Martha, quite often when Rich was alive, used to say how lucky our grandchildren were because they had all four of their grandparents. She and I bragged about them so often. When Martha lost Jim, I tried to help her as she helped me when Rich passed. She always knew what to say and what not to say. I tried to be what she had been to me, but nobody could be like Martha. Two weeks after she lost Jim, she lost her identical twin, Mary. What a brave lady to face such heartbreak with such grace and dignity.
I will miss her forever. Fortunately, for her children, Martha was a talented artist so they have so much to remember her by, in physical form. I hurt so much for my Daughter-in-Law, Lisa, but I know only time is the great healer. She and my Son are a model of Jim and Martha's marriage so I know she's in good hands. He loves her with all his heart, as do their three daughters, Amanda, Missy, and Kellie.
I will miss laughing with Martha as I did laughing with she and Jim when we went out for dinner at what we called "The Haunt". It was the old Hickory House--torn down just recently. Sort of symbolic to me.
I don't know that there is much more to say through my tears, but I couldn't let this important time in my life go without writing.
Gone From My Sight
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone."
Gone where?
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"
And that is dying...
Henry VanDyke
