Family History: An oral tradition

A great suggestion was made my by cousin Cécile Labbé this week, one where we would gather our families, those who make up the Tremblay clan specifically and tell stories so that our oral family history would not end with us. Of course, much of this was brought on by our celebrating Mom and Dad's 60th anniversary. We celebrated a few days early, on Weds, instead of Saturday, but true to our family, we were able to gather again on Saturday to fête them once more.

Cousin Cécile and I swapped stories, things our parents had told us about our aunts and grandparents that weren't necessarily told to everyone. Its a rich tradition, probably embellished a tad as it is retold, but nonetheless, the bones and structure of the story remain solid and it would be great for the neices and nephews to understand a bit of where they come from. We thought the perfect setting would be around a campfire where we could share little vignettes of what our parents told us, more ears to hear about where we come from to shed light perhaps on where we are today, and where we might be going.

I'm not sure that we'll ever really arrange a time where we can physically all be around a campfire, but in today's virtual arena of internet and email, perhaps we can gather around a virtual campfire, and each post stories that we heard from Mom / Dad or their folks mémère and pépère. I'm game for that, as I think if everyone could think of one story, the exercise of capturing that and posting it would allow all of us to reminisce and perhaps rekindle those roots which are in part at least, responsible for where we are today. We should tell of the joys, the sorrows, the fear, the pain, the laughter ... life, yeah, we should tell of the life we have lived. It would be good for our kids to know, to sense where it is they come from

Half a century

So what does it feel like to turn the big 5-0??? Dunno if it feels any different than 49 did. It is strange to be in Berlin this long, I was down in the Manchester area to bring Rachel down, stayed overnight with our dear friends the Dukelows. Really we are blessed with friends and family.

Mom is holding on. We celebrated her's and Dad's 60th anniversary yesterday May 27th, just shy of 3 days of the actual anniversary. The hospital was fantastic, they provided decorations, a room to gather in, even audio-visual equipment to show the video I posted earlier. We laughed, we cried, we toasted to the 60 year accomplishment.

It exhausted Mom, with all the commotion, but I checked in last night around 8:30 PM, and she was sleeping soundly. Looks like I'll be heading home on Sunday, tired but fullfilled. Knowing that she is comfortable, or as comfortable as she can be. I appreciate all the prayers, we can feel them. Dad is tired too, he he's 81, and doesn't have much stamina, but has been a trooper to be with Mom.

No IV in her now, she gets whatever sustenance she can get through purees and drinks like milk and water. Before I saw Mom, before she came north to AVH in Berlin, I had asked if she had bought a new bikini to come swimming in when she came down to North Carolina. So I just had to stop and pick out a little red number and we presented that to her for her 60th anniversary.

Liz flies up tomorrow, I'll pick her up in Manchester and she'll come north to see her mémère. Pray for wisdom for the docs, as we have one final test from an ear nose and throat specialist to rule out any growth that could be exacerbating her difficulty swallowing. Wouldn't it be awesome if Mom could get some relief and actually take in foods and liquids more easily? I know as unlikely as it is, that we serve a living breathing God, and that Mom could still recover. I'm not grasping at straws I just acknowledge that as highly improbable as that sounds, that it is still possible. Our goal is NOT to do heroics, but just keep Mom as comfortable as she can be.

Son, husband, father, brother

We all wear many hats, and my current season is one where I'm saying goodbye to my mom.



The song is the Prayer, but instead of Celine Dion it is David Phelps and the daughter Lauren Talley from the Talley Trio singing. David is Lucie's favorite male vocalist ...

The above video is a quick montage, hardly professional, I really need to take some pictures out. Some totally aren't flattering to Mom, but we are whole persons who wear many hats. We aren't always picture perfect, but life rolls on ready or not. As I've said this past weekend more than once, "it is what it is".

While I wish Mom's final days could be lived with gusto, I know she is surrounded by loved ones, and that she knows where she is going. I covet your prayers, that the Lord would take his daughter quickly, that her moments of lucidity outweigh her moments of blankness. This Saturday will be Mom & Dad's 60th anniversary, I'm not sure if Dad will be celebrating with Mom, or mourning ...

Let the angels call her home to Jesus. Thank you all for the prayers that have been sustaining us. Just because I can't stand being serious, might I add, if you choose to watch the video, that I'm usually the cutest one in the pictures. (And does that surprise you that I had to point that out?)

The pictures continue after the music ends, and end with some pictures that are totally blurred ... kind of symbolic (though unintended at the time) of where we are now, seems the music has ended for Mom.

If you haven't hugged a love one today, what are you waiting for?

The Shack: Part 2

Fast forward to minute 35 or so to see the drama from May 10th.

Lizzie is coming home ...

She's on a trans-Atlantic flight from Heathrow to RDU and arrives this afternoon. Lucie and Rachel will be there to greet her. I'm so psyched to give her a bear hug when she gets home.

I have GOT to recommend The Shack, the author came to our church, and though I missed the beginning of his speech, you like I can hear his thoughts on his fictional work here at: http://www.newhopenc.org/message-videos/the-shack/dr-benji-kelley-with-special-guest-william-paul-young.html I suggest you watch this with tissues in hand. If you've ever been ashamed, hurt, depressed ... this book offers (as an allegory) a view of God in His greatness, fullness as a triune person.

I'm also going to ask you to pray for my Mom, who is going through a dark time now and is at Lakes Region Hospital. My siblings are visiting her, but being remote is tough (a curse and a blessing). Please wrap her in your prayers, that she might be able to get out from under the fog of depression. She's also lost much weight, so if the doctors are missing some underlying disease that is a source for the depression, pray that they might find what's going on.