Category Archives: In memory of…
My yearly tribute
Posted by doggonedmysteries
She was my best friend. My baby sister. My hero. No one could ever make me laugh like she could. I miss you every day, Mary.
In loving memory… Mary Bailey, 11/7/1957–4/13/2001
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Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Breast Cancer Awareness, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
Endings
Posted by doggonedmysteries
She’d become so thin and frail that she was hardly recognizable. She smiled at him when he last saw her. They buried her alongside her husband at two o’clock on Wednesday afternoon. Above her shrouded in gray the sky shed tears over her. Her son wept.
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Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
RIP M. L. Hauser 7/1/1927-3/7/2011
Posted by doggonedmysteries
DH’s Mom died in her sleep yesterday morning at 12:10 a.m. We hope she is at peace and finally pain-free.
We’re no longer in a race with the nursing home to clear personal items out of the MIL’s house. The wily woman beat the nursing home to the punch. They were making noises about the possibility of taking it. Mom always did say she wanted DH to have the house and that’s why she insisted in remaining there as long as she did.
We spent two hours at the funeral home and then went over to the house to search for a death certificate for his father that we were told we needed. The hunt took another two hours and we came up empty. We know that somewhere in the chaos there are at least two of them. We also know that when we order more through the funeral home the lost ones will magically appear. Isn’t that how it always works?
My posting this week might become erratic so bear with me.
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Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Post A Day, Post A Day 2011, Writer, Writing
And so begins another year
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I heated a tiny personal pan pizza, opened a small bottle of champagne, and toasted in the New Year alone. This was a first. DH usually celebrates with me.
However, DH had had a rough day, he was in bed and sound asleep by ten. We had a meeting at the nursing home about his mother’s care in the afternoon. After finding out the nursing home had his mother on a full code, we talked to them about putting a DNR on her. This was not an easy decision. We’re both certain that she wouldn’t want to have special measures taken to revive her at this point. We’d discussed this amongst ourselves for years. It’s a quality of life thing. She’s barely there mentally now. She knew all too well how important quality of life is and she, loving her independence as she did, would be rather pissed if any other decision were made and her life prolonged at this stage.
Yesterday was the third anniversary of my mother’s death. It was not a happy day in this house. The day kept reminding me that all of my immediate family is gone. I do thank my lucky stars that I have aunts and cousins that love me and keep in touch.
Posted in In memory of..., Misc
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, New Year, Novel writing, Nursing home, Old age, Writer, Writing
I keep my Dad in my heart
Posted by doggonedmysteries
4/8/1915-11/27/1995
I could list all that my father achieved in his life and the many people he knew but that would take a book.
Dad served in WWII and for a while afterwards was a missionary in the Philippines.
They reactivated and stationed him in Japan in the early 1950’s. He stayed in the military for twenty-six years and we moved to many bases throughout his career as a chaplain. Dad had a chest full of medals (called salad.) Sadly, I’m denied access to them so I can’t list them here.
Upon retiring from the military, he began a ‘new’ career as an Episcopal priest. We moved a couple more times.
I have very few pictures of him and those that I have I treasure.
Although you are gone for fifteen years now, I always keep you in my heart, Pop.
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Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Father, Fiction, Home, Japan, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Philippines, World War II, Writer, Writing
Never forget
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Posted in In memory of...
Tags: 9/11, Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Never forget, Novel writing, Two Towers, Writer, Writing
Thank you Mom
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Yesterday would’ve been my mother’s 95th birthday if she were still with us. G, DH, and I had some cake in her honor. G and her husband always helped us celebrate Mom’s birthday when she visited in the summer. A few times, we got Mom with a surprise birthday cake either here or at my Aunt’s home. Other times we took her out to dinner for her birthday and yes, even then she got cake. Mom loved birthday cakes.
Mom also loved hummingbirds and always had feeders out for them. They would flock to her feeders. G made her a stained glass hummingbird one year. Mom treasured it.
Now as for me, I never can seem to get hummingbirds to come to my garden. As soon as I’d see one I’d put up a feeder and then they never came back. I gave up a few years ago and gave away my feeders. The other day when I brought home yet another hummingbird feeder DH asked me, why had I bought a hummingbird chaser? Yeah, he’s a real funny guy.
Yesterday Mom sent me a sign that she is watching over us. I sat outside and watched a female ruby throated hummingbird go from flower to flower in my garden. I whispered a quick thank you to my Mom
Posted in In memory of..., My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Remembering those who have fallen and those who still serve.
Posted by doggonedmysteries
My nephew in Afghanistan
May you all come home safe and soon!
Posted in Holidays, In memory of..., Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, Memorial day, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, service men and women, Writer, Writing
A message from beyond?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Once when my sister visited me she brought some Texas bluebonnet seeds. We planted them near the pond, our favorite place to sit and shoot the breeze, when she was here. The seeds didn’t grow and I forgot about them.
A few weeks after she died, I noticed a familiar plant growing. There, where we’d planted the seeds a few years before was a Texas bluebonnet. I watched it grow and when it bloomed, I smiled remembering a time that we’d played in a field of them. We acted like children and for a little while delayed our trip to the hospital in Ft. Sam.
Every year since then one has grown in the same spot. I’ve planted seeds from it in other places but they don’t come up. The only one that grows is where we planted the seeds together. I think of it as her way of letting me know she’s around.
Today the first sprout broke ground. I smiled.
Posted in In memory of..., My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
April 13th again RIP Mary
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Dearest Sister,
Although years have gone by, your passing feels like yesterday. It wrenches my heart.
At times, I still reach for the phone to share something exciting, joyous, sad, or what has angered me. Then I remember you aren’t there. I miss that sharing.
No one knows me as you knew me. We shared our deepest and darkest secrets. We didn’t judge. We accepted and loved each other warts and all.
We cried together. We laughed together. We shared joys and sorrows.
I will always miss the sound of your voice, your laughter, and your wonderful humor.
A part of me died with you and yet, a part of you stayed with me.
All my love…
Me
Posted in In memory of...
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Dad 4/8/1915-11/27/95
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I took giant steps to keep up with his military pace. His warm hand engulfed mine. When he smiled the skin around his eyes crinkled and his laughter was a wonderful thing to hear. His scent was cigarettes and Old Spice.
He enjoyed practical jokes, had a great sense of humor, and loved his family with a fierce devotion. He could tell a story better than anyone I knew. His voice could fill a room. He was down to earth, honest, and never forgot where he came from.
Fourteen years he’s gone and I can still hear his voice, remember his scent, his warmth, and his love.
I miss him every day.
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Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Thank you
Posted by doggonedmysteries
To all the people who clicked on my Keep a Breast icon I say, thank you. For those of you who didn’t I say, what are you waiting for? If my sister’s beautiful face didn’t move you to click maybe this will…
As I said, my baby sister had a great sense of humor. One day, after her first mastectomy, she startled my Dear Hubby into peals of laughter when she asked, “Want to play with my Boob?” and then threw her prosthesis at him.
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Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Breast Cancer, Bull Terriers, cancer, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, gifts, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
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