Three brothers, Leonard, Talmedge, Robert 
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What a happy mother and family the night
Uncle Leonard was there, with his wife. >>
The new Mom could not wait to put her new
Johnnie, Dad and Mum on Falls porch>>
Dad with his sister, Phyllis and her husband. Bob.
Not too often, but occasionally, I pause for a moment at the
top of the hill leading to beautiful Jones Hill Cemetery, where
my husband is buried. It is always quite and peaceful. I am
sure that "lovely" is also the right word, although it seems an
odd term for the place so closely associated with the sadness
of death. Beyond the entrance, a pebble path leads around
the back of the cemetery to five small pebble paths leading
through the stones. Usually I find one just right to park beside
the gravestones of my precious mate of 63 years and also the
gravestone of my daughter, Betty. While some of the graves
are remembered with bunches of flowers, I notice one grave is
always permanently covered with heather, and another has its
own blanket of deep purple petunias and white snap-dragons.
As I examine this grave I find it is the grave of a young 16 year
old boy, killed in a car accident. He was a Watertown Purple
Tiger. I think about his parents...........Gone at 16...........I had my
daughter until she was 56. I find Leonard's mother, father, aunt,
uncle, his brother-in-law and Betty Patton Willard on those
stones in our section. I find my name on his stone, my son-in-
law on Betty's, my sister-in-law on her husbands stone.
I don't stay long, change the flowers, express my love, and
start back down that hill. I never visit there without thinking
of the final moment that Leonard slipped into the presence
of the Lord. What an odd moment, almost like an out of body
experience. I did not know then but I know now I was meant
to have the experience of almost literally seeing him being
lifted from that bed and ascending into heaven. Our names
are there, however that is not where we will rest content,
but in the shadow of his sheltering wings, where there will be
no remberance of things past-----only sublime loveliness
forever and ever. The 8th will mark the second anniversary
of his death, it seems like yesterday. In his life was hope,
beauty and loveliness- - - - -WAP
3 comments:
What beautiful thoughts of the PATTON family, especially of Dad. What a beautiful life he had. Always making the best of every situation. Even sickness and adversity he was still our example of how to run this race of life. I love and miss him. I love you, Moma
Words cannot express the feelings that memories bring. We are lucky to have so many good and wonderful memories. Judy said it best, Pop made the best of every situation. I am sure right about now Mom has the Heaven's decorated so beautifully that the angels are singing. Pop, well he has them all smiling with his silly antics and that beautiful smile he has. I miss them both as well.
I use to think I wouldn't want to be buried on Jones Hill. I had gone too far from home to ever return, and my husband wouldn't want to go from YALE to end up in Patton Hollow! But now, when I go to that beautiful place on the top of that hill, feel the wind in my hair as I read the familiar names on aging tombstones, I feel at peace and rooted. Besides, I sure would be in good company and I would truly be home at last...in more ways than one! Do you think it possible to find a vacant plot that I too could cover in heather? I don't mean to be morbid, just the opposite as a matter of fact; because of the One that made me, I know I'm heaven bound and Daddy has shown me how to live fully in this life and how to go there when it's time Oh, and Betty will have the coffee on, ready for a long, long chat.
As I "wap" tonight, it will be in thanksgiving for lives well lived, for the happiness yet to be and for the reassurance that the circle won’t be broken. On my computer, in ‘My Documents’, there is a file that is titled,“My Daddy died today, December 8, 2005”, in that file I not only spoke of the sadness at losing my father but I also rejoiced in the time that I had him. This day, two years later, I am thankful that for 60 years and counting, I have you, my mother, my friend, to continue sharing this life with. We will smile at Dad’s memory together. Stay well. You are loved.
Merry
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