As some already know, my wife has been ill for several years now, to the point where she is homebound. Many of my close friends have heard the stories about her only wanting to watch Little House on The Prairie from the time that she wakes up each day until she goes to sleep at night. On Sundays between laundry, cooking and other chores, I try to sit and watch a couple of episodes with her, and this article was inspired by a Little House episode that we watched together today.
The story line is about an eighty, year old woman whose close friend dies without having seen any of her family for a number of years. After attending her friend’s funeral, she realizes that she hasn’t seen any of her three children for nearly fifteen years as well. In my view, she comes up with a brilliant idea to ask Charles Ingles and the local doctor to write to her children as well as her friends and relatives telling them that she has died in an effort to get them to come to her wake. Her scheme works, they all show up, and by now you should know the rest of that story.
So, what is this really about? My father died when I was 14 years old, and my stepdad when I was 20. My mom lived to almost 91 and despite her advanced age, we all showed up with tears in our eyes professing our love and sorrow for her passing. From the time that I left to join the Army in 1972 until the day she died, I sent a check to my mother to help her get by. When I left the Army, and moved to AZ, she was living in Michigan, so I only visited every couple of years. Eventually I moved back east, and mom moved to AZ to live with my younger sister, and since I loved the southwest, I would visit once or twice a year. I know that some will say that I visited a couple of times a year and think that was pretty good but given my resources I could have done much better, and I assure you, mom would have taken less money and more visits all those years.
So, to those of you who’s parents are still living, regardless your age or theirs, please don’t be like the children of the woman in that Little House episode. Your parents won’t always be here, and when their gone, you will miss them. Don’t let the next time that you see your mother or father be in a hospital bed, casket, or at a Memorial service. If your parents are still living, you have a unique opportunity to show them just how much you love and care for them while they are still living. It’s easy to show up at the wake, funeral or memorial service with tears in your eyes and tell stories about how great your mom or dad was; but if you really love and cherish your parents, visit them while they are still here. Let them know that you love and cherish them today, because the day will come when it’s too late!
I’m Just Sayin!