Dear Reader:

On a cool foggy morning yesterday, Ted Parker, Brooke’s husband of 32 years was laid to rest. Thanksgiving Day is their anniversary.

Ted’s service will always be memorable for the personal stories told by his friend, Bill Young, the present mayor of Walterboro. It really brought home this quote:

… And yesterday the network had everyone chuckling with laughter. It brought back to mind the adage ” We are our stories-we tell them to stay alive.” So what we must hope for with our final send-off is that someone else will re-tell our stories for us. And did Mayor Bill Young accomplish that assignment with grace and knee-slapping humor!

It is told by different Plains tribes that children once were taught never to reveal their real names to strangers …because it was sacred. Instead they were taught early on to respond to the question with this response-” I am the story of myself.”

And yesterday we were regaled with stories about Ted that kept us all entertained immensely. Stories define us better than any list of things we did ever could.

It was while driving home that I realized time was running out for autumn trees and their leaves. Gusts of wind sent leaves scurrying across my windshield-to the point I had to turn the wipers on to see.

One fact many of us heard for the first time was that Ted loved the old song 🎶 ” Blue Moon” and would break into singing it anywhere at anytime. He had a rich baritone voice and loved impromptu serenades.

So as the recessional began …as we watched family and honorary pallbearers leave… there was definitely a little more ” giddy up” in everyone’s step as Blue Moon was playing throughout!

As I drove into my driveway… I slammed on brakes-my beautiful red pear tree had lost literally half of it’s leaves since I left that morning -just in time for Thanksgiving! By the time I get back from the mountains there probably won’t be a leaf left!

With the first frost possibility tomorrow morning I told my morning glories good-bye too! ( Just in case)

So until tomorrow… Brookie… Look what was blooming on the camellia bush, you gave me several years ago for my birthday… stunning-just for you …to cheer you up and remind you to continue blooming and living your future stories.

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh