Late Entry

My sister in Colorado suggested that with my ability to write I start a blog.  So I resurrected this old one.  I realized that I neglected this so long that I forgot two important although sad very sad events.  The first was the death of my niece Betsy, from cancer at the age of 35 or 36.  She left her family who loved her.  A daughter, husband, Mom and Dad, five sisters and brothers and spouses, Aunts, Uncles, nieces, nephews.  It was a shock to us all and almost three years later is still a sadness for us all.
 
The second was that of my cousin Barbara.

Our Betsy was brave, brave beyond her years or experience.  She managed her own care up to the last, and no doubt that memory will revisit those of us who experienced it with her for many years to come. 

It is said that sorrow colors life, but we get to choose the color.  There have been times lately that I fear I had chosen so many colors for each of the sorrows in my life, that they had blended together to form black.

Since Betsy, we have lost our beloved cousin, Barbara.  Barbara was at the other end of the age spectrum, in her eighties.  I shall write about her elsewhere someday, as she taught us how to enjoy life and travel without having to depend on others.  Barbara was in hospice for about a year and taught me lots about hospice

To bring this up to date, I just attended the funeral for another octogenarian who was in hospice.  I had encouraged her when she went in through a sharing of Barb's experience.  Elsie's funeral was a victory celebration, but nevertheless sad. 

I think my color palate has switched from black to some other color, but I don't know which.  Since I originally wrote this I went through Paul R's death.  I guess this is just part of the landscape of life, and it is something we have to deal with in a positive way.  (See May 2007 entry on Death of a Friend)  God knows He has given us every reason to be able to have joy in sorrow. 

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