An Update

To my friend, Angie: I think you are the only person who reads my blog! Thank you, my dear friend. ;)

We traveled home for Thanksgiving. It was our first Thanksgiving with our families since 2005! It was a . . .crazy Thanksgiving. Traditionally, we spend Thanksgiving Day with Joe's large, extended family. We meet at a Lodge and have dinner together. Joe's aunt and uncle are our hosts. On Thursday morning, they recieved a call that Kris, Joe's aunt's father was unresponsive in the retirement home where he lived. He passed away sometime later that day. My parents had decided to join us at Joe's family gathering. My dad called to inform us that my mom and Estee Lauder had a little tussel this morning. My mom had gotten a gel cleaner in her eye. A quick trip to the ER to get it washed out proved to put her out for the weekend. She apparently burned her cornea or something. She is doing much better now.

We woke up the day after Thanksgiving to understand that Joe's great-uncle, his Grandma's only living sibling of 5 had passed away. He had long battled skin cancer and lost his battle quietly and peacefully. Ironically, he and Kris's dad were "buddies" now in Heaven together! How sweet is that! We stayed in Chattanooga until Uncle Charles' service on Tuesday.

He served our country in peace and war. When he was 15 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. He served four years, was a civilian for a short time and re-inlisted as a sailor. He survived the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was so scared, as the story goes, that he climbed a tree. In the middle of the tree was a hollow. He climbed in. There was a large snake inside the tree. He said he didn't know who was more afraid so he and the snake kept each other company until it was safe to leave the tree. He had a beautiful, full honors, military service and was laid to rest on a hill in Chattanooga's National Cemetery. They released four doves representing The Father, Son and Holy Spirit when they released the last bird, representing Uncle Charles, he flew high into the sky and joined the Father, Son and Holy Spirit on his flight. It was beautiful.

May you rest in enternal peace with our Father in Heaven, Uncle Charles.