I've made some changes in www.dontsaygoodbye.net   You'll see a new heading See Page 5 My latest entry is there. The intent is to save readers a lot of scrolling. The last entry is also at the end of the After 1963 - not sure why.

A real war hero.   Today's News Journal carried the obituary of Donald E. Smith, age 95.   I don't remember him from Mansfield Senior High, where he graduated, but I do remember him from Rotary.   I didn't know anything then about his military service.   He was a bombardier with the Eighth Air Force and flew 43 combat missions over Nazi Germany and occupied Europe in B-17 Flying Fortresses.   He was one of four bombardiers to survive the war out of ten he trained with and shipped overseas.

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY, FELICITY!

This isn't a "small world" experience of the kind I've reported in the past, but it's interesting.   A man I ate dinner with this evening was one of the first two residents here at Primrose.   His wife was the other one.   She still lives here, but wasn't at dinner.    I can't imagine what it would be like to be the first two.   He said they ate out a lot until it made sense to have dining room service.    He is a WWII veteran, was a rifleman in Germany, was captured and was a POW.    He said one of the German officers wanted to kill him and the others captured, but another more senior one wouldn't permit it.   I didn't pursue the subject with him, but I wonder what it's like to owe your life to an enemy who wouldn't have hesitated to kill you in combat, spared it after you were captured.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRIS!   (It was yesterday, so I'm a day late with the greeting.)

Hello everyone!  I have to admit our lives have been so busy I haven't been able to check this blog as often as I would like.  Most of you know that Jonathan's Mom passed away early January.  It was an emotional time but we were ready to let her go and enter into the glory that awaited her in heaven.  I am always struck by God's perfect timliness, as Jon's moms life was slowly fading away we found out that there was a new life slowly growing inside of me.  It reminds me of the saying: "He gives and takes away."  So blessed be His name in all He gives and takes away, and in all our joys and sorrows through it all.  So in addition to Adelaide & Felicity we will have a new bundle coming the day after my birthday! 

We also we very blessed to see Nate this Christmas and his children for part of the holidays as well.  Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

(I wanted to add some pictures but for some reason my computer isn't cooperating with me right now!)

Don't know what prompted me to do it, but I revisited
www.navsource.org/archives/05/569.htm    
this afternoon.    I clicked on the first item, then clicked on some of the pictures down the left side.   I think some of you have seen some of them that show the damage the kamikaze did .   I also looked at the picture of the ship being scrapped.   Still gives me a funny feeling.   Another one, taken after becoming  a Greek ship, reminded me of how rough the ride could be in high seas.  

Another small world item.   I learned at dinner that a man I have eaten with several times knew Dwight Mishey.     Misheys were our next door neighbors on Glendale Blvd.   The bouquet of tulips Steve brought to Mom one day came from some planted by Mrs. Mishey.  

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY, ADELAIDE!

I spent the day quietly.   Didn't go to the dining room - guess I didn't want to make small talk, or any kind of talk for that matter.   It's not as though people I eat with wouldn't be sympathetic.   They have had similar losses.   One woman lost her husband in November.   He had Alzheimers.   She also has lost a son who was only in his thirties.   (Her name is Margaret, by the way, and people call her Peg or Peggy.)   I re-read parts of the last of a series of books sent to me by the All Saints Stephen Ministers.   The mailing was timed to be received sometime around the first anniversary of the death of a loved one - a day that can be very difficult for some, the degree of which will vary with everyone reading this.   I have to admit the tendency to relive those last few minutes with Mom.   I get up in the night to go to the bathroom.   One time this morning I woke up at 2:00, so I was awake at 2:06.    The book is well written, and like others in the series, advises that no one kind of mourning fits all, so don't be overly concerned if what you feel is different from what others say they have experienced.  

HAPPY 12th ANNIVERSARY, TARA & MIKE!

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY, ERIN!