I've been back to Virginia 3 times since my last entry. In July 2011, I was called home on an emergency. Actually, a Family Reunion had been planned for August, but Diana called me in July and said Dad was in hospital, very ill. When I got there he was on life support, semi-conscious. He had had surgery for a hole in his intestine which had ruptured. He died from septicemia, just before he was supposed to go to a hospice, a week and a half after I got there. We had a very nice funeral for him, with military honors. Diana Sue and I sang Amazing Grace, and Steve dressed in his dress uniform and took part in the flag ceremony.
The family reunion was nice, and it was great to have all six children together again.
There was a bit of excitement during the last week of my visit: an earthquake the day I went to Sandbridge with Les, Tyler and Jason, and Hurricane Irene. My flight home was delayed because of it.
May 2012, Memorial Day Weekend, I went back to Virginia for another Family Reunion. It just happened that that was also the Fellowship Family Reunion, so Aaron and I went to that and had a great time catching up with old friends.
While I was there, I got new glasses.
October 2012 was a happy time, with the birth of Diana and Nathan's baby boy, Jack Aaron, born the week before Halloween, on October 22.
February this year, I went home on another emergency. Mom was in hospital. She had been in and out of the hospital and rehab center off and on since July 2012, when she fell and had complications. She died before I left, on the 9th. This time I was there to help plan the funeral. We had a nice one for her. As always, Les did the eulogy, Diana and I spoke a bit, and I got brave and sang a solo, In the Garden. It turned out beautifully, the mike worked well, my voice was strong and clear, and I didn't get emotional.
I brought home some of my inheritance, the musical clock, which I am enjoying in my living room, and the two Indian paintings Mom did, which I will be hanging on my wall after I get the apartment painted. That's my plan, anyway. I also brought home some of Mom's towels, so now I have some nice towels and wash cloths.
I got some of the cash inheritance, too, so brought home some nice new jeans, shirts, and jackets, a nice new wardrobe. I was able to bring everything with me, since I didn't have to fly home. I inherited the mini-van, a nice late model Chrysler Town and Country, which I promptly traded to Diana and Nathan when I got home. Thank goodness Joe drove it home. With my eyes, and having not driven in over a year, I was not sure about driving it all that way.
It gave Joe an excuse for a short vacation. We stayed with Diana, Nathan, and the kids, and had a great time, watching movies, and playing Magic the Gathering.
So, I traded the van for Diana's 1995 Nissan Altima! They needed the van more than I did, with 3 kids, and I have a cute little sporty Nissan. They fixed it up nicely, put in a new Stereo AM/FM radio with CD player, mp3 outlet, and USB phone charger built in. I love it!
