By VERNA BROCK
Recent events have reminded me of the fleeting nature of time. Over the past few months there have been a number of deaths and serious illnesses among my little circle of friends. Those of us who remain have made note of the nature of old age…the older our age, the more often we must bid goodbye to loved ones.
As a child, my very large extended family seemed pretty much invincible. We were blessed with health and energy, and a lot of laughter. Now entering my eighth decade, I am among the youngest of my cousins on both sides of the family. My parents were both the youngest of five siblings, and until the past few years, the majority, and most of their spouses, lived well into their late eighties and nineties.
Now, I have one remaining Uncle, and he just celebrated his 98th birthday. Thankfully, he is doing quite well, barring some hearing issues. My own generation is facing myriad health challenges, with cancer among the most serious.
Continuing right behind that scourge is a panoply of autoimmune disorders that plagued the previous two generations of my mother’s family. Some things seem truly inevitable.
We find ourselves planning a reunion to celebrate the past and the future, as well as sharing health information and support.
Years ago, my mother (emphatically) assured me that “blood is always thicker than water” and no matter what tiff I was in with one cousin or another, I would always love them. Guess what? My mother was absolutely correct.
The advent of Facetime, social media and Zoom has given us a freedom of access that long-distance calls never could. Our monthly cousin chats have quickly bonded even the most far-flung cousins once again.
Just the cost of calling with Ma Bell, even once in a blue moon, could be prohibitively expensive back in the day. Those calls were carefully meted out, and timed for frugal brevity. Now, we can pick up a phone, push a button and be instantly connected for as long as we wish.
As much as our iPhones and Androids cost to own and use, they have opened doors into a wide world of communication that was unimaginable a few scant years ago. Acting as cameras, computers, movie screens, and yes, even TELEPHONES, these modern marvels put the world at our fingertips. It’s our job to understand and decipher the firehose of information that threatens to crush us under its weight. It can be a lot to handle, that’s for sure.
As a retired librarian, I recommend asking your local library for help whenever you need it. Trust me, they genuinely want to be of assistance!
Please keep Travis and Millie Rose in your prayers, as mother and son continue to recover from serious heart issues. Mike Nolan is recovering from a serious illness, and needs our prayers. Kathy McCullom’s sister Jane is doing much better following a very serious illness, but continues to need our prayers also. Pastor Tommy Stone continues to covet prayers for his health. I am overjoyed to report that Cindy Blackstock is doing very well with her recovery and rehab.
I learned on Friday that my friend, Dr. Richard Blaney, died quite suddenly. Hailing from Lake City, he was the owner of “Galicenos of the Suwannee,” a ranch dedicated to the preservation of a heritage breed horse first brought to the New World by the Spanish Conquistadors. For many years, he shared one of his beautiful horses at the Woodville Founders Day Festival.This was all to further education and appreciation for this breed that nearly went extinct.
Always patient and interesting, Richard will be sorely missed by friends and family alike. Please lift them in your prayers.
Next Sunday there will be a concert provided by theTallahassee Ukes at the Woodville United Methodist Church for the (monthly) 2nd Sunday Sing. Starting at 6 p.m., this delightful group of 15 or more ukulele players will regale the audience with all manner of music.
After the concert, a delicious dinner will be served in the social hall. You cannot beat dinner and a show, all free of charge and open to the public! I hope you put this on your calendar and turn out for a really special evening.