This is to YOU, who we've missed sooooooo much. I am elated that you are now HOME. Your home, the one that you have cherished and nurtured and maintained for so many years, missed you. Probably not nearly as much as you missed it! And I've had the privilege of helping get it into the kind of shape that we all know you would have done had you been able. I hope that it brings you peace and relief. There is a Welsh word, hiraeth - that defies direct translation, but roughly, means, the longing for home. The Welsh were known to die from hiraeth--literally of broken hearts if they could not return to their own soil and breathe the air that was more than in their bodies, but in their souls.
I know that longing. When I heard that you were coming home finally, I felt my heart sing for you--(can you tell that I'm Welsh?!)
I want for you to know that everyone has been working really hard to prepare for this day and to make it as close to what you would have done as is possible!! You are a very hard person to replace! It's taken a virtual army!
But most of all , I want you to know that Ben, has done the most of all. During a time when he could have fallen apart, he stood up straighter, pulled back his shoulders and knuckled down to learn all the things he didn't have to know before because you took care of them! He has been the model of graciousness and kindness at a time when he was so worried about you. You two are my icons of what marriage is all about and I have come to love you both as I love my own family.
So, welcome home! Welcome Home! WELCOME HOME!!!
Steph
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Update: Getting Ready to Bring Sophie Home!
Sophie wants to come home, now. She's out of acute care and was moved to a rehab facility about a month ago. She's made progress, from what Ben describes, and that is encouraging. We all miss her.
It's been a very busy couple of months. We all found that taking over all the business and tasks that Sophie managed has practically taken an army! (I am prone to exaggeration when I am happy!)
Ben has been on the move constantly, getting the house adapted for handicapped access, learning how to do all of the things Sophie took care of, taking care of his own business, not to say of himself, and now, renting out two apartments. He spends the majority of everyday with her in the rehab center and sometimes even spends the night. And one of their two daughters is normally there to help out-no small thing considering they live out of state and have families of their own.
Soon, it will be ready. The house is cleaned top to bottom, the garden tended and flowers planted, the car is being adapted for a wheelchair, the downstairs transformed into her rooms, including the bath. Every step along the way, people talk about Sophie with a smile. It seems that we all want to do things up to her standards, which were very high. But, as much as we try, we'll never be able to do it as well as she did!
I hope to soon go and see her. I held back because, from day to day, she had enough to deal with. But it seems to have leveled off and I hope to see her this coming week. I do miss her!
It's been a very busy couple of months. We all found that taking over all the business and tasks that Sophie managed has practically taken an army! (I am prone to exaggeration when I am happy!)
Ben has been on the move constantly, getting the house adapted for handicapped access, learning how to do all of the things Sophie took care of, taking care of his own business, not to say of himself, and now, renting out two apartments. He spends the majority of everyday with her in the rehab center and sometimes even spends the night. And one of their two daughters is normally there to help out-no small thing considering they live out of state and have families of their own.
Soon, it will be ready. The house is cleaned top to bottom, the garden tended and flowers planted, the car is being adapted for a wheelchair, the downstairs transformed into her rooms, including the bath. Every step along the way, people talk about Sophie with a smile. It seems that we all want to do things up to her standards, which were very high. But, as much as we try, we'll never be able to do it as well as she did!
I hope to soon go and see her. I held back because, from day to day, she had enough to deal with. But it seems to have leveled off and I hope to see her this coming week. I do miss her!
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