It's that time of the year....

It's that time of the year....

Friday, March 15, 2013

Friday feelings…

You know, in yesterdays post I mentioned some of the things I am thankful for.  One of the things I mentioned was my sister.  

Oh. a sister is a wonderful thing to have.  I grew up in the midst of 3 brothers and 4 sisters.  Three of my sisters are gone now, all to cancer.  Two of my brothers are gone now too, one to lung cancer and one to a botched surgery.  My youngest brother is quite ill, having suffered a stroke a couple of years ago.  He lives close to St. Louis and my remaining sister lives in West Virginia.

A younger sister is someone who has known you all of her life.  She has shared your sorrow and pain and happy times.  When we were young we double dated.  We spent many an hour sitting on the town square in Macomb with the motor running in my ‘53 pea green Plymouth that my daddy helped me buy.  That was such fun, just watching the world go buy.  We frequented the Dairy Queen that is still standing in the same spot in the same building close to the Western Illinois University.  We hung out with friends at the Student Prince, a café at the edge of town.  To the best of my knowledge that building is still there too.

The memories are flooding back this morning.  My red haired boy friend.  Fun, simple, innocent times.

But my life really began the day I met Jim, just home from Korea and spending some time with his brother and sister in law.  He was so handsome with his black curly hair and dark brown eyes.

And now I am back in the real world.  Jim is gone, a victim of cancer that took the lives of 3 sisters and 1 brother.  I am thankful for the life that I have now and grateful to family and friends.

I hope you all have a blessed weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

27 comments:

  1. That has to be hard - I lost one brother and it liked to have killed me! I am glad you have a couple left and that you are so close.
    sandie

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  2. So sorry that that dreaded disease took your loved ones. Pray all the time for a cure to be found. It just took Sherry's nephew too. The good memories are what keeps them alive in our hearts. God Bless you Beth.

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  3. God's blessings to you, Twin and to Rae and your brother and their families. I always remember. xoxox

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  4. Twin said it well..you are a blessing to us Sis..we love and cherish you so.I will send a prayer up for your brother, sister and especially you. Have a warm weekend if you can. Looks like snow here.. Take care :-)

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  5. Beth, you are a blessing to all who know you! Enjoy your Friday!

    xo Nellie

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  6. What a beautiful post Beth. My sister is my best friend in the world :)

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  7. i'm sorry for all the losses you've seen. but glad you still have blessings to hold onto...

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  8. What a precious post. There's nothing in the world like our sweet memories of our loved ones!!! HOPE you have a great weekend!

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  9. Hi Beth,

    My thoughts and prayers are winging there way to you.

    Hugs Nita.

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  10. I'm sorry for your losses- but happy you have such lovely warm memories of your siblings, and of course, your husband. Blessings to you!

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  11. I'm sorry you've experienced so much loss. I'm the youngest of six. So far, we've lost one -- the oldest, the only boy. I dread the days when my sisters start to pass away. I'm afraid I'll outlive everyone and have to watch them all go.

    Love,
    Janie

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  12. Bittersweet memories to be sure, but a life filled with love and loved ones. Have a good weekend.

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  13. Beth,
    Bless your heart. You certainly have had more than your share of loss. You are right to be thankful for being alive and loving every joy you can find in it. We must look for bits and pieces of happiness and even help create it for ourselves and others. Thinking of you. xoxo,Susie

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  14. Oh Beth I just want to come right over to your house right now and give you a big hug. I have lots of brothers and sisters and some are battling illness and cancer but so far we are all still here fighting. I cherish every moment knowing it will not last. I have no idea how that will feel till it happens but I know I hope someone is around to hug me when I feel like you are now. HUGS lots of hugsB

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  15. Dear Beth:
    Thank you for sharing your sweet memories and love. I'm so sorry that Jim is gone but glad you can share your love of him wth us all.

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  16. Oh Beth, you are so fortunate to have a sister. I was/am an only child so no siblings to be close to. What wonderful memories you have.

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  17. I always enjoy hearing about sisters growing up together. I did not have any. I do have one brother 13 months younger. Our parents are gone, but I am so grateful to have him and his wife in our lives even though we live far apart. we talk often on the phone and share our lives. I still have my Jim too and feel lucky as we will be 82 and 83 in a couple of months. I can't imagine being without him and we will have our 60th anniversary in May. I know the time will come when one of us won't be here. I really feel for you because you lost your Jim too early. I'm glad you have happy memories and your children. Be happy and know that many of us care. BGB

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  18. Beth- What a bittersweet post- full of good memories but sadness, too at all the losses in your life. You are really a good solider in this old world-moving forward with a sometimes wounded heart and blessing us with your words here- xo Diana

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  19. I love these kind of posts...makes me know that I am not the only one that goes thru tons of memories...and some so sad, I still cry. Some so happy that I still laugh when I remember them. Memories are things no one can ever take from us...
    hugs, bj

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  20. Blessings....
    sisters can be a blessing...

    you too have a fabulous weekend.
    p.s. (side note: check that anonymous comment just above)

    peace.
    Rhapsody
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  21. Memories are a wonderful part of life....even though they sometimes bring sorrow, if we but dwell on the good, we find we havc been blessed with such marvelous lives.

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  22. Bitter/sweet memories be though they are the making of you and me...or something like that. I find difficulty hones who we are if we let it...it's not that we forget the hard things but push on stronger than before. Bless you my dear friend.

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  23. What a sweet post. I have three sisters - one of whom we lost a few years ago and I can relate to "sister stuff". We have so many good memories. So bad - but the good definitely outweigh the bad. It's ok to look back and relive all of those precious memories.

    Judy

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  24. With Relay(s) for Life soon to occur in our areaI am acutely aware of the significance of the funds raised, being a cancer survivor asis my dearest friend, and my brother. But from there on your post could easily be my family and friend history, mother, mother-in-law, my birth mother, a biological aunt, an uncle...the list goes on and on.

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  25. I am the oldest of 5 children and have 3 sisters and 1 brother and I know I am one luck woman I not only love all my siblings but I also like all of them. Being the oldest I have known all of them all of their lives watched them grow up and become amazing people........

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  26. Beth you are so fortunate to have wonderful blogging friends.
    I really am so happy you are my sister. Love Me

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  27. Thank u for sharing your memories. Your sister sounds very special. Jim also sounds like a wonderful man who blessed your days.

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