Grief
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen was one of Elaine's favorite artists.He is now singing with the angels.RIP Leonard.
Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah (Audio) - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttEMYvpoR-k
Belhaven
Elaine was elated to view a video we took 2 years ago, showing the old community building, the hill down to Belhaven beach, the old house and neighborhood. She could not make the visit herself, but was overjoyed to see the video. So nice to hear her smile!
The Dead Battery
After Elaine passed away,Alice and I needed some relief from our grief and decided to go to the Fiesta.We had some mindless fun and when it was time to go,we went to Valae parking to get Elaine's car.As if in a moment of protest and to honor Elaine's passing her car battery died at her favorite place the Fiesta.Alice said maybe it's sign from Elaine that we should stay and play longer so she went back in while the very nice staff jump started the car.Alice came out and said she didnt do any better so we went home and called AAA to deliver a new battery.
The Toughest Chick I Knew
My sister Elaine was tough. She lived and supported herself most of her life. She put herself through Nursing School and worked in Public Health .She truly loved her work and was honored to be able to help so many clients. She endured COPD for 15 years. At times the struggle for air was monumental. Elaine always kept a positive attitude and not once uttered why me. As if these challenges were not enough she was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago .Each new illness made me shutter and think. Enough is enough. She never lost her faith that we serve a great god who gives us what we need when we need it. Two years ago Elaine fell and broke her hip. She was like an energizer bunny while she rehabbed the hip and was home in 2 weeks. This last year her strength was weakening and her breathing was so difficult that she and her doctors decided hospice was what she needed to be comfortable. After her come back from so much I still felt like she would have another tada! Momement and come back from this but God gave her what she needed when she needed it most and called her home peacefully.
The Yellow Flowers in the clay pot
The week before Elaine died she was in bed and heavily sudated because of her broken hip.My sister Alice and I kept watch and cared for her.She would occasionally have moments were she would be lucid and tell Alice or I something that she wanted.On one occasion she said ,get the Yellow Flowers and put them in the clay pot.There were no flowers or clay pots and Alice and I just scratched our heads and Elaine fell back to sleep.
The next morning Betty Wendt came to visit,she brought a little Yellow Rose Bush in a clay pot.Betty said she saw the flowers and there were all these pink ones but just one yellow one that she just had to get Elaine.Alice and I relayed the story to Betty.It was a spiritual moment.God gives us what we need when we need it most.
Thank You Betty
The Fiesta
Elaine loved Las Vegas.She spent all of her adult years here.She was very skilled on the dueces wild poker machine at the Fiesta Casino.That was her favorite place to go to seek her coveted royal flush.When we visited Elaine we would always stop from the airport at the Fiesta.It was usually a lucky start to our visit.The Denny's inside was her favorite eatting spot and the wait staff always sat her in the area where she could see her Keno numbers on the lighted board in the restaurant.I loved our visits with Elaine and Las Vegas has lost it's fun without her.