Let's Have a Look-See

I got to Allison's house last week and learned that we were going to wear our Giants shirts to the service. I left mine at home so I just wore black.  I did the flowers in Giants colors.  The service started at 1:00. I told Wes to start us...oh and say a prayer. I gave a life sketch and Ty dedicated the grave. The kids wanted to watch the casket get lowered. We were in the car, on our way home by 1:30.  We were on our way to Idaho within a couple of hours. I love the Seirras in the Summer, but I hope I never have to see them as many times as I did this year.  I miss my mom. I'm always thinking of something to tell her. I miss her most on Sundays. I loved her telling me about the games and that she enjoyed watching church. She had good balance in life. 

When Spencer sends flowers, he sends flowers.  I read a letter today describing my mom's mom funeral, many years ago. There were so many flowers. I'm pretty sure there will be none at my mom's so I will post a couple here. From my walk yesterday.  From Fort Collins Escape to the backyard.  I'm in Yuba City for a simple graveside service. Just us siblings.  Partly because of a Covid outbreak and partly because my siblings don't really know how to deal with death.   I needed to see my mom put in her final resting place.  Can  believe this? Fastest headstone in history. My brother is here with his wife. I can't figure out why. To be honest she said some words to me before they left my dad's funeral that set off a few emotions...and not the good ones. I think to myself, what would my mom do. I don't know.  She really didn't like her eieither.   Let the wild rumpus begin.

The Fountains let us down. For what ever reason, they wouldn't administer the morphine to my mom. After the second day of not doing it, I felt the need to bring in a few more prayers. I asked my prayer group for help. The next day I felt the power of Heaven as they did give her the meds. Her body started to shut down. She passed away on September 7, 38 days after my dad.  It's hard. I've talked to her most days since Callie was born. She became a mother to Hannah, after her mother was killed in an accident.  We were both caring for newborns. It was a strange thing that brought us together.  I brought her phone home. I was keeping some of her friends up to date. It rang tonight with a reminder for her Macular shot. My first thought was that it would be hard for me to cancel the appointment.  I'm not sure I can say that she won't be coming back. My second thought was that she's not blind anymore.   Sometimes death is a gift. She was going to loose...

I agreed to to stay with my mom while my sister went to Europe with her son and family.  I brought my water weights for the pool, was going to watch movies, cross stitch and make soup for my mom. Hasn't really worked out that way. Here's a review. Friday: Flew out of Boise early .... left my phone at Callies  Got to Yuba City to find my mom in bad shape. Her breathing was labored and she couldn't walk. I knew I couldn't take care of her. Saturday: Took mom to ER in Marysville  She told all the staff that she was just drinking her tea when all the sudden these men with dark shirts showed up and made her go to the hospital.   ThIs visit was like binge watching ER. I can't count how many times she said nothing is wrong with me. I want to go home. Sunday: Still sticking to her story. Admitted with UTI and CHF. I really thought we could clear this up and she could come home.  Monday: Still sticking with her story. With the help of Andrea, the doctor ...

I always like to do my favorite parts of Summer. I've had some great moments.   I love my water arobics group. We had a different teacher this year and I missed Paula so much, but this hour of the day provides much needed exercise and friendship.  Flowers, flowers, flowers Atlantic Ocean and white sand These amazing people  The knowledge that families can be together forever.

After the service I had Spencer take family pictures with my mom. I kept saying "I really think we'll regret it if we don't take this opportunity".  My mom had a good afternoon.  She sat in her chair and told stories to all the grandkids. She was in her glory.  About 6 the next morning, I got a phone call from Allison. They had taken her to the hospital with what they called a breathing episode.  At first they thought it was a 'broken heart' heart attack, but something kept coming up on the bloodwork that made them keep testing.  She kept telling them  "Therehere is nothing wrong with me. You should let me go home." When they wanted to do angioplasty she told them, "I'm 89 and I'm not doing surgery." She finally relented.  The angioplasty showed all her arteries are blocked. They could do open heart surgery but it would be very dangerous and she is 89 and doesn't want it.  It has been a devastating diagnosis for me. ...

My dad  passed away recently.  I learned how to write an obituary.  I wrote it and my mother approved and edited. Out of the 4 people who edited, none of us noticed that I had the wrong number of years they were married. It was 69, not 59. Live and learn.  Here is the life sketch I wrote. I'm adding some pictures for fun.  Alfred Dale Empey was born on June 16, 1932 in Idaho Falls Idaho. He was so little that they put him in a box and kept him warm in the oven.   He was an only child. He grew up on a farm in Ammon Idaho in a house with no indoor plumbing. This is the house about 6 years after he moved out. He walked to school uphill both ways, with snow on the ground and holes in his shoes.  His mother died when he was 8 years old.  He and his dad lived together but he sometimes had to stay with Aunts when grandpa needed to do some extra work.            Al and hi...