Thank you Edie. Wow, to be only 56 and the oldest surviving member of your family is really something and somewhat unfortunate for you (I always enjoyed hearing stories from older family members). You’ve had a lot of relatives who passed rather closely together, just like we have. And, you’re right, it is strange how closely their birthdays and passing are so close together. That reminded me of a great uncle that passed just days shy of his 100th birthday.
When my mom passed expectantly in 2001, outside of support of family and friends, the main thing that got me through it was to keep thinking and saying, it’s not in my hands, God had a plan for her like he does for everyone and this was his plan.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Seattle Conservative.
Mitigating factors for me are:
My parents married in January 1943 and my brother was born later that year around Thanksgiving—but I wasn’t born until 1960.
I never knew any relatives from my father’s side of the family—until that third cousin with whom I’ve been reunited during the past two years.
I only had one grandparent, my maternal grandmother who died when I was only five. My Aunt was 47 when I was born and most of my maternal relatives were considerably older than that and have long since passed away.
Circumstances kept me close to my parents, which must have been God’s plan for me because I had the ability to help them in their declining years. I knew how to balance a check book, do bookkeeping and run the household well enough to keep the three of us together.
My father fell and fractured his hip, suffered complications and never returned home from the hospital.
My mother’s health steadily declined and she developed dementia/alzheimers. A broken leg, too, quickly claimed her life.
I never married and learned that it would have been extremely risky if not impossible for me to bear children.
My greatest pride and joy is my nephew with whom I have entrusted my powers of attorney. He is an architect and is my rock of gibraltar!!
Once again, as you stated, God’s hand does indeed guide our journey!!!