Staid Halloween -- Senior Style

So much for staid, serious, sedate, set-in-their-ways, stuffy, and strait-laced senior citizens......

I got talked into going to the Halloween Party.  I am on the Social Committee so helped with the decorating yesterday.  That was fun -- they put out LOTS of decorations and said,  "Use everything!"  The results of spontaneous teamwork were quite festive.  

It was an evening of laughter and enjoyment.  Who would have guessed how creative a bunch of old folks could be?

 Over 200 people came and even those without costumes (like me) wore Halloween colors.

MaryMay Angelil, Suzanne Gibbs, Linda Reinhart, Jane Roy

"Sister Antoinette (Tony)" was having a blast circulating and keeping everyone entertained with his hilarious comments.

Abe Lincoln and his campaigning wife were cute.

This gal below won a prize (I forget all the categories for the prizes.) and she made her own costume.

Batman and Robin, Senior Style!

Variety, for sure!

The Beetle-juice costume was dramatic!

It's remarkable how much a wig and changing one's hair color can do to change one's identity!

My family grew up making our costumes from things we put together at home. 

These home-made versions are my favorite costumes!

Variety, for sure!

If you saw these people the next day, you'd never recognize them.

I thought the exterminator was very creative, right down to the mouse traps and mice on his belt!

Colorful, yep!

Sonny and Cher were winners.  Cher looked like Cher, for sure!

Staid Senior Citizens?  Not so much at Savanna Club!

Ed's Memorial "Stone"

It's hard to believe that six months have gone by since my Edmond went to heaven on April 23, 2012.  I still miss him every day.

Ed wanted part of his ashes scattered at sea and part of them in the cemetery in Singers Glen, Virginia beside where my ashes will be in the future.  The Neptune Society was most cooperative with this request.

Ed's memorial was a combination of ideas.  Rather than a headstone, there is a granite bench in his memory.

This view of the cemetery was taken while standing in front of our church, Donovan Memorial United Methodist. 

This is the view driving up to the cemetery.

 

I had thought about putting this memorial by my parents' stone but they're in the third row down and there was no open plot there.  

By luck (or Divine Intervention), there was one plot available at the top of the cemetery beside my grandparents.  I grew up in the house with both my parents and grandparents so it's meaningful that our plot is here.

The bench is three feet long and four inches thick.

The inscription on the side of the bench reads:  

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."   Matthew 11:28

(Click on photos for a larger version.)

The top of Ed's Memorial Bench

Sitting on Ed's bench looking Southeast

Looking East

Looking North

  Looking Northwest

  Looking West

The veteran's memorial plaque for Ed arrived after I had come back to Florida so I will be getting that set later.

Most of the plaques are at the foot of the plot so that is probably where we'll place it.

I notice that Ed's military papers used the American spelling of his middle name.  On his birth certificate (in French, of course) and Canadian passport it is spelled "Jean".   (He was still a Canadian citizen.)  Note:  Ed also served 2 years in the army in Canada. 

 

I think Ed is smiling down,...

...pleased with the simplicity of his memorial in this beautiful, peaceful setting in Singers Glen, Virginia.

Ten Years Ago

October 22, 2002

A Wedding Day Filled with Love... 

...a love that grew deeper with each day,

...a love that continues to sustain and comfort me.

The song "Because You Loved me" by Celine Dion came on the radio on the way home from church yesterday and it says so much.  Here are some excerpts that especially ring true:

For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby...

...You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach...

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky....
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me

Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you

You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you.

I'm everything I am, because you loved me.

I will never forget you, my dear Angel Man, Edmond Jean Angelil!