Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat – Pamela Garlick

February 28, 2007

The following is an article about my parents.  I wrote it because I had
promised to write about love in February.  I posted it to Bella Online also,
but they have no problem with it being posted at other places.

Love, Peace and Joy,

Pam

You can also visit me at: http://www.bellaonline.com/site/Relationships;
http://www.gather.com/register.jsp?ref=bza_70691; and,
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeecn7n/

In Sickness and in Health
by
Pam Garlick

I promised to write about love during the month of February.  Most of those
planned articles will be late; but today I will be sharing a story about
real love.  You see, my father passed away one week ago.  And I want to tell
you briefly about the love my mother and father shared.

As early as I remember they were quick to give one another a hug or kiss.  I
remember giggling as I watched my mother greet my father as he came home
from work each evening.  They were not afraid to show their love for one
another.

Years later as those hugs and kisses grew more discrete, I used to wonder
what had happened.  It was only as I grew into an adult I realized while in
their youth they were quick to show romantic love; while later, as they
matured, so did the way they expressed their love.  Circumstances also had
matured them.

I titled this article "In Sickness and in Health" because that is very much
of their story.  I don't remember seeing my mother cry very often, but I do
remember the first time.  I was sitting in the backseat of our car with my
father patiently waiting in the front while my mother was at a doctor's
appointment.  Though she tried to put on a brave front, when she returned to
the car she started crying.  My mother was going to need a hysterectomy.

I was too young to understand the implication of that.  My parents had
always wanted more children, not wanting me to grow up an only child.  I had
longed for brothers and sisters like most my cousins had.  But that was not
what was going to be. - I wish now I had understood.  I would not have been
so insistent about my wishes.  But I was only a child.  I did not
understand.  Reflecting, I can say I never lacked for anything.  Most of all
love.

I seem to recall my mother going through more than one surgery, so I am not
certain of the time frame of most of this.  But I do know my father loved
her and was always there for her as best he could be, and still be able to
support our needs financially.

It was over two decades later my father had to have his first heart bypass
surgery.  Back then the life expectancy following this surgery was only five
to ten years.  He survived almost thirty more years.

Those years weren't always easy.  Especially when twelve years ago my father
required a second bypass surgery.  I am not going to go into every detail of
the years that followed, but I will say he battled heart attacks, cancer,
asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, infections and depression.  Mom saw him
through it all with very little help from me.  She was determined to handle
everything she could, saying she was saving me for when things got really
bad.

I reflect back and know that it was my mother's diligence that kept my
father with us as long as he was.  Left to his own devices he would probably
have eaten a fat-ridden, salty diet, not to mention the sugar he probably
would have consumed.  While he was never deprived, Mom made certain he ate
healthy, took his medication on time, and followed all his doctors' orders.

Of course, I cannot discount the power of God, because the one thing it
seemed my father might not survive was the depression.  Mom endured great
fear and worry during those times following his second heart bypass. 
However, thanks to my uncle, her brother, who made a call to a local church,
a pastor came out and spent time talking with Dad.

It was through this kind man my father accepted the Lord, and I believe that
more than anything that kept him strong during the trying years to come.  If
there was anyone Dad loved more than the rest of us, it was the Lord.  But
he had enough love to go around.

Mom and Dad were good to others throughout their lives, and this reflected
in the number of people who came to his funeral.  Family and friends filled
the funeral home to standing room only.  There was a lot of love, and a lot
of tears.  But the tears were not all of sadness, because there were many
fond memories in that room.  And a whole lot of love.

So, as I started with the vows about sickness and health, I am ending with
another vow, "Until Death do us Part".  We know where Dad is now with his
first love, just waiting for the love of his earthly life and the rest of us
to join him someday.  Until that time we will remember all the good things
he taught us, but most of all the love.

Pamela Garlick

K_P_Garlick@msn.com