That blog title may sound a little callous but let me explain. There definitely was more to cry about than laugh about but I chose to concentrate on laughter.

Sadly, Kathie passed away November 3rd. She had been the love of my life for 53 years. December 19th would have made it 54 years.

I pride myself even though Kathie pleaded with me to bring her home from the Wheaton Care Center every time I went to visit her, I calmly explained the doctors had said, “No.”

And every time I said no, I felt a pain in my heart.

I am so thankful I never lost my temper during those thousand times of questioning and screamed, “N0!!”

I would not have been able to forgive myself. 🙁

So, we are going to concentrate on the humor rather than the sadness that filled our lives for these past ten years.

Probably the most humorous thing that happened during the caring process was the night I was getting her ready for bed in the care center.

Often, I would visit Kathie in the evenings and help her get ready for bed.

One evening in preparation of putting her pajamas on I removed her bra and lifting her breast I discovered a nickel tucked away.

I was somewhat surprised, so I decided to check the other breast for treasure. To my surprise I discovered nickel #2 under her second breast.

I knew immediately what the rest of the story was. Kathie had forgotten of course but she had played Bingo that afternoon and had won twice.

You see the prize for winning a Bingo game was a nickel.

But she had forgotten the highlight of her day.

I faithfully checked those breasts every time it was bedtime after that. 🙂

Before Kathie was admitted into the care center, I was caring for her at our house.

In March I was scheduled to have hip surgery so our three children stepped up and took turns caring for us. Bless them for that.

That meant we spent time in three different homes with bathrooms located in three different areas of each house.

Several times each night I would have to leap out of bed and go in search of Kathie who had gone to the bathroom, and I would find her wandering in the hallways searching for our bedroom.

After the operation Kathie was banned from sleeping with me because she kept forgetting I had a new hip.

We were staying at our youngest daughter’s house, so Bonnie became Kathie’s new bed partner.

Often Kathie would awake in the middle of the night and begin chatting with our daughter, Bonnie.

Bonnie shared a couple of their middle of the night discussions.

Kathie asked, “What’s your name?”

Our daughter replied, “Bonnie.”

Kathie responded, “What’s your last name?”

Of course, our daughter replied, “Larson.”

Kathie responded, “Oh, I know you! That’s my last name too!’ 🙂

Another middle of the night conversation occurred when Kathie asked, “Do I have a boyfriend or husband or something?”

Bonnie replied, “Yes, Mike. Mike Larson.”

“Oh, I love Mike Larson,” replied Kathie. (I was thankful to hear that.) 🙂

When our two daughters get together that means giggling and laughter.

They were visiting with Mom in the Care Center one day and they were in a giggling mood when Kathie requested politely, “Would you two please be quiet?”

When Jill and Bonnie are in that jovial mood it takes a lot to jolt them out of it.

Well Kathie accomplished that task when she shouted, “WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP!”

Many people with memory issues become nasty and spiteful. Thankfully Kathie’s personality became childlike except when it came to quieting her giggling daughters that one time. 🙂

Kathie had a strong faith. She and her prayer partner, Shirley, would walk the halls of Pearson Elementary School after school praying for the school staff and the children.

It melted my heart when a nurse in the Care Center shared what Kathie was up to there.

There was a man in his 40’s who was dying from AIDS.

So, I bet you can guess how a prayer warrior would respond to that situation.

Kathie never shared this with me because she never remembered doing it, but she would go into his room and sing Christian songs to him.

I would guess she shared a little scripture along with guiding the young man to ask Jesus into his heart if he had not already done so.

She is probably singing with him in Heaven right now as I am completing this blog.  🙂

Toward the end of her stay at the care center she developed the habit of sliding out of her wheelchair and lying on the floor.

During one of those falls she cracked two small bones in her pelvis which put a stop to her wandering the care center halls at all hours of the night.

I had never seen the wheelchair dismount move before until I arrived for a visit one afternoon. I came to the fireplace room where she usually spent her days.

As I entered the room, I could see the aids and nurses speaking to someone behind the long cabinet. I peeked over the cabinet and who do you suppose was lying on the floor and peeking back?

I had come close to observing my wife bail out of her wheelchair, and the ‘Gotcha’ look on her face made it well worth it. 🙂

The care center stay drew to an end when a CT scan revealed Kathie had a cancerous growth on her stomach along with bone cancer.

She was put on hospice and slept most of the day.

In our younger days Kathie and I sang at many weddings and funerals.

So, near the end when Kathie was losing her ability to communicate, I would kneel down by her bed and sing her favorite family song, You Are My Sunshine.

I would just get started and my heart leaped as she joined me singing, “You are my sunshine my only sunshine,  you make me happy when skies are gray, you’ll never know dear how much I love you, please don’t take my sunshine away.

She would quit singing at that point and I would finish the second verse alone.

The other night dear as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms, when I awoke dear, I was mistaken, and I hung my head and cried. 🙁

I’ll always miss my sunshine!

Until next time!

s