News this month has not been happy. Three old friends have passed on to the Lord. We never know the day or time for sure. In fact today is the memorial for one of them. My high school love, Wayne "Smokey" Erven. It saddens my heart to hear that he didn't make it to his 90s as he hoped. When I saw him in May he looked good and had high hopes of the future. We exchanged our ailments and both of us thought we were doing OK. Funny how when you are growing older you talk about such things. It was a happy visit. I was fortunate to meet Elaine, his wife of 51 years. She was such a positive person and full of joy with a cute sparkle in her eye. She let me sit in the front seat as she joined by daughter in the back seat on our way to see the ships that Wayne so loved and spent his time on during his service in the Navy. He told me of his Vietnam days over our dinner at an authentic Chinese restaurant in Alameda China town. and the aftermath when he retired and tried to get a job as a civilian. How times were not always easy even in the Navy, when he wanted to be stationed close to the home he bought for his family but the Navy decided differently and they rented out the home and moved for a few years to his new assignment. Why is it that sometimes the logical doesn't happen and we have to sacrifice? Guess it makes us stronger people to take the bad with the good. Both he and Elaine had wonderful stories of their children and their pride in their family.
The other two people who died were husband and wife, married 50 years, too. The wife, Karen died first followed two months later by her husband, Harold. We met in the 70s in San Jose when we bought houses on the same block and our kids played together. We couples made friends and continued our friendship over the years of separation to different areas. They went to Bakersfield and we to Nevada with a 15 year return to Bay Area and then back to Nevada. We would meet occasionally when we traveled either to Bakersfield or they came to Nevada. It was always a joy to reconnect. Our last good visit was in 2008. Broke my heart to hear of their passing.
In recent years we have lost many good and loyal friends and as a memorial to their memories I am posting pictures of these people I loved and cared for.
The other two people who died were husband and wife, married 50 years, too. The wife, Karen died first followed two months later by her husband, Harold. We met in the 70s in San Jose when we bought houses on the same block and our kids played together. We couples made friends and continued our friendship over the years of separation to different areas. They went to Bakersfield and we to Nevada with a 15 year return to Bay Area and then back to Nevada. We would meet occasionally when we traveled either to Bakersfield or they came to Nevada. It was always a joy to reconnect. Our last good visit was in 2008. Broke my heart to hear of their passing.
In recent years we have lost many good and loyal friends and as a memorial to their memories I am posting pictures of these people I loved and cared for.
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