It is an overcast, dreary and cold day outside. After having a few days in the upper teens and low 20's, all of a sudden it is hard to get used to what April weather really is! That is ... single digits! It is 2 pm and it is only 5 C. I went for a walk early this morning and although it was cool (didn't realize it was only 0 degrees Celcius but I had on my winter jacket so I was comfortable. At least no snow on the ground! However, now it is still cool and with no sun, it feels like I should wrap up in a blanket and sleep. So I did the next best thing. I put on a cup of coffee to warm up and hopefully the sun will come out and I can get back to work - whatever that might be!
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Wild Bill
I went to the funeral of an older cousin last night. A memorial service. Even though he was family, and lived in the same city, the difference in our ages and our life's travel did not lend itself to our being close. That being said, we connected at different times, in different locations with different people. Through my mom, they would often stop to visit her and I would 'meet up with them' once again. When mom would visit here, I would take her to visit them. When situations arose in their family, after my mom had passed away, I would touch base and visit to see how things were going. I guess I wanted to do so to please my mom.
Last night was no different. I felt we needed to be represented at the service. So I went. I took a few pictures thinking I may send them on to my brothers but didn't get enough to really represent the evening. I was cast a few 'looks' by attendees and interestingly enough, I felt the pressure to (likely my own pressure) to 'cease and desist'. However I did get a few that will help me remember the evening.
The event was held in Rundle Park - a place where I understand Bill loved to walk. He was very active right up to the end of his life. He was also a swimmer, and when his beloved wife, Marguerite, passed away (two years ago to the day of his funeral), to occupy his time, he took to swimming 4 times a day! He was 87 when he passed on. As he was a stubborn Scotchman, he may have put off his demise a while longer had he spoken up about the problem with his foot and it's lack of circulation, and the eventual talk of amputation which never did happen due to his demise!
Anyway, on entrance to the memorial last night, they had a young bagpiper playing a collection of Scottish songs. It was unimaginably LOUD in this enclosed space but somehow I think Bill would have got a kick out of people trying to talk OVER the music! The kids had a nice display of pictures to show his life and family. I took a few pics of them before I felt compelled to hide my camera.
The tribute was given by one of his girls and it was interesting to hear his life story. I did know parts of it as I was growing up but nothing was ever presented in the orderly fashion as it was this evening. He was quite a character and his life demonstrated it! I have never been to a funeral where I left it with sore cheeks from laughing so hard. I was not alone! He was a jack of all trades and a master at none but he tried. He was more than pleased to tell you how he built a few houses on his acreage out of wood gathered from garage sales, dumps, torn down homes, leftover wood piles as well as all the nails he gathered from the same locations (and many were donated to him) and the hours he spent straightening them out for use himself in the building of these houses!
He was quite a trickster and the many stories and laughter from the audience showed that he spared no one any of his antics! Especially his kids! Marguerite must have been quite the lady to put up with most of the things he did!
Anyway, he did not waste his life. He truly lived each moment. It may not have been what we would do with our 'one and only life' but he filled it with love and lots of fun! He will be missed and as his nickname 'Wild Bill' and later, Silly Billy, suggests, he lived his life to the full!
Last night was no different. I felt we needed to be represented at the service. So I went. I took a few pictures thinking I may send them on to my brothers but didn't get enough to really represent the evening. I was cast a few 'looks' by attendees and interestingly enough, I felt the pressure to (likely my own pressure) to 'cease and desist'. However I did get a few that will help me remember the evening.
The event was held in Rundle Park - a place where I understand Bill loved to walk. He was very active right up to the end of his life. He was also a swimmer, and when his beloved wife, Marguerite, passed away (two years ago to the day of his funeral), to occupy his time, he took to swimming 4 times a day! He was 87 when he passed on. As he was a stubborn Scotchman, he may have put off his demise a while longer had he spoken up about the problem with his foot and it's lack of circulation, and the eventual talk of amputation which never did happen due to his demise!
Anyway, on entrance to the memorial last night, they had a young bagpiper playing a collection of Scottish songs. It was unimaginably LOUD in this enclosed space but somehow I think Bill would have got a kick out of people trying to talk OVER the music! The kids had a nice display of pictures to show his life and family. I took a few pics of them before I felt compelled to hide my camera.
The tribute was given by one of his girls and it was interesting to hear his life story. I did know parts of it as I was growing up but nothing was ever presented in the orderly fashion as it was this evening. He was quite a character and his life demonstrated it! I have never been to a funeral where I left it with sore cheeks from laughing so hard. I was not alone! He was a jack of all trades and a master at none but he tried. He was more than pleased to tell you how he built a few houses on his acreage out of wood gathered from garage sales, dumps, torn down homes, leftover wood piles as well as all the nails he gathered from the same locations (and many were donated to him) and the hours he spent straightening them out for use himself in the building of these houses!
He was quite a trickster and the many stories and laughter from the audience showed that he spared no one any of his antics! Especially his kids! Marguerite must have been quite the lady to put up with most of the things he did!
Anyway, he did not waste his life. He truly lived each moment. It may not have been what we would do with our 'one and only life' but he filled it with love and lots of fun! He will be missed and as his nickname 'Wild Bill' and later, Silly Billy, suggests, he lived his life to the full!
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