Dear Reader:

I mentioned in the post yesterday that one of my lucky signs, a God Wink, came in the form of Louie Armstrong’s hit “It’s a Wonderful World” that I listened to on my way to my oncology appointment. Absolutely adore this song.

I immediately felt my apprehension easing out of my tense shoulders and the world just seemed brighter and happier from listening to this beautiful melody.

Sound...one of the most important senses we have. And the last one to leave us.

I never realized this important fact until mother was dying and one of the sweet nurses pulled me aside and said mother’s breathing had changed…she was just minutes away now from “crossing over.” So take these moments and think about what I wanted to tell her…because it would be the last thing she heard…and don’t forget to tell her… it was okay to go.

I remember hearing your whole life flashes in front of you when you are the one departing…but in that moment…it was scenes of my life with mother that suddenly flooded my brain and memory. When the nurse nodded at me I went over, bent down and just began thanking mother for all she did for me, Ben, and David…I told her how amazing I thought she was and how happy I was that she was getting ready to see daddy and David again after such a long separation.

I then reassured her that we were fine here, we would miss her, but that this was her time of happiness- she had certainly earned it…and in a blink of a eye we would join her one day…until then “I love you Mom!”

We often read in books and on tombstones beautiful verses of prose or funny remarks on the death bed…but have you ever thought about what the last thing you will hear on earth will be?

In Barbara Johnson’s Daily Splashes of Joy that Jo gave me there is a “daily gem of wisdom to sparkle each day.” I decided yesterday to look up February 25, 2021 and found an interesting anecdote.

A friend wrote a note to the author sharing this true-life episode. She wrote that her uncle went with his wife to a Hardee’s Drive–through and ordered breakfast. The couple ate there often, she said, and the boy who took the order recognized her uncle’s voice and said teasingly….

” Come on up partner…we’re waiting for you.”

Just then the uncle grabbed his chest and said to his wife, “I’ll see you in heaven!” And he was gone.

The woman wrote:

” At my uncle’s funeral the minister said, “The voice over the speaker may have been the order-taker’s but it was a message straight from God. “Come on up partner…we’re waiting for you.”

The daily devotional ended with this question.

If you thought your words would be the last earthly thing someone heard, would it make a difference in what you said and how you said it? Or what would you like to hear for the last time before passing, a loved one’s voice, your favorite song….?

I thought about it…and I want to hear the sound of children playing and laughing in the distance….such a beautiful sound of hope.

I remember Grandmother Wilson sharing this story when Grandpa Charlie was slowly dying from a heart complications one afternoon. The field hands were collecting cotton that day and one field hand yelled out as loud as he could so Grandpa could hear through the open bedroom window….”The best cotton we’ve seen in a long time Mr. Charlie..the cotton is as fine as fluffy white clouds in heaven.”

A contented smile settled on Grandpa and he left this earth assured of a “good crop.”

Anne and I shared lunch on my back deck since she, too, had some scans this week, along with other medical procedures…we both received great “report cards”…so it was time to celebrate in the basking sun yesterday…a time to unwind and thank God again for His support and love.

Then I headed over to Mt. Pleasant to get some clothing articles to Jake and Eva Cate that had finally come in, back order, from Amazon…I am sure because of the weather. Jake also wanted a little stuffed puffin he saw me with one day…and was thrilled to have a new sleeping partner.

Winnie the winsome toy poodle personality did a good job of keeping up as we all walked through a part of the neighborhood yesterday afternoon…I so enjoyed the exercise and company!

We had Mexican for supper…food and drink…delightful!

These days just get better and better.