Dear Reader:

Over the weekend, which I spent in Mt Pleasant, I heard from one of my favorite cousins… Charles! As the oldest cousin, in our Laurens gang of cousins… he was my idol! Even before my family permanently moved to Laurens we spent most summers and holidays there!

Charles’ sister Marilyn …I also idolized… the big sister I never had… she and my older brother Ben were the same age… but we all turned to Charles as our leader!

Charles texted me to check on Ben and get his number… we now share similar life ” experiences ” since his wife, Sherri, has been also diagnosed with cerebral vascular dementia … actually for several years before Ben. It is comforting communicating with kin who understand what each other and their loved ones are going through.

Through our discussion we hit on an ” Aha” moment. I told Charles that ( as strange as it might sound) Ben is happier now than he has been in a long time. Even before PTSD attacked Ben following Vietnam, Ben suffered from depression as an adolescent-he has never really gotten over our daddy’s death… but now he is Mr Personality and a favorite among the staff and residents alike.

He is safe, secure, no worries over day to day issues… all those obstacles have been removed, he sleeps better than ever… since sleepless nights have plagued him all his life.Great food-made lots of friends- is a big helper and feels needed-the staff takes him out to hit buckets of balls… I told Charles ” God works in mysterious ways.”

Speaking from deep devotion to his wife Charles made this comment…” As you said, God is in our lives each moment of every day. I’m so grateful we had a rich Christian culture to guide our journey!”

Amen! The greatest gift we can give our children -faith and hope and the One to turn to when they feel alone …

On a lighter note all my cousins teased me about my obsession with potato chips-( as a child … and still today) usually meek and mild… I would turn into bearish Becky… I refused to eat a meal that did not include potato chips… because I was a picky eater as a toddler.. mother and daddy gave in and coaxed me into eating real food in exchange for a chip… a move they regretted.

All my cousins called me ” The Potato Chip Kid” … in fact Charles couldn’t resist… he ended his text message Saturday with…

” I’m so sorry that inflation is driving potato chips up each week at the grocery store-but I do think of your sweet self every time I purchase a bag. Now I even enjoy an indulging moment with chips. ..in fact… I think I’ll have a few chips right now to start my day!” ❤️

So until tomorrow… Thank you Father for family who always appear when most needed… the ones who remember you when and still love you now! Love you Charles! 💗

Today is my favorite day! Winnie the Pooh -Eva Cate changed my iPhone cover to…

Harriett… another year… another race! Love you!💗 I think I was ” fixated” with those pink glasses! 🤣