The Newlyweds
This is the story of Mom and her new husband, Tom. Mom had lived alone awhile after baby sister married and left home, but was fiercely independent and kept her house, and kept herself busy. She was writing a book, a memoir of sorts of the time period when both of my brothers developed a rare disease and died. Except this book had no end, it was an ongoing work, a labor of love.
One day a fellow came along who had lost his first and only wife, and Mom called me one day after Christmas, in early 2005 to say she had a friend. Her friend was helping her input her book onto a disc from a monstrous stack of handwritten pages. She asked me if I approve of her friendship: of course I did. And of course this story has a happy ending, when in July 2005, they married.
We were all concerned with their age difference, as Tom was 13 years older than Mom. Mom was 72; he was 85. He takes no prescription medicine, walks 3 or 4 miles every day, is a strong Presbyterian believer and gentleman. Oh well, may he live long and prosper. And he did, and they married and were the happiest little couple you ever knew, holding hands and talking and giggling and...in love.
Mom changed that year, alive and happy with new husband at her side, a lot of her fears and worries gone, a new life begun. After Christmas that year, I got the call: Mom had cancer—lung cancer spreading to the spine. It was the happy couple's decision to forgo chemo treatments and use a variety of herbal remedies instead. Soon, they were celebrating their first anniversary, traveling and enjoying life and each other.
In mid summer we learn that the cancer has moved to a few spots in the brain, so radiation treatments are necessary. After nine weeks of those and no hair left on her head, Mom takes a turn for the worse, and grows weak and Hospice dependent. Tom stays by her side like a noble prince, a lover who spends nearly every waking moment with her, monitoring her journey. On December 18, 2006 Mom passes beyond life to death.
This is the story of Mom and Tom. Mom is eternally 73, Tom is 87 and walks 3 to 4 miles every day, and has gained a family of 13. I'm not sure if Tom is an angel or not. He came along at the right time, brought a world of joy and happiness to Mom's life, and stuck by her side with compassion and love. Right until the very end.
This is the story of Mom and her new husband, Tom. Mom had lived alone awhile after baby sister married and left home, but was fiercely independent and kept her house, and kept herself busy. She was writing a book, a memoir of sorts of the time period when both of my brothers developed a rare disease and died. Except this book had no end, it was an ongoing work, a labor of love.
One day a fellow came along who had lost his first and only wife, and Mom called me one day after Christmas, in early 2005 to say she had a friend. Her friend was helping her input her book onto a disc from a monstrous stack of handwritten pages. She asked me if I approve of her friendship: of course I did. And of course this story has a happy ending, when in July 2005, they married.
We were all concerned with their age difference, as Tom was 13 years older than Mom. Mom was 72; he was 85. He takes no prescription medicine, walks 3 or 4 miles every day, is a strong Presbyterian believer and gentleman. Oh well, may he live long and prosper. And he did, and they married and were the happiest little couple you ever knew, holding hands and talking and giggling and...in love.
Mom changed that year, alive and happy with new husband at her side, a lot of her fears and worries gone, a new life begun. After Christmas that year, I got the call: Mom had cancer—lung cancer spreading to the spine. It was the happy couple's decision to forgo chemo treatments and use a variety of herbal remedies instead. Soon, they were celebrating their first anniversary, traveling and enjoying life and each other.
In mid summer we learn that the cancer has moved to a few spots in the brain, so radiation treatments are necessary. After nine weeks of those and no hair left on her head, Mom takes a turn for the worse, and grows weak and Hospice dependent. Tom stays by her side like a noble prince, a lover who spends nearly every waking moment with her, monitoring her journey. On December 18, 2006 Mom passes beyond life to death.
This is the story of Mom and Tom. Mom is eternally 73, Tom is 87 and walks 3 to 4 miles every day, and has gained a family of 13. I'm not sure if Tom is an angel or not. He came along at the right time, brought a world of joy and happiness to Mom's life, and stuck by her side with compassion and love. Right until the very end.
posted by stu at 5:15 AM
5 Comments:
What a beautiful tribute. Thanks for sharing.
How wonderful that she was so loved at the end of her life.
And people say that storybook romances never happen in real life! That is beautiful! And may Tom live long and prosper and enjoy the wonderful large family of which he has become a part. God bless you all!
Stu, So sorry to learn of your mom's passing. However, that is a beautiful way to close out life... with the love of your life and your entire family there by your side. Sweet. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing. That was so beautiful. Bittersweet, but lovely. May God comfort you and your family during this time of loss.
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