stop that wheel...NOW!
The wheel has turned, again--this time, old friend, Jerry. He was the hubster's first roommate, when he arrived in MN. in fact, they were both new to the state--himself, from NY, Jerry, from OK. it was serendipity that tossed them together. Hubby was working at a gas station, and Jerry stopped to get gas for his car, often. they struck up a conversation, and Jerry revealed that he had a chance to get a little apartment, but would like to have someone to share rent. there were two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, and living room, if that was sufficient. the deal was struck, and they were officially roomies. eventually, I met Jerry, and we also became friends--he would give me a call on a day off, when b was working, and we'd go and play tennis. well, we'd play at tennis. mostly we'd lob the ball outrageously to each other, just so the other would have to go and chase it . it was good aerobics, either way. time went by, and Jerry would "suggest" that there might be a friend at nursing school who would be good company. this was a little dicey--Jerry and b were both divorced, and there were high feelings/opinions among the evangelical crew, at the time, about "fraternizing"--especiallly when it involved the young women. jerry and b were the same age--7 years older than me. but I did have a friend who was viewed as "poor girl"/ "damaged goods" by some in the school. I saw her as brave, wounded, and a winner for going back to school, with a divorce and two small daughters to care for. she was Judy, who was little, dark eyed, and had a sly, wicked sense of humor, and a great giggle. we liked each other from the get-go. I asked her if she'd consider going out with this guy. I knew she'd either love him, or hate him--he was pure Oklahoma, from his drawl, all the way to his cowboy boots. I told her, "he's a nice guy--but it's up to you to decide. I will not be disappointed, either way". she chuckled, and it was on. long story short (er)--numbers were given, arrangements were made, and later, when I talked to Judy, she said, "I peeked out the window when he pulled up. and the moment I saw him walk up the sidewalk, I knew this was the man I was meant to marry. I just knew." and she did, in a hospital chapel with him in his ICU gown, IV standard by his side, and his nurse escorts. he'd gotten ill, after their engagement and ended up in the hospital. when he hit ICU, she told hm, "you're not getting out of this that easily, mister. here, and now. I'm not losing you." and the strings were pulled, arrangements made, and they were married, in the hospital chapel. her daughters fully approved. (when he formally adopted them, the judge posed the question to Christine, the younger, "what will you do if I say 'no' to this adoption?" and she answered, "I don't care. he's already my daddy." and the judge said, "Absolutely. He is your daddy. Forever.")
Judy died several years ago, from Alzheimers. she was a year older than Jerry, and when the illness hit, it took her rapidly. nobody ever thought she'd be the first to exit, and it devastated him. He's been on his own, with his daughters (plus a new one he and Judy cooked up, themselves) caring for him. he broke leg bone in a fall, and with the implications of trying to be on his own at home, with a broken bone, and the rehabilitation and physical therapy needed, it was agreed that he go to a facility for care, where it could all be delivered. then came the lockdowns, so he was in, the girls were out, and he was in bed. with leg breaks often come things like fat emboli, which love to go to the lungs, and potentially, deep vein thrombi. we will never know, I suspect. there is even the new virus, to be considered--but whatever it was, and with no contact, only phone reassurances from staff, what seemed to be an ideal situation went south, quickly. Jerry died, from pneumonia, a week ago. he and Judy are together, again, and I suspect, doing a lot of catching up with each other--and with Britt. there's a lot of history to be viewed...
Judy died several years ago, from Alzheimers. she was a year older than Jerry, and when the illness hit, it took her rapidly. nobody ever thought she'd be the first to exit, and it devastated him. He's been on his own, with his daughters (plus a new one he and Judy cooked up, themselves) caring for him. he broke leg bone in a fall, and with the implications of trying to be on his own at home, with a broken bone, and the rehabilitation and physical therapy needed, it was agreed that he go to a facility for care, where it could all be delivered. then came the lockdowns, so he was in, the girls were out, and he was in bed. with leg breaks often come things like fat emboli, which love to go to the lungs, and potentially, deep vein thrombi. we will never know, I suspect. there is even the new virus, to be considered--but whatever it was, and with no contact, only phone reassurances from staff, what seemed to be an ideal situation went south, quickly. Jerry died, from pneumonia, a week ago. he and Judy are together, again, and I suspect, doing a lot of catching up with each other--and with Britt. there's a lot of history to be viewed...