ForeverMissed
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August 25, 2023
August 25, 2023
Good morning; happy birthday handsome. Thinking of you on the 84th anniversary of your arrival.

Actually thinking about Momma todsy.. wondering how she felt that day? You were her first born. She was SO proud of you. 
I recently came across the ring she gave you for your 50th birthday. If I remember correctly, it had belonged to your grandfather. I remember that we had it reset with a peridot, your birthstone.
And from that birthday to this is 34 years. You were 34 when we met.

Nichole came for dinner last night, and showed me a photo of the renovation she and Austin are doing to the master bath in the Jasmine house. What was that miserable sunken tub is becoming a walk in shower and the shower you used so many many times it’s going to be a linen closet. She said they have lived there 13 years now.

Of course, yesterday was Maria’s birthday. That brought memories of taking her for birthday dinner at The Landmark in Mesa and a joint celebration of your birthdays. We gave her a photo album to record the memories of her a year in the US. 

Tonight Valerie will be here with The Littles. I am planning to let them help decorate a birthday cake for you.

Celebrating you!!
August 25, 2023
August 25, 2023
I guess I'll light a candle today... as I'm counting down the days until Christmas 2022. Have been thinking about the bittersweet last year you celebrated with our family. I remember that you enlisted MaryLou's help to surprise me with a sweet necklace. In the first few years after you passed it was too emotional so I haven't worn it much but have been thinking about getting it out and starting to wear it.
I haven't made the progress today that I had hoped in anticipation of the weekend's activities. Valerie is bringing Brantley and Kailie out tomorrow afternoon and then at 6 p.m. we are going to the Christmas Eve's eve service at Calvary Chapel. If we have enough energy left, we'll make some cutout cookies after we get back. Yes, that brings back memories of the many evenings that I made cookies with Valerie in the Jasmine kitchen.                                                   They haven't decided for sure if we are going out for Christmas dinner or if I am going to cook here on Saturday. The celebration with the kids is on Christmas Eve because their custody arrangement means they'll be spending Christmas day with their Dad. (So sad,) I expect to spend Christmas day with the Currie's at Jasmine.
I know Christmas wasn't your big event but you generously indulged my holiday exuberance. I located enough of the Charlton Hall dishes to set the table if we have dinner here on Saturday.... and the coffee mugs from Renata. Special memories all.
Love and miss you... XOXO
August 25, 2022
August 25, 2022
Good morning, my love. Happy Birthday!! (#83!!) How can THAT be? Summer in Arizona is warmer than I remembered, but we are now into the monsoon season so afternoon rain fairly often (and mosquitos!!) I don't remember THAT plague
February 10, 2022
February 10, 2022
TWELVE YEARS! Difficult to believe that much time has passed...and yet again I was just messaging with Samantha about 12:30 a.m. and remembering that she was with us that last night. She picked up Valerie and Genevia from the airport in San Diego and brought them to Escondido. Everyone who loved you wanted to say "bon voyage"...and then you slipped away so quietly, peacefully.

As predicted, I do have a new address for this posting; an Apache Junction listing. I know you will understand what it feels like to return to somewhere you have lived previously but find that the "players" have changed during your absence! I have been here now just over 4 months and am beginning to feel settled, though I have many boxes yet to unpack and an avalanche of paper to process. You know, it's tax time, too. 

During these 4 months I have unloaded the 3 U-Haul pods and filled the rooms with furniture--some from California and some inherited from Larry's house (and Peg's). Then it was Christmas--you know how I love the season. I had a tree in the front room window (where it could be viewed from the street) and another in the middle of the family room. While that meant unpacking a bunch of extra boxes, it was a pleasant trip down memory lane because some of them had been in storage for several years.

Nichole and Mary Lou conspired and Christmas-gifted me with rose bushes--because I have always had a rose garden, they said. For the moment the bushes are in oversized flower pots, but with coming spring, I shall have to inter them. One bush already has 3 buds.

Then it was New Years eve... and the memory of spending that evening a year ago with our neighbor Sara. This year she got to spend it with Richard...and with you.

You will remember that January in Apache Junction brings gearing up for Lost Dutchman Days; and as a past Honorary Dutchman, I was catapaulted back into those activities. This year's Dutchman is Donna Flibbert (now married) who worked with rodeo queens in the 1980's. 

And it was also the date for celebrating the 50th anniversary of chartering the Soroptimist Club in Apache Junction-- with a party at the Chamber of Commerce building. 

In combination of both, I will be riding in the LDD Parade with my new Soroptimist friends in a couple more weeks. (LOL, some things don't change much.)

Then in March I am hosting an evening "Tea" for Soroptimists and guests to celebrate SIA's International Women's Day. THAT is a good motivator to keep me moving forward with getting the house put into "company" condition.
And on the 26th I'm hoping to take Val's "LIttles" to see Terry Haas' train display. Yes, he's still working at Lenharts, and still running model trains.

Back to the topic of plants and flowers-- I have done a prodigious amount of work in the front flower bed--digging out an invasive flowering vine that, while blooming pretty purple, was choking out everything else. The surviving melon-colored Hibiscus is now the centerpiece, underplanted with surviving lavender Verbena and brightened with newly-added Gazanias. Mary Lou sent a pot of bright red Geraniums as a house-warming gift...and they are still blooming at the front door, accented by a solar-lighted lady-bug gifted by Nichole. I'm working with a color palette the includes red brick trim and a RED front door.

Meanwhile, I have bulbs blooming indoors. Remember the glass containers we had for forcing the blooms of tulips? I ran across one at a yard sale and it followed me home. I couldn't find tulip bulbs so started 4 Paperwhite bulbs. Thankfully they didn't all bloom simultaneously, as their flowers have a strong fragrance. So far, only one has bloomed... but it stretched to a full 3-feet from root to blossom. A second one appears to be starting now... and I added 4 daffodil bulbs (probably flower in March). Meanwhile I have been fascinated with a pink Hyacinth that is blooming on the window ledge in my office. I'm not sure how many times one bulb can bloom but we're on the second blossom and it looks like more may be coming. Their flowers have such a delicate scent.

This is becoming a BOOK! Sorry/not-sorry. After having lived in THREE locations during 2021, I have added a lot of friendships and new experiences. I enjoy looking back through the posts. 
NEW: Only 2 days old, Colton Fawcett, Chris and Melissa's second son. Anna and Derek have been over there for a week helping with Cason and Soliel; and I expect them to be gone at least one more week.
Gunnar and Anna celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on 02-02-2020. Where have THOSE years gone?
And speaking of that-- Sammers just celebrated his 13th birthday!!
And I can't believe Brantley is about to be 6...and Kailie 5 in June. They are growing and changing so much. Valerie often brings them for dinner on Friday evenings and we enjoy family time. They are fascinated with books. Brantley is just beginning to read on his own. (Remember the Dick & Jane books?)

Leaving a bouquet of yellow roses and happy memories... with love.
(Perhaps by your birthday one of the new bushes will be blooming.)




August 25, 2021
August 25, 2021
Happy Birthday to you!! 82 years today!! 
It was my waking thought today to parse that number. Delightfully I received a message from Maria first thing saying she was thinking of you. She turned 45 yesterday (can you believe that?) And a few minutes ago there was an electronic bouquet of Pinky Winky flowers from Kathy. Google says they are a variety of Hydrangea; pink, of course! When I last wrote you in February it was with the HOPE that I might be living in Arizona by August. Such a LOT has happened during the interim. In March I was offered the opportunity for a rental house in Surprise AZ so I spent April preparing for the transition and on May 1st moved the first of my things into what I refer to as my "Chuparosa house" (hummingbirds). I enjoyed mornings on the back porch during the 10 days I got to spend here in May.
On May 19th Mary Lou had her left knee replaced after which I spent a week of 24/7 "step and fetch it" at her house. Actually I was there all of June while spending much of every day sorting and packing boxes...and filling three UBoxes (pods) for storage.
Our Desert Glen house was listed for sale on May 1, shown 3 times on May 2 and by May 3 we had three offers, all for more than the asking price. The next weeks were busy with repair people replacing wood, removing the ramp and installing a new hand rail on the back step. At the same time I was liquidating the furnishings. I didn't bring much with me. My 4-poster bedroom set is in one of the storage pods. I brought the dresser from "the blue room" with me and the hide-a-bed you bought in Oak Harbor in 1975. The recliner which replaced your big chair is here, your Mom's cedar chest, and my little writing desk from Juanita. The first piece of furniture to come was the book case Daddy built for our Emelita house (which fit into the trailer with about 5/8" to spare!!) ..and I also brought the cherry-wood table which my parents gifted us and which you stripped (from "Barrett blue") and refinished for our first home.
This house was already equipped with a king-sized bed, a sectional with recliner, a very nice desk unit in the 2nd bedroom which is used as an office and Mary Kay room, and a pub-high table with 4 stools in the breakfast bay.

During the interim between listing our house and the closing date, our neighbor Sara joined Richard on the hillside at Oak Hill; and Dick Mott passed away about mid-July. Another neighbor, Marcie Boyle, who lived between Max & Linda and the Jones' house had a disabling stroke and her house has also been sold. MANY changes is the Desert Glen neighborhood.

By the time I write again I anticipate I will have yet another new address. I am looking at a little house in Apache Junction where I will be nearer my network of friends and more commutable to spending time with our kids. From here it is a 1-hour drive (each way); though this IS an hour nearer to California!

In sorting out the possessions in Escondido I packed treasures that were specifically yours into a chest. Valerie has asked for your memorial flag and there is the Fred House photo of jets over Deception Pass bridge. I'm not sure how much of the "western" flavor is going to be part of my new decor. I AM looking forward to unpacking and rehanging family photos. I intended to mail JIm the album of Richard's photos but it got packed into a box and I'm not sure into which pod that's packed.

I remember your 40th birthday cake at Emelita that said "LIfe Begins at 40" and the Chinese dinner we shared for your 50th. We MUST have celebrated your 60th but I honestly don't remember where. I know your 70th was spent in Rancho Bernardo rejoicing that we were able to spring you from the hospital into a nursing home.

Please know that you are thought of often and remembered with much love...
February 10, 2021
February 10, 2021
I'm laying a flower here for you my love. How I wish it could be a yellow rose, but all the rose bushes have been pruned for the winter and are just beginning to leaf out again. Although this began as a sunny morning, the day is turning cold and overcast. I remember that it rained a great deal during your last month with us. I still think that your brother Jim probably has the idea that Southern California resembles the interior of our living room since that's mostly all he got to see during his visit.
Yesterday my friend Jan (from Prairie days) asked me to describe you to her as she never met you. At first I thought it would be an impossible task but once I got started, the memories just keep flooding!! I've posted her questions and my responses in the "stories" section so won't repeat all of that here. Only to say that my waking thought this morning was of you dancing your version of the Samba on the concrete sidewalk of the summer house in Itaparica. Do you remember that? You dropped my camera and chipped the case... but miraculously it didn't damage the photos. I'm sure the box containing those pix is in storage... would be fun to look through them again.
With amazement I FINALLY found our common ancestor.. not named Abbott, of course! You and I are both descended from a family named Morgan ... t'was Irish nobility, don't you know ... which makes us 11th cousins, once removed. How fascinating that after 9 generations we are both Abbott's. I strongly suspect you may have taken a hand in the resolution of that mystery that I have been seeking for 45+ years. You are probably able to visit with most of them first hand as many have already passed over.
On that note I want to tell you that your cousin MaryCiel is not doing well. She has been in the hospital but recently released back to a rehab facility. I have enjoyed my FB relationship with the Hawkins clan but Hawk and Gaylene are failing too.
Last week we celebrated Sammy Book's 12th birthday. What a fine young man he has grown to be. You will always remember him as "the shreak". And that makes me think of "the Streak" -- the name David assigned to Willard's Toyota pickup that we gifted to D&D when it went back home to Texas. David is absolutely a cat of 9 lives... or more like 18 by now. He has once again retreated from what we thought was surely death's door.
I continue to hope that our next visit will be from a home back in AZ. I came close last summer but that didn't work out... But, as they say, hope springs eternal. My friend Brenda is currently living in Prescott Valley and would love for me to join her. We'll see... 
As always, you are in my thoughts...and you are dearly missed!!
August 27, 2020
August 27, 2020
No, I didn't FORGET your birthday...actually we celebrated it "early" with a visit from Austin & Nichole (over this past weekend)...and then I received notes with greetings and hugs from both Renata and Maria exactly on the day. Yesterday I communicated with your family because an immense hurricane was due to come ashore in Louisiana and travel north through Arkansas. So far as I know, your people are all okay.
In some of my recent "cleaning" I came across some cd's with photos we took during our "Odyssey" in 2006. Such memories!! Remember visiting the cemetaries in Midland and putting flowers on the graves? I found a photo we took of a head stone named "NORRIS" where the husband was a Norris and the wife was a Hawkins. Have been "worrying" that clue for a couple of days now... trying to figure out how the pieces fit. Garlene (married to "Hawk" --Ed Hawkins' brother) has been trying to help me with it. Always some new fun!
Nichole and I went through about a dozen of the plastic storage tubs from the garage during her visit. We consolidated some stuff, disposed of some... and some went home with her (smile). We are working toward the day when I will be able to load all the boxes and relocate back to Mesa... soon, I hope.
I love and miss you. Happy birthday #81.
February 10, 2020
February 10, 2020
Hard to believe that 10 years have gone by since your dear wife said farewell and you went ahead to the other side.
The joyous news in all of this is that its not a final forever farewell.
Been thinking a lot about Psalm 139 which tells us that there is nowhere we go from the Presence of the Lord /  ‘look into the heavens You’re there and in the dark depths of despair - even there love will find me - knowing that your never alone even if Your hand takes my own to the other side of the sea—even there Your love will find me /
‘All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be’
What an amazing God we have who has good plans and His timetable arranged for each of us!!!
February 8, 2020
February 8, 2020
Thinking about you a great deal these days. Many memories!! This decade anniversary is more difficult than some of the in-between ones.  I have upgraded your memorial site this year with some "new" photos.

I am fascinated by recent messages referencing our legacy. You did impact many lives... and that continues through the children of "our girls" and the next generation. 

You are ever in my heart and you are missed!!
August 25, 2019
August 25, 2019
Good morning, love. It's your 80th birthday! Just wanted you to know that you are thought of (especially today) and loved (still). I'm sending you a big bouquet of yellow roses.
Ten years ago, on your 70th birthday, you were in the SNF at Remington recovering from your last bad fall. The planned 70th birthday and 40th wedding anniversary party was postponed... and never rescheduled. This morning when I talked with Maria, we commented on birthday celebrations we all share on your almost-mutual day at The Landmark in Mesa. Happy thoughts... though the restaurant is no longer there.
This year Derek and Anna are saying goodbye and returning to Mesa after checking Nina in for her freshman year at N.A.U. So VERY difficult to believe she is college-age already. (And it 2 years it will be Nichole and Austin taking Lexxie to college... now THAT seems REALLY unbelievable!)
Hugs and love from all of us...
February 10, 2019
February 10, 2019
Midnight (2400 hours) last night marked the anniversary of your last breath. I don't know how NINE years has passed since that night. I didn't think I could do "life" alone. And in many ways I realize I am NOT alone. #1) our Heavenly Father loves and cares for me; and #2) Mary Lou has made good on her promise to you to watch out for me; #3) Randy and Judy are always at the ready if I need something (my other sisters too, though they are not as readily available). I continue to have lasting friendships at the Church you knew as Valley Baptist. It's now Grace Point Church; a name change.
This year I have started to regularly attend North Coast Church here in Escondido. I have made a number of new friends in my Life Group... and am now 3 weeks into Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University with a different cross-section of folks, also at North Coast. With the first of the year I signed up as a "greeter" for which I am responsible on a 2-week on/ 2-week off rotation on Sunday mornings.
Yesterday I was thinking about our "kidlets". Valerie was still in high school 9 years ago, and I don't think she had even met Matt. Next week their oldest, Brantley, will be three!! and Kailey will be two in June. Austin and Nichole's Lexxie and Leila are teens, and last month hosted an exchange student (Ruby) from Australia. Chris and Melissa's Cason (also two in June) is an adorable flirt! I think you would have enjoyed being a great-grandad. Our Nina is graduating from high school this year--can you believe it??-- and has earned a full-ride scholarship to NAU.
Much of the last post is a "ditto". The Currie's will be here in early March for Spring Break. We have scheduled a penthouse at Wyndham at the Pier in Oceanside which should accommodate our entire family in one unit (as opposed to booking two units on the same floor).
I haven't heard from Maria about any proposed trips...but that's often the case. She very much wants me to make good on our promise to visit Quito and I'm hoping that will be possible.
Renata's Francisco had a birthday two days ago. He turned 11 this year. Tia Anna also asks when I will return to visit in Salvador. It's been 26 years since we spent Valentine's with them!!! (and Carnival in Rio!!)
Next week we'll observe the 3rd anniversary of Mom's passing, followed 2 days later by Uncle Hal's. This is the first year that Aunt Marianne won't be with us. I'm not even going into the litany of all our friends who have "gone to glory" during this past year. I would surely not remember them all... It's a long list.
Instead of the yellow roses, this year I am leaving you a bundle of Miss Lou's "magic flowers"-- bright yellow daffodils which are currently in season. I'm enjoying a bouquet of them on the kitchen sill.
As always, you are loved and MISSED!!
February 10, 2018
February 10, 2018
Today I'm leaving you a bouquet of yellow roses arranged in a pair of cowboy boots.
You know you were in my heart and thoughts this past month as Mary Lou took me on a road trip through Texas Hill Country. There were SO many memories of our time together down there. We had lunch in Fredericksburg, dinner at the Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls and another lunch in Kerrville. I laugh when I remember you and Willard trying to convince this Cali-girl that there were beautiful parts of Texas.

We got to see Sammy in Fort Worth. He had his 9th birthday two days after we were there. NINE!!!

Our great grandson Brantley will celebrate his 2nd birthday in two weeks.. and Valerie posted just this morning that Kailey slept through the night last night for the first time. You would enjoy those babies so much.

FaceBook sent a notice this morning that I signed up 9 years ago today. What an interesting coincidence that it is this DAY. I am very grateful for that link to so many friends.

Maria will be here for a visit soon. When she comes we are going to plan a special memorial celebration together. Austin, Nichole and the girls will be here for their spring break next month too. We will be together in a condo at the beach. I know you are happy for us...and yet glad you don't have to get sand between your toes.

You are loved and missed!!!
August 25, 2017
August 25, 2017
Happy Birthday, Poppie Tom.

I can't believe it's been 7 1/2 years since your spirit took its final flight. This is the longest stretch in my life that I have been on my own and I really miss the companionship.

You may remember that Gunnar and Anna had their 2nd girl, Elizabeth (we call her Ellie). on August 24. She turned 8 yesterday. Maria had a birthday yesterday as well. We chatted via computer.

Your namesake "baby boy" Brantley celebrated his half-year (18 month) birthday yesterday. Didn't realize his b-day was almost perfectly on your 1/2 year date. And Kailie is already 2 months old... and growing so fast. You would be proud of the great Mommy our Valerie has become. And that doesn't discount that she chose to co-parent with Matt. They will celebrate their anniversary this coming week--4 years.

I'm leaving you a flower today. You know it's a yellow rose!! I hope you and Momma enjoy the roses.
February 10, 2015
February 10, 2015
Thank you for your generosity and so many good moments. I will always have you inside my heart.

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