Hey, I Remembered

I've finally remembered to upload the pictures from my cell phone. Ok, some of them have been there for a while, but here they are. Enjoy.

There's a funny story about this photo moment on my other blog .

Natalie and I having a bit of mother-daughter time in New York City. Btw, she kicked my butt at Backgammon. She is also sporting her new, beautiful necklace that she picked out and bought for herself. She was very proud.

That's our noah always showing off with funny faces.

That WAS our cat Challah. No, Noodles didn't finally get her wish of giving him a ride of his life, but we did decide to give him away. He was a little too ornery for her.

hkxx

And To Life Celebrated

In Loving Memory of David's Father

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Richard M. S. (1944-2008)

He leaves behind his wife Florence, his son David, his daughter Emily, his sister Rene, his grandchildren - Natalie, Noah and Sebastian,

and many other dear friends and family.

May God confort you among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem

(Ha'Makom yenahem etkhem betokh she'ar avelei Tziyonvi'Yerushalayim)

DEATH

This past year I have been surrounded by the passings of others ... family members, family members of my friends, family members of community acquaintances, and neighbors.

A year ago my husband lost his stepfather and just recently his aunt just lost her mother. Within the last six months one friend of mine lost his father, another his brother, a few acquaintences have lost their parents, and four neighbors have also died.

And now, we are about to experience it again. I know the cycle of life and death doesn't stand still, but I just feel my children are learning some life lessons quite early.

Today, my husband and I had to sit with our children and explain to them that their other grandfather is dying. Papa Rick, who at only 64 had survived unbeatable odds not once but twice, is dying from an unidentifiable bacterial infection. He survived Non-Hodgkins lymphoma and a heart transplant. And now, it seems that his body is shutting down not only because of the infection, but of the side effects of all the drugs he has been on since late last summer.

Its so odd to know that just last July he and his wife were enjoying playing with the kids at the family's annual 4th of July picnic. Back then, it was Rick and his wife, Florence, that was comforting my mother-n-law, for she had just lost her husband, six months prior.

David and I have been discussing whether or not it was the right thing to do to have the kids see their grandfather in the hospital (which will now be transform into Hospice care) and I assure him it was. Although his father was out of it most of our visit, he did open his eyes a few times briefly and his whole face lit up when he saw them standing there. I only wish my husband and Florence could have seen it. They had stepped out of the room.

It is difficult for the children to comprehend what is happening, why it happens (Noah, who is 5, asked why old people always get sick and die) but I think they understood just how much their presence helped a dying man, and those around him.

(Florence, David, & Rick)

(David, Rick & Emily)