UN-happiness of the day.

[Mary Kay]

Last weeK my ex-Father in law and Grandfather to both my kids passed away, he was 83. Great guy, he and my ex-Mother in law were wonderful , salt of the earth people. I have written about them teaching me about farming in Va. and what to eat and not eat right out of a garden (beets are a no no). Fuzzy beasts out in a field could be horses! Who ever heard of fuzzy cows and horses?
He had a long life, 3 kids 15 grands and 11 greatgrands so far.

Very Early this morning my sister in law passed away. She was the 2nd oldest out of 7 (3 different hubbys for my MIL, Mike is 3rd oldest). She has been ailing for a few years now, but this one was by far, at a month, the longest stay in the hospital and she got MRSA..the horrid infection people with low immunity can get in a hospital (mom got it).
Mike left home at 17 for the military and only made short trips back to Ca. over the years. He was not close but still..it's a big part of his childhood. May she finally find peace.
We saw all the brothers and sisters a few years ago in Iowa and Ill for a family reunion.
This is one of the pictures from the reunion in 2006. The sister in law that passed away is the blonde with the black slacks. Mike is in the hawaiian shirt.

 

[Fudgey]

(((((hugs))))) Prayers and condolences to everyone.

I remember the beet story but not the fuzzy beast Details.....

 

[rkayw]

Hugs MK. Sorry for your families losses.

 

[TinyTimberGal]

(((hugs)))

 

[Prettycat191]

Sorry for your losses

 

[CES]

(((MK)))

I'm so sorry for your losses.

 

[Lisa66]

Mary Kay, I'm so sorry! Hugs!

 

[Beans]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Sending love, prayers and light your way.

 

[Mary Kay]

It is just time passing, with both we knew it was coming soon. Still it was very sad. My MIL is having a hard time coping, even with family around all the time..they were married 61 years. My SIL's hubby spent every night in the hospital at her bedside. I am so glad both of them had love and support all their lives.

When my ex in laws were young and only married 21 years, I was newly wed to their son. We made our first visit right after we were married, I was just 18. It was Nov. and I saw all these fuzzy animal out in a field far away and asked my FIL what they were..sheep? He laughed and thought I meant they looked like sheep. He was dumbfounded when I wasn't kidding. He said they were cows! I said, my Uncle runs cattles..I NEVER saw a fuzzy cow! He said well you are in for a treat..he drove me past a herd of yet more fuzzy creatures and up close I could tell they were HORSES! WEIRD.
My MIL's Mom and Dad ran a country store like you would find on Walton's Mountain. (Come to think of it Smith Mountain that Walton's Mt. was based on isn't that far away, also in Va.) A big porch with a chest cooler full of Nehi. Guys sitting in rocking chairs on the porch on Sat. pickin gitars and whatever. Inside a pickle barrel, pickled eggs and pigs feet on the counter with small containers of candy under. and a huge potbellied store in the middle of the room with a checker board table. Most of the veggies they sold both fresh and jarred were from Gpa and Gma's fields as was the ham and eggs. The house was on a hill above the store surrounded by the crops and animals.
It was a shock to me to find that people still had outhouses and no elec! But it was a bigger shock to my FIL and Grandfather in law to find out I could drink moonshine from the jar without keeling over or coughing. (my Gpa from Illinois liked that stuff..just kerosene if you ask me!). But they found it very funny that I refused to eat squirrel stew..ewww big flying rats!

 

[Lisa66]

MK, this is wonderful to read........ if you haven't already, you should write this stuff down for your kids and grandkids. They will love it.

How did you learn to drink moonshine like that, girl?

 

[Fudgey]

Great story MK!!! Fuzzy creatures....hehehehe.

So you get moonshine from now on instead of margaritas

 

[Mary Kay]

My Grandpa would come down to visit from Ill. and walk down to the local moonshiner (this was the 1950's and 60') He loved shine and would bring a bottle or 6 home (to take back with him) He said a drop or two a day was good for a body. When I was 16 he showed me how to tip it over my shoulder and take a drink. HATED it! But refused to let Grandpa know it. So a couple years later in Va. I could pull it off! This from a girl who is scared of cows and roosters.

 

[Lisa66]

...kinda like the "recipe" on the Waltons.

 

[Mary Kay]

yep! Just like it!