My Uncle Raymond died last week. My Dad told me about it on Saturday. Raymond was 79, two years younger than my Dad. This is the third brother Dad has lost. He has one brother and a sister left.
Raymond had lung cancer and emphysema for years and years. Of all the Okie relatives I was probably closest to Raymond and his family. They lived just up the road from my grandparents and had two kids roughly my age. I was also close to Aunt Phoebe's family but they lived in town so I spent a lot of time at Raymond's.
I was in contact with an old family friend this weekend . She and her husband were very close to my parents until they divorced in 1975. I was surprised to hear that Mrs. T had tried to stay in contact with my Aunt Irene. Mrs. T asked about here and I had to tell her that Irene killed herself a decade ago.
My mother and both her sisters all died within about 2 years of each other. It really is sobering to think about how quickly I am losing family members.
Below is a link to Raymond's obit. Check out the language. Very different tone from what we see in urban East Coast papers.
http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/print.cfm?type=obituary&o_id=336938&fh_id=11788&s_id=76CE942925A714D7472831EFE1CC7F72
2 comments:
It is sobering. Welcome to mid-life. Each passing day is one closer to death. Just imagine the way this feels to the more elderly - eventually all their friends are gone. You start out as a kid and you don't know anyone who died. Then the longer you last, the more of people you knew are dead, until it's your turn. No one gets out alive.
I read this a few days ago and became real melancholy thinking about my dad.
Age sobriety.. It's a key part of developing the kind of respect which our elders should be getting. The older I get the more I want to punch myself for all the times I may have disrespected someone much older than me.
Did you know that in Turkey (and most all Middle Eastern countries) if a guy is even one day older than you, it is considered proper to address them as "abi" (pronounced aa-be) This literally means "brother". (this also works in situations when you are addressing a stranger who appears to be your elder) They in turn address you as "abicim" (little brother) or "kardesh" (young brother/sister)
I digress.
Sorry for your loss, Abi.
or as we say in Turkey-
"Basin sagolsun".
Literal meaning = "Wishing you good mental health". It sounds less clinical in Turkish and is a sincere way to say "I know how badly this f--ks you up and I hope you endure it successfully"
Post a Comment