Mert passed away. His son Darrell came in from driving down from Tacoma, WA and Stephanie had fallen into an exausted sleep in the chair beside the hospital bed. He was already gone. And apparently very peacefully at that.
The family is here in town and the four great grandchildren are a delight to see, so Norma is in good spirits for the moment. I picked up mom and we went over after I got off work today and spent a couple hours there.
Mert made friends where ever he went , I'm sure most of Jacksonville knew who he was from his walks to Gary West once a week for a "good old fashioned hot dog"
He was a Good Man. I will miss him too.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
A sad day......
I have these very dear friends, Mert & Norma Snow. They are 83 and 84. I have known them since March 1980. I was 6 months pregnant with Andy and my first husband was recovering from ostomy surgery that he had in December. We needed a place to live out in the Applegate as Mike was getting ready to return to work at the Forest Service. Well we got their name from a Realtor who told us they had a house for rent on 12 acres by the river. Well it turned into the most wonderful friendship. We lived next door to them in the cutest little red house. And while Mike worked long hours as a fire fighter, I was not alone with my new baby boy because Mert and Norma were their keeping an eye on me.
Fast forward ... we have stayed in touch all these years and Mert helped me find mom's mobile home in their park when my dad was dying of cancer ( he only live there 14 days)
I try to call and check on them every couple of weeks and I knew they had taken a trip south of Reno to visit their daughter about a month ago. Well I called Monday evening to see how the were ( Norma has had quite a few medical problems lately) but Mert faithfully went to "Work out and swim" at Waterford. Norma informed me that they brought Mert home from the hospital that day and that her daughter and daughter in law were there taking care of them. I asked what was wrong with Mert and Norma told me he was diagnosed with liver cancer. Well all of this has happened in less than a month. Norma has some memory problems and didn't have many details so I asked her to have her daughter Stephanie call me. ( I always try to go to the hospital when ever Mert and Norma have had various surgeries (back, hip,bypass...) So Steph and I are well aquainted.
When I didn't hear from her that night I called Tuesday morning and talked to her , what she told me knocked the wind out of me ! Mert has less than 2 weeks to live !! I raced out there after work yesterday only to find Steph & Barbara exhausted and trying to change the bed under Mert's 6'2" 225 frame. He is unable to even help move himself and was in a hospital bed in the living room. I stayed for 3 hours and did everything I could to help . Norma didn't seem to grasp how bad he was and asked if I thought he was getting better...... Mert when he did talk still was sharp as a tack, rattling off names and phone numbers when needed , medications , what they were for when to take them . But he got progressively worse while I was there. I had to leave at 9:00 to come home and get ready for work today. Mom went early this morning to see if she could relieve them to get some sleep, but no. They are waiting for Stephs brother Darrell ( Barbs husband) and her husband Rob and son to arrive by tomorrow morning.
I was headed out there after work tonight and must have been in the middle of the worst lighting storm... Dodging broken tree branches, couldn't see from the rain... decided to just get myself HOME.
I had talked to Stephanie around 5:00pm and he was declining rapidly, unresponsive and not eating or drinking today
I know he is OK with what is happening, he and Norma are Christians and know where they will be going when they die. He at 84 lived a great life and was a WONDERFUL man, I love him dearly and was not prepared for this so soon....... I don't think I will be seeing him again in this life. And it still makes me feel sad to loose him.
Fast forward ... we have stayed in touch all these years and Mert helped me find mom's mobile home in their park when my dad was dying of cancer ( he only live there 14 days)
I try to call and check on them every couple of weeks and I knew they had taken a trip south of Reno to visit their daughter about a month ago. Well I called Monday evening to see how the were ( Norma has had quite a few medical problems lately) but Mert faithfully went to "Work out and swim" at Waterford. Norma informed me that they brought Mert home from the hospital that day and that her daughter and daughter in law were there taking care of them. I asked what was wrong with Mert and Norma told me he was diagnosed with liver cancer. Well all of this has happened in less than a month. Norma has some memory problems and didn't have many details so I asked her to have her daughter Stephanie call me. ( I always try to go to the hospital when ever Mert and Norma have had various surgeries (back, hip,bypass...) So Steph and I are well aquainted.
When I didn't hear from her that night I called Tuesday morning and talked to her , what she told me knocked the wind out of me ! Mert has less than 2 weeks to live !! I raced out there after work yesterday only to find Steph & Barbara exhausted and trying to change the bed under Mert's 6'2" 225 frame. He is unable to even help move himself and was in a hospital bed in the living room. I stayed for 3 hours and did everything I could to help . Norma didn't seem to grasp how bad he was and asked if I thought he was getting better...... Mert when he did talk still was sharp as a tack, rattling off names and phone numbers when needed , medications , what they were for when to take them . But he got progressively worse while I was there. I had to leave at 9:00 to come home and get ready for work today. Mom went early this morning to see if she could relieve them to get some sleep, but no. They are waiting for Stephs brother Darrell ( Barbs husband) and her husband Rob and son to arrive by tomorrow morning.
I was headed out there after work tonight and must have been in the middle of the worst lighting storm... Dodging broken tree branches, couldn't see from the rain... decided to just get myself HOME.
I had talked to Stephanie around 5:00pm and he was declining rapidly, unresponsive and not eating or drinking today
I know he is OK with what is happening, he and Norma are Christians and know where they will be going when they die. He at 84 lived a great life and was a WONDERFUL man, I love him dearly and was not prepared for this so soon....... I don't think I will be seeing him again in this life. And it still makes me feel sad to loose him.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Now that is "CUTE"
What does your dog look like from their level??
This ! What a funny puppy you are Winnie. And really , her feet are not that big !!
Saturday, July 7, 2007
"Mug~Shot" 07-07-07 !!!!
I feel "LUCKY" !!
Ok, these are not my coffee mugs (because I haven't recieved my replacement cord for downloading pictures from my camera yet)But I knew you would be looking so I found these on a search and thought they were cute. I am actually drinking my coffee out a cup that was from a set of dishes that Andy got me for Christmas one year while working on The Empress of the North. It is washed yellows with fruit, apple pear and plums.
I am going to buy 7 lottery tickets today !! Just because, a couple mega bucks and a couple powerballs.....
Well I think I'll take a walk out side to see if I can see any of the hot air balloons...
Knew I heard something unusual, there was a balloon right out front above the field across the street. Took some pictures then walked Winnie down the street aways and watched some more.
Hmmmmmm Now that is an interesting comment, how do I delete it???
Friday, July 6, 2007
Carson throwing rocks
What is it about boys throwing rocks in water???
My boys did it, my dad did it.......
Carson was having a ball, could have stayed there all day just as long as there were rocks to throw.... So cute !
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
"Happy 4th of July"
Here are some pictures from Sunday when I drove up to Howard Prairie with Robin and Carson to see Cory & Jordan. Cory had called Robin to tell her Jordan caught her first fish, and Robin was missing her girl, so we get out of the car expecting Jordan to come running and leap into her mama's arms.......
She took one look at us and burst into tears and said
" I didn't want you to come, it's just me and daddy camping !"
OH.....Robin got over it because it just meant that Jordan was having such a good time, all the family was up there too, so we just stayed about an hour and Jordan asked several times "isn't it time for mommy and Laura to leave?"
It was really beautiful up there.
Today we made our annual trip to Central Point for the 4th of July parade, it is always fun to observe the "COLORFUL" folks....
I enjoy watching the crowd more than the parade.
came home ate hot dogs from the grill. To stinkin' hot out so I retreated in to read and NAP !
Today I am thankful to live in AMERICA !!
God Bless.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
"Short Week"
It is the "4th of July" already tomarrow !
So working Monday, Tuesday and half a day Thursday !!!
No big plans for the "Fourth", going to Central Point to watch the parade then home to relax. Mid week is not a good time for our annual big bar b que.
Waiting for my new camera cord ( this is the one that hooks up my camera to the computer) YES my DOG Chewed the CORD !!!!
So not able to down load any new pictures......
Sunday I rode up to Howard Prarie with (My friend) Robin and Carson to go visit her husband Cory and daughter Jordan who are up there camping with family. Robin was working so she and Carson stayed home. Took some great photo's, will have to wait for the new cord.
I forgot how beautiful it was, came home and informed the family we need a boat !! I want some kind of little sailing vessel.
Well since I have no new pic's here are some more from Portland.
Enjoy and have a safe "4th of July"
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