We have all been busy this last two weeks trying to get things packed up and ready to go.  I have our travel plans all finalized, thanks to Shanti so I don’t have to worry about that for a while.  Patty, Kathy, Becca and Mali came over and packed up my cooking items and took care of my herbs, spices and extra food.  Mali is at college on a limited budget so any food that was gluten free was welcomed by her to help stock her pantry.  Patty took a little the kids liked and I have some to take to Shirley this weekend.  Now Landen and I have to eat up any frozen foods or take them to Patty’s freezer.  What a job, I was so glad to get that done.  Alone I would never have gotten through that!!  After everyone left and I had had a chance to sit and rest a little I asked Landen if he wanted something for supper and of course he said Yes.  He had been running all day also putting all these packed boxes into the storage unit and when I went to get a pan to heat the left overs   in I realized I had packed and sent the warms to Joe and we had packed all the sauce pans.  Looking around I found one pan that we had used to heat the soup for dinner and had not washed to pack so I could do supper I had a sauce pan.  Then yesterday I needed a fry pan to make the pan fried potatoes and left over roast pork and again we had packed all the frying pans and put in storage but looking around I found a small frying pan and one very large one over in back on the shelves with my electric frying pan so I was in good shape there and I got the potatoes and pork roast all cut, I had some olive oil left and started to fry—-then I reached for something to turn the potato and onion with and my holder was empty – yup we had packed them all.  I found a wide cake server and used that with some success and then Landen found a tool I use to turn eggs and that work just great, so again we we in business.  It is making me realize just how little I need to keep life going along just fine.

Now Landen and I are packing up all these odds and ends.  I hope by the time we go to visit Shirley for our last time we have everything packed and in the storage unit except our recliners, Landen’s bed and my bed.  These are items that Patty will take for her house when we leave.  I will also keep some paper plates and just enough flat ware to eat with so that the last two days we can eat left overs or order out and put the things left in the garbage when we leave.  We will use those last two days to clean the house good and it will be much easier then because everything will be out of the house  and the closing will be all done by mail.  I will be so glad to have this all over with.   I am even looking forward to the snow in Wenatchee and I never thought I would want to see snow again but right now it looks pretty good after all this packing and cleaning in this hot, humid weather of Florida.  Florida is perfect for retiring and relaxing but not so good for working!!

So far so good.  We are fine and doing well.  I got a new poem from the funeral home and it is as if it were written for Norman and I.  It is the message Norman would have sent to me if he could.  I would like to print it for you.

“When I Must Leave You”

When I must leave you for a little while   Please do not grieve and shed wild tears    And hug your sorrow to you through the years   But stat out bravely with a gallant smile;

And for my sake and in my name live on and do all things the same,   Feed not your loneliness on empty days,    But fill each waking hour in useful ways,   Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer    And I in turn will comfort you and hold you near;

And never, never be afraid to die,   For I am waiting for you in the sky!     by Helen Steiner Rice

That is what Norman and I had talked about for years and that is why he wanted the Celebration of Like instead of a funeral or wake and we talked about what each of us would do if we were the one left behind.  He was not a religious person per say, he wasn’t too sure of Heaven or Hell and wasn’t sure of a life here after but he knew we would be together after life just as he knew his  parents were together.  He told his mother she could die now that he had gotten there to say good bye, he told her Dad was waiting for her.  She was not conscious when we got there but she was alive and when we left the hospital to go to Phil’s house to get something to eat, she passed on.  He always felt she left to be with his Dad.  So I know he is waiting for me now but does not want me to join him for a long time.  I have also done all the things we had been planning to do and he didn’t have the time to do it.  Such as the special dinner for Patty and that I am making when we go to Shirley’s  –  It is why I am so glad I can go to Joe’s and tutor Luke.  Norman wanted me to do that and I do hear him when I do each of the things we had planned for, he is pleased when I remember them and do them.  Enough of that it is time to finish packing.  Have a good day.