I have lost my beloved. He passed away two days ago after a long, slow decline from multiple disease sources. We met when I was 20 and he was 30, we married a year later and have been together ever since. Like many couples, we have been through hell and happy times. He was the person I most trusted in the world. I knew he would be serious when I needed that and know he felt the same about me.
His love was bigger than both of us. His ability to love me and most everyone else, and especially his dogs, was a powerful and healing force. This morning I was thinking about how his human imperfections were less than his ability to love.
His daughter and I were talking this morning about him. Most people saw him as a cut-up, a joker, a man that wanted to bring smiles to your face and laughter to your day. But he was a loner, the most social loner either she and I have ever known. He worried about people, about work, about if I was happy, about his parents, about everything. His care for everyone was something he could not overcome, and so he worried. He wanted people to be okay, to be happy and safe. He was also intensely private and, as such, never discussed the health problems he was having. Most people would never have known until the last few years.
Ron and I met at a disco nightclub (it was the 70's) in Asheville, NC. A mutual friend of ours introduced us, and we basically fell head over heels in love. His first words to me, "I think I could fall in love with you." And we did.
We moved to Florida, we moved to Illinois, we moved to Florida, and then finally to the mountains of east Tennessee. But he loved the beaches of Florida and the peace that only the ocean can bring. He will return there in the end.
In the event you wish to make a donation, there are two local animal rescue organizations. In Mountain City, TN: http://www.rescuedogandendoflifesanctuary.org/donations.html and in Western North Carolina: Horse Helpers of the High Country: http://www.rescuedogandendoflifesanctuary.org/donations.html
Visitation and memorial service will be on Monday, November 7 at Mountain City Funeral Home, http://www.mountaincityfh.com/ , from 5 to 7 p.m.
93 comments
I am so sorry for your loss. May your beloved rest in peace, free of all worries.
I am so sorry for your heartbreaking loss, and send thoughts of peace and comfort your way. You are in the hearts of many, now and always.
Sending love to you in this difficult time. Hold on to your wonderful memories and hopefully they will give you some comfort. All of your customers have our arms around you.
I wish for you healing balms that will fill your heart. I wish for you peace of mind.
I wish for you the knowing that although he is no longer physically here, he indeed is always in the universe in which we all live. To quote Shakespeare, “love does not bend with the remover to remove. It is an ever fixed point.”
Miss Babs, I lost my Mom w/out warning September 3rd. I know your fresh pain. She loved being in service to others, and like your husband, lightened their load. I find myself wanting to be more like her by loving others more, and being kinder. We met at Stitches Midwest a couple of years ago. You are already loving and giving of spirit, and your generous hugs and smiles are excellent. If you do more of you, I promise your pain will ease. Love and peace to you and yours. Be well.