Update...

Mom passed last Friday, I don't remember if I posted it or not. My sister, my wife, and I were with her. She had been comatose all day but her breathing was to fast. Hospice said we needed to give her oral morphine to slow it, it helps open airways. I was giving it and had given her the last dose about an hour and 15 minutes before she passed. Her breathing was holding at 38 per minute earlier, it had dropped to 34 and help there for a while. Then it dropped to 32, then dropped more or less steadily. About 5 minutes before she died she opened her eyes wide open and opened her mouth. I think it was partly trying for air but then she started to smile, then broke into a grin at whatever she was seeing. It was a comfort. I had a hand on her head, my sister had her hand and my wife had gotten her Bible She read Ps 23 to her then looked to see where she had left off reading before she lost her sight a couple years ago. It was Ps 71 and she had circled the passage that asks (paraphrase) "don't forget me when I am old and grey"...
She passed peacefully.
 
We got the will probated, my sister and I are co-executers. She is diabetic and 73yo, and overweight.
Mom kept EVERYTHING. I pulled two boxes out from under the eaves that were two years of my Vacation Bible School stuff, little paper hands etc, and from there it was like my whole life as a child. Then I got to boxes of letters from my grandfather to my grandmother, from great-grandparents to each other, pictures from 100+ years ago to present, boxes of smaller empty boxes, WW II stuff. Pictures from Japan, a rising sun flag, 4 48 star flags, a Japanese tea and rice (sushi) set made from teak, pics of McArthur and some Japanese, pics of my dad an his buddies, the rubble of Japan. I'm not even halfway through the eaves. Then there is an attic over an addition they did. Then there are the rooms, the closets, furniture, a "storehouse" that is about 40x40 and is full of old stuff.
I rented a climate controlled storage unit and have been taking my stuff over there. It took a day just to clean out my old things from my old closet and another place. My nephew brought and gave me the bed my grandmother was born on, to give to my daughter. we were there for 9 days, I think and are going back later this week for another round.
So far it has just been my, my sister, and my wife. (Cindy, my wife is just helping clean and sort) I am getting all the boxes out and bringing them downstairs to put where my sister an I can look through them and split things up. I am having to just take pictures and sort them as fairly as I can or sis will sit and read everything and take forever, but I am trying to be fair.
It is hard but not too hard. There is NO strife and for that I am VERY thankful.
I really hope we can finish before Christmas but IDK...
I think that as long as extended family stays out of it we will get it done and will grow closer. She has always been like a distant aunt to me, being 10 years older I only have a few snapshot memories of her being at home with me. So it's hard, but it's good.
 
As far as losing my mom and dad. We live and we die and who could ask for more than for both parents to live to be over 95, be able to stay at home and die at home from just old age. I feel they were blessed and I feel I am too. I am OK!!
 
I'll check in when I can but everything else in life is pretty much sidelined until I get through with this.
 
When I can I will try and post some pictures, there are some VERY cool pictures and things that have been saved from LONG ago.
 
Thanks for letting me talk, it helps.
 
Julien
 
BTW... McQue... you are close enough to come help move furniture, LOL. J/K... I have friends in Moultrie, I grew up there. OH... speaking of Moultrie. It is Colquitt county, the home of the Packers football, #1 in GA, in USA Today: #5 in the nation! They are undefeated and on a ROLL... Go Pack!!

Thank you.
 
J
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

My condolences to you and your family, Julien. 

I am very sorry for your loss.  All the best and good thoughts for you and your family.