I know that Val is not doing well. He is in a nice comfortable home and your daily visits are comforting for both of you. Take care.xx
Thank you, Nik. He is 101 and ready for what's next.
Thinking of you, Luise.
KG
I so appreciate you walking the walk with me. I go to see Val several times a day for short visits. I softly, sing him the "Evening Prayer" from the opera Hansel and Gretel and sometimes he squeezes my hand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=Rdofdm5n8Gw
When at night you go to sleep,
Fourteen angels watch do keep;
Two your head are guarding,
Two your feet are guiding;
Two are on your right hand,
Two are on your left hand.
Two who warmly cover,
Two who o'er you hover,
Two to whom 'tis given,
To guide your steps to heaven.
Sleeping softly, then it seems
Heaven enters in your dreams.
Angels hover round you,
Whispering they've found you;
Two are sweetly singing.
Two are garlands bringing,
Strewing you with roses,
As your Soul reposes.
God will not forsake you
When at last death takes you.
Luise, How blessed is Val to have such a loving partner in you?! I only hope when your time comes, you are wrapped in the warmth you have so lovingly given to him, us and all who have had the blessing of you in their lives. Just know that even if we are not near, you will be in our hearts forever!
Even tho, I have been away, I am not too far to send my love to you with wishes of peace and comfort.
Thank you for this site and for being one of those 14 angels,,,,,on earth:) I know for a fact,you have made my LIFE better!
Biggest hugs to you dear friend!
You are a real inspiration to all of us here.I also hope to be surrounded with a loving caring person like you when I am at the stage that Val is in.Hugs.xxAngels are looking down on both of you.God has his arms ready to accept Val into Heaven.Take care.
Val passed today ar 10:40 AM Pacific time. I was sitting at his side...singing. All is well.
I just got notification about Val. Luise I am so very sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine how difficult this time must be for you. I will keep you in my thoughts. Blessings to you. J
Again you are in my prayers Luise.
Here is Val on his 98th birthday.
What a nice looking man.You have all those photos and memories to remember him.Take care of yourself and take time to grieve though you knew this was coming.Hugs Nik.
A widow one day. I woke up yesterday married. Grief hits like wave and takes me down...then it's a while between waves.
(((hugs)))
Dear Ms. Luise,
You are in my prayers. I am so sorry about Mr. Val.
I appreciate all of you so much. What a blessing you are. Between the waves I mentioned above are the peaceful times of being balanced and grounded in the joy of having had 23 years with the only person I have ever known capable of unconditional love. He never spoke an unkind word to me and I can be a real pill!
Luise, You have my condolences and I wish you and yours peace and love at this time of transition and reflection.
Luise, I am so very sorry. Will keep you and your family in my prayers. Wish I were close enough to give you a big ole hug.
(((((((Luise))))))))
There is a sacredness in tears.
They are not the mark of weakness,
but of power.
They speak more eloquently
than 10,000 tongues.
They are the messengers
of overwhelming grief,
of deep contrition,
and of unspeakable love.
- Washington Irving
Day 6: I'm hanging in there...with a lot of help from my friends. Thank you! Everyone here is bring wonderful, too. I'm only alone when I want to be. Widowhood is a "new land." Even though Val and I didn't live together for the last three years, he was still 1/2 a block away and we saw each other nearly every day. Sometimes when he was still able to converse a little...he made me laugh. Like when I went to kiss him and he looked me in the eye and said..."I'm married!" He didn't know who to, but he was loyal to me, none the less! The nurses here all loved him and wanted to clone him. The last words he was able to say cogently were "thank you." It was just who he was to appreciate everything done for him.
When Val was transferred to the nursing facility on our campus, I moved into a HUD studio apartment here. It is very comforting to me that I did that almost three years ago and don't have to face it now. I'm established and comfortable in my own place. Kirk and Sandy moved back to Washington last fall after seventeen years in Kauai and are only 45 minutes away. What a blessing that is! I have a lot to be grateful for. :-)
Lovely, Pooh.
Love you Luise
luise, I am so touched by the prayer you sang to your beloved at his bedside and certain he heard it by his squeezing your hand. What a wonderful gift to be able to "walk him home." That is about the nearest to heaven you can get on this side of it. What a beautiful ending (at least in this world) to a beautiful love story. BUT, the heart goes on.....