My dear REOkin,
I've been blown away by the kindness shown by all of you since Joyce passed away. Words can't express how much I appreciate your thoughtful and caring messages, the many gifts you've sent, and the love you've demonstrated. My physical family is astounded by your expressions of love, as well. They simply can't wrap their minds around the fact that a group of people whom I've never met personally has poured out so much to me.
Thank you all for the beautiful Edible fruit bouquet (it was delicious!), the wonderful "spa basket," the soup/stew basket (I'm saving that for winter. Ain't nothing better than good soups and stews when the weather cools), the awesome tea package with a tea maker/steeper (I've wanted one of those since Heck was a pup!), the Gund Bear, and the gift a grove of trees to be planted in Joyce's memory.
My 13 year old great-niece, Taylor, was at my house when the Gund Bear and the Living Tribute plaque for the grove of trees arrived. Naturally, being a 13 year old, she was telling me, "Aunt Pat, open the box! Open the box first!" When I opened the box, she pulled out the bear and immediately noticed that the bear's name was "Alfie Bear." That floored both of us since Joyce's favorite dog, her chihuahua/pug mix is named "Alfie." I hugged the hell out of that bear, with tears streaming down my face. Taylor cried, too - saying that Joyce would have LOVED that bear just like she loved her doggie, Alfie.
Then I opened the big envelope from Living Tributes and read the plaque saying that trees would be planted in Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Joyce's memory. How very fitting for Joyce. As a sculptor, wood was her favorite medium. Then I got to wondering where Shasta-Trinity National Forest is located, so Taylor and I got on my computer and Googled it. As soon as I saw "Redding, CA" I about fell on the floor! When Joyce and I left on our cross-country trip in an RV (with three dogs and two cats!), moving from Seattle to Florida, we stopped one night to stay in an RV park in Redding. During the night, Joyce got sick and I took her to the hospital. Between the hospital stay and a few days in rehab, we were in Redding for about 10 days. I did a fair amount of exploring Redding during that time and really loved the town.
Again, thank you so much, my dear friends. Your outpouring of love and concern has touched my heart more than I can say. We are truly a REOfamily.
Hugs and smooches,
Patty
I've been blown away by the kindness shown by all of you since Joyce passed away. Words can't express how much I appreciate your thoughtful and caring messages, the many gifts you've sent, and the love you've demonstrated. My physical family is astounded by your expressions of love, as well. They simply can't wrap their minds around the fact that a group of people whom I've never met personally has poured out so much to me.
Thank you all for the beautiful Edible fruit bouquet (it was delicious!), the wonderful "spa basket," the soup/stew basket (I'm saving that for winter. Ain't nothing better than good soups and stews when the weather cools), the awesome tea package with a tea maker/steeper (I've wanted one of those since Heck was a pup!), the Gund Bear, and the gift a grove of trees to be planted in Joyce's memory.
My 13 year old great-niece, Taylor, was at my house when the Gund Bear and the Living Tribute plaque for the grove of trees arrived. Naturally, being a 13 year old, she was telling me, "Aunt Pat, open the box! Open the box first!" When I opened the box, she pulled out the bear and immediately noticed that the bear's name was "Alfie Bear." That floored both of us since Joyce's favorite dog, her chihuahua/pug mix is named "Alfie." I hugged the hell out of that bear, with tears streaming down my face. Taylor cried, too - saying that Joyce would have LOVED that bear just like she loved her doggie, Alfie.
Then I opened the big envelope from Living Tributes and read the plaque saying that trees would be planted in Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Joyce's memory. How very fitting for Joyce. As a sculptor, wood was her favorite medium. Then I got to wondering where Shasta-Trinity National Forest is located, so Taylor and I got on my computer and Googled it. As soon as I saw "Redding, CA" I about fell on the floor! When Joyce and I left on our cross-country trip in an RV (with three dogs and two cats!), moving from Seattle to Florida, we stopped one night to stay in an RV park in Redding. During the night, Joyce got sick and I took her to the hospital. Between the hospital stay and a few days in rehab, we were in Redding for about 10 days. I did a fair amount of exploring Redding during that time and really loved the town.
Again, thank you so much, my dear friends. Your outpouring of love and concern has touched my heart more than I can say. We are truly a REOfamily.
Hugs and smooches,
Patty
(((((Patty))))) 
