Another post on How Do You Want to be Remembered

For many years one post has always been the favorite on this blog with 16,661 views.

http://profilesandpedigrees.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-do-you-want-to-be-remembered.html

March 5, 2012, was three days after Barry's birthday, and I was thinking of him when I wrote this post. I am always surprised to find it at the top of the list of posts that have been opened this week.

But, with the pandemic going on and so many dying every single day, I think people are going on line and looking for end of life material. I hope my words help them in some way. 

We don't have to have a world crisis to ponder what we want to leave behind, whether material or otherwise. I thought of this post this past weekend as I read the obituary of a dear man I met only two years ago, but who made a lasting impression on me. He died from the corona virus.  I am sorry because he could have continued to bring such joy and happiness to his wife and his daughter in years to come. Stuart  was charming and a good conversationalist. He listened as well as talked. That seems to be a lost art these days.

I will always remember the day we met at lunch in a little restaurant in Bluffton, SC. I was there with my sister, Gay, and brother-in-law, Stu. His wife could not come, but I would meet her later when we had dinner and listened to Harry O'Donoghue, the Irish Singer we all enjoyed.

Stuart on the right behind his wife. Harry O'Donoghue at the far end of table

Our luncheon lasted about two hours, and Stuart and I talked, laughed and told our life stories. I was pleased to have made a new friend and hoped I might have the opportunity to visit with him again. When we parted and drove away, Gay said, "Thanks to you, we learned more about our friend, Stuart, than we have known in all the years we attended the same church."

I said, "He was so interesting! He was easy to talk to. I felt like I had known him a long time.

Men like Stuart don't appear in my life very often. I had the best guy in the world for me, and no one will ever take his place. Stuart and I were not flirting, just talking and enjoying getting to know each other.

I think these words said about him in his obituary best describe this man. 
A gentleman and a gentle man, Stuart loved life and viewed each day as a grand adventure. He made friends easily and kept them for life. He loved to travel, taking immense pleasure in introducing his wife and daughter to the beauty and wonder of the world.

What better way to be remembered? 

A New Year - A New Opportunity to get it right.

I am Lost. I’ve gone to look for myself, If I should return before I get back, please ask me to wait.

A short time ago these words would have fit me quite well.

But a week’s vacation in a lovely resort on the coast has sent me home in a different mind state. I spent the New Year’s holiday quietly reading and walking in the mild weather, eating fresh caught seafood with two of my dearest friends, my sister Gay and my BIL, Stu. Holidays bring back memories of those who have gone on, and this was no different. We talked about Barry and how he would have enjoyed the New Year's party by the north pool where wine was free. He and Stu would have overdosed on football, and they would have soaked in the outdoor hot tub even though the temperatures were cool. Stu missed his old friend, and so did I.

But life goes on and we enjoyed going to the movies – saw Les Miserables – WOW – what a great job was done putting this story on film. Terrific actors and as usual I cried. The music alone brings me to tears. 

When I see a musical motion picture I am reminded of a story my brother Max tells about one of our farm workers years ago. When  Clarence was asked how he liked a new movie, I think it was Oklahoma, the fellow said he thought it would have been good, but about the time things were getting serious between the hero and the girl, “they busted out singing.” 

I hope Les Miserable will be well attended. I’d like to see more great movies of this type on the screen. If you haven’t seen it, please go to a theater and enjoy it. If we support good movies, perhaps we can convince movie-makers to give us more. 

While on the coast we visited Savannah. Gay and Stu have long been fans of a delightful Irish Folksinger and storyteller who often appears at Kevin Barry’s Pub down on the waterfront of the Savannah River. I don’t know when I have been entertained so well as the hour I spent listening to Harry O’Donoghue. 

 He was born in Ireland but came to the United States when he was twenty with a group he had put together back home. When the group disbanded Harry struck out on his own and became a highly successful solo artist. His music ranges from songs I listened to in the sixties and seventies to his lovely original ballads. He includes a few songs that have a country flavor, but he is Irish to the bone. He is so funny he had us howling with laughter. But just as quickly he brought tears to my eyes with Rod McKuen’s “Love’s Been Good To Me.” If you have the chance to see Harry O'Donoghue in person, you will love him. 

Back home now I am ready to get back on schedule – get my plans in place for spring, which will be here before we know it. I will be writing an article for my high school online newsletter this month on the subject of blogging. I am planning a couple of new classes including Marketing Your Self-Published book. So much to do – so little time. 

http://www.harryodonoghue.com/

http://www.mckuen.com/biography.htm