SCRABBLE was part of my life with Paul from the beginning. The week I met him (as graduate students at Penn State) he challenged me to a game of SCRABBLE. "OK," I said, "Loser buys winner a cup of coffee."
He bought the coffee.
For the next fifty + years we played SCRABBLE. Evenly matched we took turns winning. During those long stays in the hospital we kept out Saturday night SCRABBLE dates alive.
A week before he died we played out last game. He won.
It seems a symbol of our life together. It feels right. I won the first; he won the last.
I miss my SCRABBLE nights.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Thursday, January 5, 2017
MY HISTORY WITH THE MORAVIAN CHRISTMAS STAR
A Moravian star has been a part of Christmas for the past fifty-seven years, since I met my 'soon-to-be' in-laws. The next Christmas as husband and wife we had our own star which was prominently displayed each Christmas.
In 2012 Paul was entering what we knew would be his last Christmas when we encountered our third Moravian Christmas Star. He was in the second year of his on and off, now and then, leukemia treatment at Wake Forest Hospital in Winston Salem NC, noted for its Moravian heritage.
A bank just blocks from the hospital each year installs a giant Moravian Star on its roof. The announced date of its lighting fell on the day of Paul's treatment.
It was our plan to view that lighting. After medical matters we parked in an Arby's parking lot, just down from the bank, and waited for darkness and the star's burst with light. Four cups of coffee and two hours later we were still there. A check with Arby's staff gave us no information. An hour and another cup of coffee later we left.
We drove home and hung our own star-- for the last time.
In 2012 Paul was entering what we knew would be his last Christmas when we encountered our third Moravian Christmas Star. He was in the second year of his on and off, now and then, leukemia treatment at Wake Forest Hospital in Winston Salem NC, noted for its Moravian heritage.
A bank just blocks from the hospital each year installs a giant Moravian Star on its roof. The announced date of its lighting fell on the day of Paul's treatment.
It was our plan to view that lighting. After medical matters we parked in an Arby's parking lot, just down from the bank, and waited for darkness and the star's burst with light. Four cups of coffee and two hours later we were still there. A check with Arby's staff gave us no information. An hour and another cup of coffee later we left.
We drove home and hung our own star-- for the last time.
Monday, January 2, 2017
HALF OF WHOLE IS ONE AND AND A HALF
Paul and I were a pair for fifty three years. Can any one person spend fifty three years with another and not become half of a whole? I thought-- NO.
But I was wrong.
I lost my mate
Half of me I thought
In time I have learned
I did not lose half of me
NO
His half is here
My whole is here
He left me --yes-- but
He left me more by half
Than I could have been without him
But I was wrong.
I lost my mate
Half of me I thought
In time I have learned
I did not lose half of me
NO
His half is here
My whole is here
He left me --yes-- but
He left me more by half
Than I could have been without him
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