Remembering

A year ago today I got a random and kind of shocking phone call from my dad that my Grandma had died. I was like, "What?" It's still incredibly sad to me that I lost my remaining 3 Grandparents by the time Claire was 1 1/2. Who wants to go to a funeral before their 6 week post-partum check? Here's some video footage of my maternal Grandparents. She said to wear yellow at her funeral. So we did. So weird...last October she was just having a blast watching Claire walk around for the first time. Claire didn't walk until the end of September and so when we went to see her in October, it was the first time she was able to see her walk. It was kind of ironic, as both Vernon and LaVerne were depending more and more on their wheelchairs. At our last visit, LaVerne was just laughing and giggling in the way that she did, commenting how by this time next year, Claire would really start talking. And boy, was she right. CLAIRE.LIKES.TO.TALK.!!! I think the hardest part was that Vernon was expected to go first and was in poor health, whereas LaVerne was pretty much fine and died of a sudden heart attack or stroke. So I was just thinking about that today and how fast and fleeting time is.

How Sad

How sad...a baby about Claire's age died because she was left alone in a bath http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008811120350 Who even does that?

Betty Wagner--LLL founder died

And another one bites the dust. :( http://www.llli.org/betty.html Betty Wagner passed away this past Sunday. Her legacy will live on. I'm just bummed I'll never meet her on this earth. She was one of the original founders of LLL. I'll always remember a local leader, Lisa, pointing out that the Chicago conference (that was held the weekend Claire was born) was probably going to be the last time all of the founding mothers were together. And sadly, she was right. :( I can't believe 2 of the 7 are dead, just since Claire was born.

Deaths always come in 3s

So have you heard that deaths always come in 3s? Well I think this is true. Do you remember the fall of 1997? First Princess Diana died. Then Mother Teresa died. Then Chris Farley died. Three famous people. 3. Weird huh?

This past week I found out that Claire's story time teacher at the library lost her 19-year-old daughter. I can't even imagine losing Claire. Ever. http://www.erleweinmortuary.com/online-obituaries/people-obituaries/abby-j-bennett So sad. http://mydeathspace.com/smf/index.php?topic=16492.0 That was one.

Then an elderly man from Church passed away http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/articles/2008/10/04/obituaries/obituaries99108.txt He was incredibly friendly and kind. He was frequently a greeter and would be seen hugging everyone. They even made a bulletin board for him which was really nice. That was two.

The most disturbing recent death, though all deaths are disturbing, was the death of Naomi. She was young. She was smart. She was pretty. She wasn't supposed to die. She just got a job teaching. http://www.rushvillerepublican.com/obituaries/local_story_210105310.html She was probably the most competent person that ever worked in the Auto Section of Wal-Mart. http://www.shelbynews.com/main.asp?SectionID=34&SubSectionID=102&ArticleID=56704&TM=65339.67 She will be really missed by everyone. This picture of her car is probably the most disturbing. http://www.rushvillerepublican.com/homepage/local_story_207204703.html?keyword=leadpicturestory Like how is that even her car??? I found out when I went to buy some cheese from her Dad at the Farmer's Market that they had by the Wellness Center the following Saturday. "Well, he's not here because his daughter sort of died." Um ok. "How do you sort of die?" I thought that, but knew that was someone not knowing how to explain it for probably the 42nd time that day. I had talked to her about teaching and special ed. Her mom was one of my nurses at the local hospital when Claire was born:

Here is Claire and some cows in April 2008 at her dad's dairy farm on the Hancock Co. Farm Tour:

She wasn't a super-close friend, or even someone I ever called, but it's strange how you learn about connections in small towns. I had just talked to her every time I went to Wal-Mart for an oil change while I was commuting for 3 years and she was always there when I showed up. I'd get an oil change about every 2 months. She'd remember my car make and model and what I wanted. And we'd chit-chat about teaching. Then I showed up with Claire, and she was like, so that's why you haven't been in here lately! :) Then I saw her selling cheese with her mom at the farm, and I put the 3 together. And she remembered my car when I came up for cheese. Now that's someone that's going to be missed there and everywhere. Crazy. And I went to get my oil changed recently, and I went to BIG O, just so I could avoid NOT not seeing her. Aren't I crazy? And that was three.

Everyone really does know everyone. And you are only 6 people away from knowing someone, etc. So RIP to these three.

And children aren't supposed to die before their parents. I was looking at the grocery store for a sympathy card for Claire's story time teacher. They had several for the death of mothers, fathers, and generic "loved ones." They had one. 1. for "Death of Child." Apparently the card makers couldn't even make one for loss of son and another for loss of daughter because kids aren't supposed to die. They aren't supposed to OD or get in a car wreck. So I'm going to Hallmark tomorrow in hopes of a more personalized card.