I have lost my beloved. He passed away two days ago after a long, slow decline from multiple disease sources. We met when I was 20 and he was 30, we married a year later and have been together ever since. Like many couples, we have been through hell and happy times. He was the person I most trusted in the world. I knew he would be serious when I needed that and know he felt the same about me.
His love was bigger than both of us. His ability to love me and most everyone else, and especially his dogs, was a powerful and healing force. This morning I was thinking about how his human imperfections were less than his ability to love.
His daughter and I were talking this morning about him. Most people saw him as a cut-up, a joker, a man that wanted to bring smiles to your face and laughter to your day. But he was a loner, the most social loner either she and I have ever known. He worried about people, about work, about if I was happy, about his parents, about everything. His care for everyone was something he could not overcome, and so he worried. He wanted people to be okay, to be happy and safe. He was also intensely private and, as such, never discussed the health problems he was having. Most people would never have known until the last few years.
Ron and I met at a disco nightclub (it was the 70's) in Asheville, NC. A mutual friend of ours introduced us, and we basically fell head over heels in love. His first words to me, "I think I could fall in love with you." And we did.
We moved to Florida, we moved to Illinois, we moved to Florida, and then finally to the mountains of east Tennessee. But he loved the beaches of Florida and the peace that only the ocean can bring. He will return there in the end.
In the event you wish to make a donation, there are two local animal rescue organizations. In Mountain City, TN: http://www.rescuedogandendoflifesanctuary.org/donations.html and in Western North Carolina: Horse Helpers of the High Country: http://www.rescuedogandendoflifesanctuary.org/donations.html
Visitation and memorial service will be on Monday, November 7 at Mountain City Funeral Home, http://www.mountaincityfh.com/ , from 5 to 7 p.m.
93 comments
I am so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you.
I am so sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Oh honey, I am so sad to hear this news. Loss is hard, but you will go on. Thank you for sharing your wonderful love story with us. How lucky the both of you were to find each other! I am glad he no longer suffers, and know you will hold him close forever in your heart. Please take all the time you need to adjust to your new life going forward, be gentle with yourself, and remember how much he loved you. Prayers of comfort and peace to all that knew him -
Bless you and your family thru this loss. I pray knowing he no longer suffers from the illnesses is some comfort. The effects of illness are so hard to see one go thru when you love them so much. God give you peace.
Bless you and your family thru this loss. I pray knowing he no longer suffers from the illnesses is some comfort. The effects of illness are so hard to see one go thru when you love them so much. God give you peace.