When Roy died a part of me died as well. I knew him for almost 72 years. All of my memories of my youth, people, events, gatherings etc. These were things I could talk about, reference or ask about and he knew who and what It was. But that part of him was still there with Mari. I knew her for about 60 years. We were part of a large group of family friends that got together often. Holidays, birthdays, socially, vacations you name it. Now she's gone. I have no one else that I'm in ready touch with who knows any of it.
I can't reminisce about those times and that part of my life with anyone. Things like who were the Hovislalands, Olette and Karl Swann and the vacations at their house on Artist Lake, Anna Torgersen, Torger and Ellie Dahl and the vacations at their house in Babylon, the Olsens, the Meyers, Haaken Donelsen, the Landes (both families). And all the kids from those families I knew and spent so much time with. What they looked like, the sound of their voices, and who they were as people. I remember even though I may have misspelled some names.
I still have family, Mark, Brian, Ruth and their families. I have Elaine and her family. There are others who would remember those times and all those people. John Lande, Ruth and Stanley Williamson for example.
In spite of it all. I can't help but feel strangely alone.