A Flower Taken

It was one week ago yesterday that my friend buried "The most amazing woman."

We knew Vic and Marie very casually for a few years and then in 2006 they invited us to come to Palm Springs with them and spend two weeks in their rented condo. We  must have been a bit of a disappointment for them because I was laid low with recovery from surgery and neither of us are tennis players. Somehow we overcame those obstacles and become very good friends through a lot of sharing and good conversation. You cannot help but get to know someone when you live under the same roof for two weeks. When we got back, we remained friends and got together regularly. One thing that always struck me was the way Vic would say what an amazing woman Marie was. I gradually began to understand why, as did busylizzy who became quite close to Marie. 

At her memorial, some themes were repeated that we already knew. What you saw was what you got with Marie. Marie was 'low maintainance'. Marie's faith was strong and she lived it out. Marie was close to the Lord. 

The day before we left for Palm Desert was the last time I spoke to Marie. She phoned me to tell us to have a good time, and a relaxing time. She was so full of encouragement I could hardly get in the words I wanted to speak to her. I suspected it might be the last time I would speak to her so I thanked her and Vic for helping us discover the Palm Springs area and reminded her of all the good times we had there. I told her what a great encourager she was and how her positive spirit always lifted us up. I told her we would be praying for her. 

A few days before we came home, she passed away from this world into the arms of Jesus, her Saviour. 

Yesterday I spent a few hours with Vic. I had not seen him since the memorial and was expecting to see a shell of a man. But what a difference a strong marriage and a strong faith makes in a man's life. He has plans and dreams and always has been a man of action with more than enough energy. 

What he has left is a very wonderful and supportive family but the memories of his "most amazing woman" will carry him through.    

A Man of Great Accomplishment

Early this morning, Eugene Reimer passed away. Reading the front page article in today's paper will make it obvious that he was a man of great accomplishment and an inspiration to many. He was a world class athlete, and yet I found him to be a humble individual. I first met him many years ago when he asked me to do some work for him. He then recommended me to the rest of his family and I have had off and on contact with him for many years since. I last saw him at a memorial service for a mutual friend. We chatted for at least an hour, a most enjoyable experience. I was saddened to hear in February that he was hospitalized due to a stroke. More recently, I had heard that he was not doing well, and only days later, I contracted to re-decorate his suite in the Towne Centre Tower, which had been sold by his family. They said he would not be coming back. Today, I learned of his death. I read it on a notice board in the lobby of his Condominium Tower as I was coming down from his suite. He will be on my mind every minute as we complete the job for the new owner.

Farewell

We attended Peter's memorial service today. More than a tribute to the man's life, it was a tribute to God's grace and a man's response to that grace. Heidi's Dad was a man who was well versed in eschatology, a study of the happenings of the end of the age from a Biblical perspective. I could not help but think of him when I read a quote, this week, from Henry van Dyke, American author, educator, and clergyman.

"I am standing at the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. I stand and watch until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud, just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other ... And just the moment when someone at my side says: 'There, she's gone!' there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: 'Here she comes!' And that is dying."

In Loving Memory

Mika Bergen, who loved to grow Dahlias
February 3 1921 - November 21 2007

For Henry and Heidi: When the sunshine of God's love meets the showers of our sorrow, the rainbow of promise appears.