be done.

When dad died she moved here to Reno, about 8 years ago. The camping and races were a thing of the past but she still liked the casinos and mostly dinners out. We went out several times a week and yes my cooking is that bad.

The world was a better place for the 98 years she was here and I am what I am because of her and my father. I can only hope I did as good a job taking care of her as she did me. It’s been an honor and a privilege. She will soon be gone but her love and memories will remain forever with me. Go in peace Mom your reward is waiting.

Magic

[Platapus]

I honour her service to her country. Many people served in many ways back then.

I hope she can go with dignity and little pain. You are a good son to be there for her.

After she is gone, you will still have your memories.

The Egyptians believed that if you speak the name of the dead, they live on. I hope you will speak often of what your mother accomplished in her long and successful life.

:salute:

[Tribesman]

R.I.P.

[THE_MASK]

My thoughts are with you .

[Torplexed]

Touching thoughts there magic. I think we sometimes overlook the contributions of the female half of the Greatest Generation. Salute.

[frau kaleun]

My thoughts are with you and yours, Magic.

[Sailor Steve]

Sorry to hear about it, but glad you shared.

[Skybird]

Magic, you said family will not arrive before tomorrow. Try not to bear this situation all alone. Try to find a friend or neighbour sharing time with you. Don'T stay all alone. Best wishes.

[Gerald]

My thoughts are with you and the family,Magic!

[Schroeder]

I'm sorry to hear this magic. My thoughts are with you and your family.

[Growler]

Magic, thank you for sharing your memories with us, and at such a difficult time; through you, we are all that bit more wiser for her story, memories which we now all carry forward.

I have no words of comfort to offer, only my own sympathies and condolences; be sure to take care of yourself through all this, as well.

[CaptainHaplo]

May her soul find shelter in the Hand of the Creator, and may you and yours be comforted by the memories and joys you shared with such a wonderful person.

[Jimbuna]

I'm very sorry to learn of this Magic....always remember those good times....my thoughst are with you and your family.

[AVGWarhawk]

Sorry to hear that Magic. 98 years! She has experienced things first hand we only read about in books. May she find peace as well as you.

[magic452]

Thank you all for your kind words they do help.
Just talking about her helped a great deal, thank you all for listening.

Magic

[CCIP]

Taking care of a close relative in their final years, days and hours is one of the hardest things to do, but it's also one of the best and most important things you will ever do in life. With a life like this and someone being there with her until the very end, I think your mother will really find her well-earned peace. And I hope that you too will look back and take pride and comfort in being with her to the end.

My condolences and take care of yourself!

[TarJak]

Take care Magic and remember her as she was at her happiest. OUr throughts are with you.

[Osmium Steele]

Thank you so much for sharing.

My condolences to you and yours.

Os

[Herr-Berbunch]

Take care Magic452, my thoughts are with you and your family through these tough times.

She sounds like the mother everyone wanted, but only few got.

[magic452]

When I originally posted this it look like mom wouldn't last the night let alone the next day, but she was a tough as steel and did bounce back to almost what she was before. But for the last week she slowly slipped and this morning she did not wake up. She died peacefully and comfortable.

A one in a million mom died on a once in a century day 11/11/11 and Veterans Day as well. Given her work in WWII and the fact she lost a brother in that war it is most fitting she went today.

I just re read all your kind post here and they are as comforting today as they were than.

Thank you all.

Magic

[BossMark]

My deepest condolences Magic, I am sorry for your loss.

[CaptainMattJ.]

May she rest in peace. i am sorry for your loss.

[Jimbuna]

My deepest condolences Magic...remember the good times, I'm sure they are many.

[frau kaleun]

RIP

So sorry for you loss. Having just gone through similar myself, I can tell you it will get easier over time. Knowing that she lived a long and full life will only help with that process.

[Herr-Berbunch]

May she rest in peace.

Make sure you look after yourself, and your family.

[1480]

God Bless you and your family Magic. She is amongst the angels now.

This brought great comfort and understanding to my eight year old when my father in law passed away three weeks ago suddenly, it really applies to any age, please take a moment:

-The Story of the Dragonfly-
Down below the surface of a quiet pond lived a little colony of water bugs. They were a happy colony, living far away from the sun. For many months they were very busy, scurrying over the soft mud on the bottom of the pond. They did notice that every once in a while one of their colony seemed to lose interest in going about with its friends. Clinging to the stem of a pond lily, it gradually moved out of sight and was seen no more.
"Look!" said one of the water bugs to another. "One of our colony is climbing up the lily stalk. Where do you suppose she is going?" Up, up, up it went slowly. Even as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight. Its friends waited and waited but it didn't return. "That's funny!" said one water bug to another. "Wasn't she happy here?" asked a second water bug. "Where do you suppose she went?" wondered a third. No one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled.
Finally one of the water bugs, a leader in the colony, gathered its friends together. "I have an idea. The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where he or she went and why." "We promise," they said solemnly.
One spring day, not long after, the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up he went. Before he knew what was happening, he had broken through the surface of the water, and fallen onto the broad, green lily pad above.
When he awoke, he looked about with surprise. He couldn't believe what he saw. A startling change had come to his old body. His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings. The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from the new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself up above the water. He had become a dragonfly.
Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. He felt exhilarated in the new atmosphere. By and by, the new dragonfly lighted happily on a lily pad to rest. Then it was that he chanced to look below to the bottom of the pond. Why, he was right above his old friends, the water bugs! There they were, scurrying about, just as he had been doing some time before. Then the dragonfly remembered the promise: "The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk will come back and tell where he or she went and why."
Without thinking, the dragonfly darted down. Suddenly he hit the surface of the water and bounced away. Now that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go into the water. "I can't return!" he said in dismay. "At least I tried, but I can't keep my promise. Even if I could go back, not one of the water bugs would know me in my new body. I guess I'll just have to wait until they become dragonflies too. Then they'll understand what happened to me, and where I went." And the dragonfly winged off happily into its wonderful new world of sun and air.

[magic452]

1480 Thank you for the nice story, yes she is indeed a Dragonfly.

Thank all of you for the kind words, it's been hard as she lived with me for more than seven years so I was even that much more close to her.
She is in a much better place I know but I still miss her. She was in a wheelchair for the last two years and depended on me for most everything, it really does bring you closer.

I glad I had the opportunity to take care of her as she took care of me oh so many years ago.

Yes Jim there are many many good memories.

Magic

[Reece]

Very touching read Robert, you obviously had a very close knit family, may she rest in peace.:cry::yep:

[Penguin]

My condolences Magic.
I am glad to hear that she went in peace.
You have my deepest respect for taking care of her in her last days, it takes a very strong person. I am sure you inherited some of her spirit.
All my best wishes for you and your family!

[soopaman2]

May her soul find peace.
May your soul find peace as well, sir.:salute: