Death is nothing at all

Death is nothing at all
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other
That we are still
Call me by my own familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used
Put no difference into your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost
One brief moment and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

Canon Henry Scott-Holland, Canon of St Paul's Cathedral (1847 - 1918)

Sister Davies was a key influence in my life! Through her mentoring and tutelage, I developed a love for music, and the piano specifically, that has blessed my life and others hundreds of times over. She sacrificed many early mornings to teach and train and support me. She taught me discipline and focus and skill. She encouraged me and gave me the confidence to practice well and perform well. And then she wisely let Dale sit on that piano bench by my side for hours upon hours of lessons. What I didn't realize then was that my skill and ability came from Sister Davies' efforts to teach and train, and my ability to feel and interpret music came from Dale's companionship on that bench. He felt the music deep down inside and his innate ability to do so rubbed off a little on me. Every time I play the piano I give credit to both, for both were an equal necessity in my learning and development. Both have continued and will continue to mentor and influence me through the lessons learned on that piano bench, lessons that were not always just theory and technique.

And then the lessons continued when despite distance and time, Sister Davies further encouraged and supported me through my missionary service. I had countless opportunities to share my music on my mission, and her influence has extended across the world as a result.

To the Davies family, thank you for sharing both Sister Davies and Dale with me. I know that all the hours she spent teaching and mentoring were hours that pulled her away from family and Church, but those hours and those efforts and their influence was not wasted on me. I will be forever indebted to both. Thank you!! 

Last summer, Mom went to Waterton with her family a few times. Each year we usually drive up there for a day. Mom always would tell us that each summer, when she was a young girl, their family, especially her MOM and a girl friend would come up and stay for a few weeks while the men were working on the farm. Her dad built this house.
  

The world has enough women who are tough;
        we need women who are tender.
There are enough women who are coarse;
        we need women who are kind.
There are enough women who are rude;
       we need women who are refined.
We have enough women of fame and fortune;
       we need more women of faith.
We have enough greed;
      we need more goodness.
we have enough vanity;
      we need more virtue.
we have enough popularity;
     we need more purity.

Sister Margaret D Nadauld, YoungWomenConference, Oct 2000 

This is a photo of my girls enjoying Alma's beautiful horses. Thanks Alma, there is nothing that puts a smile on my girls faces like a horseback ride. :-) I enjoyed myself too. Thanks again Alma you are so kind and generous.

I have known Alma since we first moved to Magrath in 2007. She taught my kids, Alyssa and Austin in piano, played the piano in Primary when I was the chorister, played for choir when I sang. I have been Alma's Relief Society president as she has been ill. It has been a privilege to get to know Alma's kids and grandkids through this experience.

Alma was so patient with my kids in piano. She did so much extra work to help them prepare for performances and went to so much trouble to help us reschedule lessons when conflicts arose. Last year at the music festival, Alyssa and Austin both got first place at the Lethbridge Piano teacher's music festival. I was so proud of them as my piano teacher from Ontario from when I was a kid happened to be there listening. It was all because of Alma and her patience and hard work helping the kids not just learn their music, but learn to feel it. 

Like Alma, I have a son with disabilities. Alma and Dale have always taken an interest in my son Mark. One time, Alma and Dale came to my house for a practice for a small group musical number Alma was accompanying. As they were getting ready to leave, Alma bent over on the ground to tie Dale's shoe. I don't know why but this touched me so deeply that I cried and cried after she left. To think that at age 75, she was still caring for every need of her son. I understood the sacrifice that is and the love that takes and perhaps I saw the same future for myself. I hope I can accept this responsibility with the grace Alma has shown in taking care of Dale.

We will miss you Alma. You are irreplaceable to us, but I'm sure it will be a joyful reunion for you to be reunited with your husband.

You have given by how you lived.

For you were an embodiment of selflessness.
That's what I learned from you.
The very definition of being selfless.
You took care of Dale as if you were an angel sent from heaven just for him.
I was forever deeply touched.

And, I know I have thought of others more, given to others more
and lived my life with little bit more compassion and patience....

You have taught our family for three generations in Music.  My mom, my brothers and sister and my kids.  Thankyou for being patient because I practised less than my kids did though I never told them that.   I remember going into your house in lethbridge for lessons and then taking lessons in Magrath after I was married. I finished my grade nine and grade two theory.  Bryanna got the highest mark in her grade 3 piano exam in Southern alberta.  She couldnt have done that without you.  I will never forget the recital where Ben got to pop a balloon as part of his piano quartet. They even performed it for their grade 6 graduation program.  You helped my austin get through that moment when he would have dropped piano.He finished his grade 5 exam working around sports and violin. He loves that time with you.  Your techinique is not in being strict and exact but in feeling the music and developing a love for it.  That is just what we needed. My mom still plays her amazing grade 10 songs for us, trying to keep the memorized parts going.
    Your family has welcomed our family in as part of yours. I will always consider you Aunt Alma even though we are just cousins.  I have so many good memories of going to your davies reunion. The last one I remember was out at your farm and my kids LOVED getting to ride the horses.  I went to school with Dawn and Kathy.  I hope you girls know how wonderful you are.  You have been a blessing to your mom and she is so proud of you. I have been so impressed with your children Kathy. They have been wonderful care givers to your mom these past months.  They have your sweet and gentle ways.  I have a special love for Dale.  I have always loved that he was named after my dad.  I look at him and envision the noble spirit he is. I will look forward to a great conversation with him someday.  I was glad to see Danny pick up the piano and continue his moms legacy of music. I also love that he named his daughter Cadence. Mary lou has delighted me through the years with her musical theatre.  We havent connected recently but I know those were such fun years for your mom.
      I am so sad that your mom is suffering so.  I guess it gives us time to say goodbye but your mom is one who has a special place in heaven. She has blessed all of us through the years.  She is a wonderful daughter of our Heavenly Father who will be so glad to be with her Dan again.  All our Love Arlen and Laurel Bennett and family
 

Dearest Alma;  We grew up in the smal ltown of Warner & with a few Mormons.  Church was in the basement of the Elks Hall until we were teenagers.  We also went to school on the same bus.  Bill Elliott was our driver.  I am a year older than you.  I sang & you played.  We entered the Music Festival together & won.  Any time you accompanied me, I knew it would be the best.  Your Mom was such a sweetheart!  Just like you are.  We haven't kept in touch since school but memories are great.  I lived in Magrath for 3 years (grades 3, 4, & 5) while Dad ran the McIntyre Ranch.  It was 2 1/2 townships big.  No bus went there so during the week, I lived with Nyal Fletchers parents in Glenn's big house on the corner.  It was great fun being there.  Ila & Morrie Tuff were from Warner too. Barbara Ririe was my bridesmaid.  We have stayed in touch & they have kept me up to date with your health.  I sent you the CD's our band made.  My first name is Kayla & all our names started with "K", so we were "The K's" for 20 years.  I hope you enjoyed them.  Alma, you'll always be in my memory for the friendship & music we shared.  You have blessed so many lives & will be "forever missed."  Love, Marlene

In Dec. 2012, I looked out my kitchen window and what did I see?  I wasn't sure
what it was.  There were lights up on Alma's roof and these lights kept going off &
on.  I sent Rick over to see if there was a problem...maybe one of the cats had
gotten up on the roof.  To our surprise, on this very cold and dark night, Dan Anderson, one of Alma's neighbors, and some of his children, were up on Alma's roof putting Christmas lights up on her roof and around some of her front windows.  It looked BEAUTIFUL !!! I'm sure it added to Alma and her family's Christmas spirit
as it did to our family.  It exemplified their "love in action" in the Christmas season.
 

This big cat owes Mom his life.  He had been in a fight or hit by a car and Mom found him laying on the back patio.  Somehow he had managed to pull himself up there although he was in agonizing pain from being torn up so badly.  Mom helped get him into the house and took him to the vet.  He's been doing fine now for years and we call him "one-eyed Jake"


Doris and Rick Gruninger have been taking care of both him and his sister Tigger (Kitty 2) for months.  They have been feeding them, giving them water, and making them safe and comfortable during the cold winter months.  We thank you so much Doris and Rick!.    

Why do I love you? I love you because you love me.
I love you because you love our family. You love life, You love the animals.
You love the plants, the trees, the green grass.  You love little children, cats, dogs...  I loved you from the first time we met.  When you came into the church at Warner And I said to myself, "What a charming young lady" When you played for me to sing...
How lucky I have been for the last 45 years to have such a companion with whom to share my life.
You love music.  You love the scriptures. You love the Truth. You love beauty. You love and have faith, hope, and charity. You love God our Father
How could I not love you?
You're over 60 at last. You've been the best And we've had a blast. Will go the rest I've always been blessed Happy 61st Birthday -Dan
A silly ditty - how could I not love you - happy 61st - Dan


The song that goes with this story is one that Mom used to sing to us kids and to her grandchildren.  It really illustrates the reasons why Dad loved her so much.