Dear Mothers,
I am up late this morning. The kids all stayed up late, as Jimmy just got here around 7 last night. So, anyway, I stayed in bed this morning.
The Memorial will be today, this evening at 5 p.m. Mary Elisabeth is a flurry of ideas about Daddy's Memorial. Tiff and Christine are all doing the Memorial, too.
Christian Joy has mainly been here with me doing what needs to be done. Each of my precious children have played a part. Papa is right -- his babies can do no wrong. Susie, Dan's wife, made a delicious spaghetti supper for us last night. Then another of their friends brought in the cheesy potatoes. It was a feast, let me tell ya. Jason, Chrissy's boyfriend, said, "Wow, I come from a small family. I have never seen so much food go in and out of a house before. And I have never seen so many dishes." And why I haven't used paper plates and cups, I don't know. The kids all take turns doing dishes. Every time I start on the dishes, I am interrupted. And then some kid comes along and does the dishes. But I have phone calls and folks at the door to tend to.
I am busy with just the happenings about me. Baby Rose will stand with her blanket and want me to rock her. Of, course she is top priority. "Grama, rock me in the chair."
Dan said that all of his friends will come to the Memorial. I am thinkin', "How nice, a side show again. But where would I be if my life was normal?" Dan said that all of his Punk Rock friends loved Dad. They got a kick out of him looking at them and then at Dan and saying, "Where did these freaks come from?" That was Jim's first take on it. Then he would be nice and attempt to shake hands with 'em. After he was done smokin', he would say, "Wellll, they will come out of it. I hasn't so hot when I was their age."
Papa could forgive a rattlesnake if he was called to do so. Him and I were just two good forgivers and that's how we remained married. And, ya know, I don't regret Jim's passing. I shudder when I think of him at the hospital. He hated it there. Thank God, he is now with the Lord. It killed me to see Jim with that tube down his throat. It would have killed me to see him like that for a long time.
Each morning, as I get up, I think, "Papa was so tired, it was his time to go. Why didn't I see how tired he was?" And I told this to Mary and Brandon. And, really, all the kids tell me, "Mom, Dad always seemed young. We thought of him as young." Well, ya know, Jim's wife never wanted to give up and just be old, either. We lived our lives right up until Jim died. He went to work and I stayed home and kept the home fires burning. I guess that is sure a lot to be glad about. PTL. I will miss Papa but I am glad he is in a better place and not suffering.
So today is a day to remember. The Memorial will be at 5 and Mary is ordering the boys to be there at noon. Mary who is always late is ordering the boys to be there at noon? Hmmm! Well, for the entertainment, Jason will sing and our friend Glenn will play the bagpipes. I am praying that Chuck will give a wonderful invitation to receive Christ. He always does. It wouldn't surprise me if we got some folks who will come forward. I am praying they will. Please pray that folks will receive the Lord today.
My brother's wife Shelly is such a hoot. She says, "Ya know, Connie, I never like to miss any of your functions, as I get to see things I have never seen before." She gets me to laughin'. She means all the Mohawk haircuts and faces full of piercings. Kids who are tattooed everywhere.
If ya want a good laugh, think of Fred in the midst of all of this. I try not to think of it. I am thinking of having one of my kids just sit with Fred to keep him calm. I was thinking of Jimmy for that job. Just pray that Fred wont kill us for being such pirates. If he comes after me, I am just gonna say, "Papa's babies can do no wrong. That's what Papa says."
Love,
Connie
