R.I.P.

Julia Gulia received a class assignment to have a family member write her obituary. I’m not sure why she asked me given my ability to be serious for, oh, about 2.68 seconds. I was limited to just a few lines and by the requirement that all information be factual.

This is what she turned in:

My sister, known as Julia~Gulia to family and friends, has left this world to be with her Creator. J~G was a woman of many words and frequently exceeded her daily quota of chatter*. She read the dictionary for fun and always had the perfect way to describe any situation. Although not one for reading maps, she has found her way home. Julia~Gulia is survived by her 2 parents, 5 siblings, 27 purses, and 38 pairs of shoes.

She informed me that no other classmate died so fashionably.

Coincidentally, I was searching through some pictures and came across a tombstone I saw in Charleston last year. Seems the author of the tombstone had a real eye for detail.

He was born about 1675, came to Carolina before 1706, and married, about 1707, Sarah, daughter of Captain John Croft and Katherine Childermass. He was buried near this spot 2nd September 1727.

I can only hope my legacy is less ambiguous.

*Julia~Gulia, I miss your chatter...love ya!

The 9th Life

Disclaimer: Sometimes bad things happen to good people, or in this instance, bad things happen to good animals. I realize this post contains sensitive information to animal lovers and I don’t mean to downplay any of the events. I’m just reporting the facts.

It’s a rare occasion to have anyone in my car, let alone 3 family members. This Sunday, I was driving Mama Mia, Johnny Cherie, and Little Boy Blue home from a church dinner. It was after 7, the sun was setting, and my light was green. As I passed through to the other side of the intersection, a dark cat jetted from the left before I had time to respond.

Enter slow motion

I could brake but the car behind me was too close. On the left was oncoming traffic; the right had several parallel parked vehicles. My only option was to continue driving.

The unexpected speed bump smacked me back into real time.

I gasped and clutched my gaping mouth. I was horrified and stunned. I felt a lump form in my stomach. The seconds seemed, once again, to tick backwards.

I was glad to have Mama Mia with me. There are times when only a mother’s voice can comfort. She calmly assured me that everything would be okay and after a few deep breaths, I began to feel better.

Then Johnny-Cherie chirped from the back. “Hey Charlotte, why did the cat cross the road?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“It didn’t.”

Her comment didn’t help quite like Mama Mia’s.

I'm sorry cat...

God Bless the USA

This post is week old news but still important to me.

On September 21, 2007, Joshua Jackson Reeves was born. His mother, Leslie Reeves, phoned her husband, Josh, in Iraq to tell him the happy news. Spc. Joshua H. Reeves was able to hear his son cry before the phone call ended.

Spc. Joshua H. Reeves was killed the next day, September 22, 2007, when a bomb detonated near his vehicle.

The funeral was last Saturday and I thought I'd be fine. I had only talked with Josh once at a Christmas party last year. His parents and siblings go to church with my family though, so I wanted to support them.

I had a hard time. The community support was unbelievable. On the way to the funeral, hundreds of people lined up on the side of the road with hands over their hearts and flags waving. The Patriot Guard Riders, a group of bikers who attend funerals of fallen soldiers, stood at attention with flags to form a walkway to the chapel. After the hour long service was an hour, and I don't think there was a set of dry eyes, we drove to the cemetery. Again, hundreds of people who had never met Josh lined the street to show support. The ceremony was completed with the presentation of flags, a trumpeter playing "Taps", and 21 gun salute.

At some point last Saturday, I realized just how fortunate I am to live in the United States. This blog isn't about my views on the war, the government, or choices made but a sincere thanks to all those who serve on my behalf. Thank you.

God Bless You. God Bless America.