Friday, March 12, 2004
LOUIS AND GAIL'S 25th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
The irony of dad’s death was that he was so worried about mom but after the return from Seattle he was the one we lost. Mom was devastated and since it was so sudden and unexpected it took her a long time to cope. It was good that we lived next door to her so we could take care of her the way dad would have.
Eventually she wondered what to do with dad’s new Ford pick-up and camper, along with his boat and motor. I suggested that she give them to Louis since we didn’t fish or go boating nor did we need another pick-up. Dad also had a new Maverick car so that went along with the package.
Louis flew back later to drive the pick-up and camper, pulling the boat and trailer back to Washington. Mom went back with him for the fun of the trip and to be company for Louis. They stopped in Blair (NE.) to see aunt Mary and Roger and family on the way. Mom always enjoyed traveling and missed that after dad was gone.
They told lots of stories about things that happened along the way. Mom was always one to chronicle her trips and so it is all in her journals. They finally reached Seattle and both were pretty well worn out from the long and arduous trip. Louis had to go back to work and mom got rested up and enjoyed her time with them. Mom loved the beauty of the area and also the ducks that begged for bread in front of the house. She spent a lot of time watching them and their new hatches. Baby ducks are so cute it’s hard not to like them.
Later on after mom came home Louis had an idea to transport the Maverick to Seattle. He called and said if we would drive it out to him he would fly us back to Missouri. His treat. So we did just that. We three packed our bags, filled the Maverick with gas and headed West. Mom had never been to California and we decided to take the southern route to the Pacific and follow Hwy 1 all the way up the coast. She was a good little traveler and could sit for hours without having to get out to stretch. Actually I was worse than she was…..the scenery was wonderful seeing it the first time and she enjoyed every aspect of it.
We arrived in Seattle after days on the road and it was good to stop moving and relax a few days. In due time, Louis took us to the airport and we said our goodbyes once more. The flight home was a treat and my first time on a large plane. I was uneasy as we had to wait some time before take-off due to the rain and low ceiling. Fog obscured the airport from our runway observation point. Suddenly the plane began moving and picking up speed….it was shuttering and shaking with screaming engines that were in the process of lifting the huge weight they carried. Fog and rain were running down the outside windows so that you couldn’t see anything. It seemed we were submerged in water….then just as my heart was about to jump out of my throat we popped up atop the clouds and to my amazement the sun was shining gloriously, the sky was azure blue and below were big, puffy white clouds spread like a feather bed below us. It was suddenly peaceful as if we were floating rather than about to shake ourselves apart. The wings were now steady and all was calm. I told myself if I was ever tempted to feel depressed on a cloudy day I would always remember how beautiful it is on top of the clouds. The experience was, for me, a spiritual one.
With Louis and Gail both working and the girls getting older the time flew by. Eventually the girls finished school and married and they found themselves alone again. When their 25th wedding anniversary rolled around Louis decided to make a lengthy trip back to see all of their families. He rented a large RV and a friend of theirs did the driving….when they arrived in Missouri we enjoyed a good visit with them. Louis decided it would be fun to see aunt Beulah again so we all packed into the RV and headed for Arkansas. She lived in Gassville, just a few miles south of Mountain Home.
Of course we called ahead to make sure aunt Beulah would be home and she was delighted we were coming. When we arrived with our “bus” load of people she popped out on the driveway to welcome us. Everyone should have an aunt Beulah. She was always happy to have you come, to come see you, or whatever. She was good company and a joy to be around.
Needless to say we had a great visit and headed home at dusk. It was the last time aunt Beulah and Louis would see each other……..
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
Eventually she wondered what to do with dad’s new Ford pick-up and camper, along with his boat and motor. I suggested that she give them to Louis since we didn’t fish or go boating nor did we need another pick-up. Dad also had a new Maverick car so that went along with the package.
Louis flew back later to drive the pick-up and camper, pulling the boat and trailer back to Washington. Mom went back with him for the fun of the trip and to be company for Louis. They stopped in Blair (NE.) to see aunt Mary and Roger and family on the way. Mom always enjoyed traveling and missed that after dad was gone.
They told lots of stories about things that happened along the way. Mom was always one to chronicle her trips and so it is all in her journals. They finally reached Seattle and both were pretty well worn out from the long and arduous trip. Louis had to go back to work and mom got rested up and enjoyed her time with them. Mom loved the beauty of the area and also the ducks that begged for bread in front of the house. She spent a lot of time watching them and their new hatches. Baby ducks are so cute it’s hard not to like them.
Later on after mom came home Louis had an idea to transport the Maverick to Seattle. He called and said if we would drive it out to him he would fly us back to Missouri. His treat. So we did just that. We three packed our bags, filled the Maverick with gas and headed West. Mom had never been to California and we decided to take the southern route to the Pacific and follow Hwy 1 all the way up the coast. She was a good little traveler and could sit for hours without having to get out to stretch. Actually I was worse than she was…..the scenery was wonderful seeing it the first time and she enjoyed every aspect of it.
We arrived in Seattle after days on the road and it was good to stop moving and relax a few days. In due time, Louis took us to the airport and we said our goodbyes once more. The flight home was a treat and my first time on a large plane. I was uneasy as we had to wait some time before take-off due to the rain and low ceiling. Fog obscured the airport from our runway observation point. Suddenly the plane began moving and picking up speed….it was shuttering and shaking with screaming engines that were in the process of lifting the huge weight they carried. Fog and rain were running down the outside windows so that you couldn’t see anything. It seemed we were submerged in water….then just as my heart was about to jump out of my throat we popped up atop the clouds and to my amazement the sun was shining gloriously, the sky was azure blue and below were big, puffy white clouds spread like a feather bed below us. It was suddenly peaceful as if we were floating rather than about to shake ourselves apart. The wings were now steady and all was calm. I told myself if I was ever tempted to feel depressed on a cloudy day I would always remember how beautiful it is on top of the clouds. The experience was, for me, a spiritual one.
With Louis and Gail both working and the girls getting older the time flew by. Eventually the girls finished school and married and they found themselves alone again. When their 25th wedding anniversary rolled around Louis decided to make a lengthy trip back to see all of their families. He rented a large RV and a friend of theirs did the driving….when they arrived in Missouri we enjoyed a good visit with them. Louis decided it would be fun to see aunt Beulah again so we all packed into the RV and headed for Arkansas. She lived in Gassville, just a few miles south of Mountain Home.
Of course we called ahead to make sure aunt Beulah would be home and she was delighted we were coming. When we arrived with our “bus” load of people she popped out on the driveway to welcome us. Everyone should have an aunt Beulah. She was always happy to have you come, to come see you, or whatever. She was good company and a joy to be around.
Needless to say we had a great visit and headed home at dusk. It was the last time aunt Beulah and Louis would see each other……..
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
