|
Published: October 10, 2009 11:46 pm
DRINKWALTER: Collecting people along the way
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
Since my father-in-law passed away in September, the family has been healing gradually.
The last month has brought many thoughtful notes from family, friends and acquaintances. Some folks from out of town that the family lost touch with sent cards and memories; this has all been so appreciated. My husband received a wonderful letter from an ex-co-worker who was unable to make the wake or funeral service. (Some of my husband and his brothers’ ex-girlfriends even resurfaced with visits and cards of condolences.) It’s been more like celebrating 89 years of my father-in-law’s life than mourning his death, and that’s the way it should be.
One day last week, I spent the day with my mother-in-law. We went out to lunch and ended the afternoon at her house sharing a muffin, a cup of tea and some conversation. It’s a blessing to see her getting stronger. We talked about the upcoming holidays and of holidays gone by. We reminisced of my father-in-law’s retirement years, when the two of them took up residence in Florida from fall through early spring and returned to Lockport to live until the next fall. Our family missed the snowbirds around the holidays during those years when the children were younger. Back then, the in-laws spent many a Christmas with friends and family who lived down south. It eventually got to be such a chore for them to run two households that they sold their Florida place and began spending all their time in Lockport.
We talked of our childhood years and how we often tend to remember things happening from a different perspective or completely different than our siblings who are several years younger or older. I am the youngest of four, with 11 years between me and the youngest of the other three children, and my mother-in-law had an older brother, but also a sister who is several years younger than her.
She mentioned going to a gathering with her parents and her sister in their adult years and having people ask who the young lady was. Her sister felt they should have realized who she was, until reminded that she was just a small child when many people saw her last, so of course they wouldn’t recognize her.
The longer we live, the more people we meet from various age groups. My in-laws celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary this year. They were involved in several clubs and social groups over the years and have certainly collected a lot of friends and acquaintances along the way. It’s nice to see my mother-in-law beginning to get out and visit some her old favorite companions again.
It just proves once again that we need to embrace the people we meet along the way. When life seems to be racing at warp speed, it’s good to pull back on the reins a bit and gather a few good friends. We weren’t intended to live our lives in isolation on our own little island. It’s important to take the time to stay in touch and make the effort, even when we don’t feel like it. (I am guilty of that. I don’t care for idle telephone chat, thank God for e-mail.)
I hear the new life expectancy for a fifth of all babies born today could be 100 years old. That’s a long time to gather memorabilia. I guess it’s never too late to blow the dust off of some of our old relationships and get reacquainted with some of the people we’ve collected along the way.
Deb Drinkwalter is a Lockport resident. Her column appears every Sunday. Contact Deb at d.drinkwalter@yahoo.com
|
|
|
|
 |
Mechanic
MECHANIC: Truck trailer, FT, full benefits. Competitive wages. Contact 875-4980; fax 875-8108...>MORE
PHONE SALES
PHONE sales, great pay, exp. a plus, nice NT office, FT/PT, hrly. +, Pete or Mike, 694-1251...>MORE
DRIVER
Driver, light pick up & delivery, need own car, no WNY, valid NYS driver lic., good pay 694-1251...>MORE
BILINGUAL PHONE INTERVIEWER
Bilingual Telephone interviewer. Surveys for insurance policy review. Spanish/English a Must. ft/pt & Sat. No sales/coll...>MORE
Grill Cook
GRILL COOK & Waitresses, exp only, full time. Apply within 2021 Main St. Nia Falls ...>MORE
Information Technology
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - Niagara County Community College is seeking a Director of User and Administrative Technology Se...>MORE
Driver
DRIVERS – CDL A TEAM DRIVERS NEEDED FOR DEDICATED RUNS No touch freight............Good miles ...>MORE
SHIPPING CLERK
Shipping Clerk, p/t, 30-35 hrs. wk., exp. in warehouse environment, knowledge of Word/Excel, data entry, UPS, freight ch...>MORE
Driver
DRIVERS – CDL A TEAM DRIVERS NEEDED FOR DEDICATED RUNS No touch freight............Good miles ...>MORE
Cook
COOK full time. Apply in person only, Augie’s Diner, 2470 Military Rd. ...>MORE
See all ads |
VW 2001 Beetle
VW 2001 Beetle, loaded, GLX turbo, exc. cond, all service records, fun to drive, blue bk $5600, take best offer, 990-06...>MORE
Yamaha 1982, 750
YAMAHA 1982, 750, runs perfect, low mileage, $895. 716-525-2889...>MORE
1996 Ford Escort
FORD 1996 Escort 4 cyl, 2 dr, exc cond in & out, no rust, 1 owner, only 61k orig mi, $2195. 523-7102...>MORE
Monte Carlo Z24 1998
MONTE CARLO Z24, 1998, runs good, average miles, excellent shape, $1800 , 990-2303...>MORE
Ford 1998 F150
FORD 1998 F150, standard cab, 4wd, excellent shape, $3495. 716-525-2889...>MORE
Ford 1999 Windstar
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE
Junior Accountant
Auto Detailer full time, exp. pref. Apply at David Chevy Buick Pontiac, 10225 Nia Falls Blvd. or 298-9700 ask for Frank....>MORE
1999 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 1999 Caravan, 33, V6, auto, A/C, 99k miles, good cond., runs great. $1950. 525-7796...>MORE
Dodge 1993 Dakota 4x4
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE
Ford 2001 Taurus
Ford 2001 Taurus Station wagon, well maintained, 112,000 miles Siver ext. 4 dr, auto, asking $2800/BO. 716-772-2454....>MORE
See all ads |
|
See all ads |
|
 |
|