Post by: gunug on September 21, 2007, 08:31:01 AM
My most vivid early memory of her was when we were getting ready for our wedding. She was an absolute force-of-nature in planning this big wedding (350 people if I remember right and a big reception with a band) and she decided that I needed to have a new sports coat to wear on the honeymoon. I did my duty and went into the designated tailor-shop and ended up with one that suited me (no pun intended!) and had the adjustments measured and ordered up. She went in and picked it up (we live in Lawrence, Kansas and she lived in Wichita, Kansas about two hours away) and a week or so later when I tried it on for her she was "very" unhappy with the way it fit and ran me back down to the shop on a Sunday (getting the tailor, who was a friend of her husband, off the golf course if I recall) and got it fixed to the way she thought it should be. It turned out that the sports coat was almost identical to one I had in my closet already and I ended up packing and wearing that one on the honeymoon (accidentally, honest).
Goodbye Muggy Lou (her girlhood name)!
Post by: kimmer on September 21, 2007, 11:47:06 AM
I shared this poems in the thread about Francine's dad, not sure if you've read it ... This poem was sent to me when my dad died, and the words touched my heart. Perhaps they will help to ease your sorrow as well.
~The Master Weaver~
The pattern of our lives is formed with tender loving care,
And He who does the weaving works in colours dark and fair.
We see odd strands of colour as the tapestry unfolds,
Not understanding there must be greys among the golds.
But in the Master Weaver's eye the whole design is clear,
For He alone knows why and where the dark threads must appear.
And if we trust His guiding hand, then one day we shall see
The final picture woven in a perfect tapestry.
~ Author UnKnown ~
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Kim
Post by: Gregg on September 21, 2007, 12:16:01 PM
That story is, I'm sure, one of many good memories. I have to confess that it's taking me longer to revive many of my Mom than I ever thought it would.
Post by: dolphin on September 21, 2007, 01:28:53 PM
Post by: kcourt on September 21, 2007, 03:38:16 PM
I am sorry for your loss.
Kathy
Post by: jepinto on September 21, 2007, 07:41:12 PM
My deepest condolences to you and your wife. May the goodness of her life show you the way to your own well being.
(and you don't have to be old to be crotchety.)
Post by: chriskleeman on September 21, 2007, 07:44:35 PM
What a great story! I know that Muggy Lou will be missed greatly in your family, and all my heartfelt condolences to every one of you.
I hope Kimmer's poetic contribution is a great comfort to you, I certainly couldn't do any better!
Remember to be good to yourself, it seems you have a good handle on all of it already.
All the best, and all my sympathies,
Chris K
Post by: Audone on September 21, 2007, 10:03:26 PM
Post by: gunug on September 22, 2007, 07:49:40 AM
QUOTE
"So what were my childhood dreams? You may not agree with this list, but I was there. Being in zero gravity, playing in the National Football League, authoring an article in the World Book Encyclopedia. I guess you can tell the nerds early," he said in the lecture.
He has also experienced life-changing events since he was told he was dying:
QUOTE
"We're not going to talk about spirituality and religion. Although I will tell you that I have experienced a deathbed conversion. I just bought a Macintosh. … Now I know I'd get 9 percent of the audience with that," Pausch said.
He has definitely kept his sense of humor! The entire talk is available at ABC:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/PersonOfWeek/sto...3945&page=1
This is also available w/o the ads here:
http://cmu.edu/uls/journeys/
Post by: sandyman on September 22, 2007, 12:04:27 PM
QUOTE(gunug @ Sep 22 2007, 01:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I feel that those I've really loved have already impressed themselves on my consciousness and don't really leave me. I'm also glad she has been freed from the pain she was suffering. I was watching this thing on ABC news about a Computer Science professor named Randy Pausch from Carnegie Mellon University who is dying rather soon of cancer in his liver. He gave a final lecture that was about his life and how he did a lot of the things he dreamed of doing:
He has also experienced life-changing events since he was told he was dying:
He has definitely kept his sense of humor! The entire talk is available at ABC:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/PersonOfWeek/sto...3945&page=1
This is also available w/o the ads here:
http://cmu.edu/uls/journeys/
QUOTE
"So what were my childhood dreams? You may not agree with this list, but I was there. Being in zero gravity, playing in the National Football League, authoring an article in the World Book Encyclopedia. I guess you can tell the nerds early," he said in the lecture.
He has also experienced life-changing events since he was told he was dying:
QUOTE
"We're not going to talk about spirituality and religion. Although I will tell you that I have experienced a deathbed conversion. I just bought a Macintosh. … Now I know I'd get 9 percent of the audience with that," Pausch said.
He has definitely kept his sense of humor! The entire talk is available at ABC:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/PersonOfWeek/sto...3945&page=1
This is also available w/o the ads here:
http://cmu.edu/uls/journeys/
That's how people get "REAL" immortality. People live on through the memories that their friends/loved ones/families remember and pass on to the next generation
Sandy
Post by: Francine Eisner on September 23, 2007, 09:04:31 AM
Please accept my sympathy for your loss, which has followed so closely on the heels of my own.
QUOTE(sandyman @ Sep 22 2007, 01:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
That's how people get "REAL" immortality. People live on through the memories that their friends/loved ones/families remember and pass on to the next generation
Sandy
Sandy
In the chapel service for my father, my brother, sister, mother and I spoke about my father and what he meant to us. We were all both eloquent (according to others' assessment) and incoherent and somehow the message got through. Even now, only a few days later, I am finding the memories of my father to be more comforting than painful. The pain is ubiquitous but the memories make it seem like he will remain here, protecting us, guiding us, and just plain keeping us company.
I requested several of my father's personal items, which my mother gladly gave to me. So I have his bathrobe and dressing gown (items which I really needed!) and also his watch and glass paperweight. I am an Eisner, and we have never been particularly materialistic people. I like to think that we hold most dear those material things which have real value, meaning emotional significance. But first and most of all, we value each other.
At the end of a person's life, you miss them terribly and wonder, much as a child does, where can they possibly be? That answer is not knowable, but something remains of them in the precious objects they once possessed, and in remembrance of them. My mother, a very strong person, believes that these morsels will sustain us in the years to come.
When I was a jeweler, I used to feel that any handcrafted piece bore not just the physical, but the spiritual or psychic "imprint" of its maker. At this point, holding my father's paperweight in my hand, I want this to be true more than I ever have.
Best,
Francine
Post by: gunug on September 23, 2007, 11:05:37 AM
Post by: Gregg on September 23, 2007, 04:22:52 PM
QUOTE(Francine Eisner @ Sep 23 2007, 09:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
... I used to feel that any handcrafted piece bore not just the physical, but the spiritual or psychic "imprint" of its maker. At this point, holding my father's paperweight in my hand, I want this to be true more than I ever have.
Then it must be true. I certainly think so.
There's a song on Neil Diamond's "Moods" album (don't know if it's on CD) called "Morningside (For My Children)" that expresses this beautifully. I know that when my Dad passes, I will cry every time I hear that song. We have something he has made in every single room in our house.
Post by: gunug on September 23, 2007, 07:18:58 PM
QUOTE
There's a song on Neil Diamond's "Moods" album (don't know if it's on CD) called "Morningside (For My Children)" that expresses this beautifully. I know that when my Dad passes, I will cry every time I hear that song. We have something he has made in every single room in our house.
Boy, I hope they never play a song I "really" like at a funeral that I go to; they played "Dust in the Wind" at the funeral of the 21 year old son of a good friend and I can't hear that song without bawling like a baby! I know what you're saying about the things that are made, gifted by, those we love; they're not just tangible anymore but imbued with a bit of the spirit of this person.
Post by: krissel on September 23, 2007, 10:35:21 PM
Reading through the obituary I noticed she is a 'sister'. That is, she is a member of Alpha Chi Omega, the sorority I joined in college. Funny how something like that can make you feel a bit closer to someone you never met. At the very least you shared similar experiences and interests with another person.
And she will live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew her.
Post by: gunug on September 26, 2007, 04:56:22 AM