Spent a little time reading (rather than skimming) the posts I missed or barely caught while I was gone. The discussions about last wishes and such reminded me of a Linda story.
Linda is just a bitty little thing. Like Ma, her body decided that it was quite comfortable at a lower elevation so she never grew past 4’11”. Her eyes are soft green. When she laughs, they disappear for a moment into a multitude of laugh lines. She laughs a lot and it’s contagious. You don’t even have to know what’s funny to join in. She is very rarely grouchy or sarcastic, unlike her oldest sister. Her sense of humor is very British – droll and dry. She can deliver a punch line you never see coming!
Russ, her husband of 40 years, is a southern boy. He and Ken were serving on the same ship and they were deployed for almost a year. During that time I took my little ones back to South Dakota and lived at home with Ma, Dad, Linda, Lori, Ronnie and Bev. I knew Russ well. Before the ship left for the shores of Viet Nam he used to come over for dinner or just to watch football with Ken. So I decided that it might be a good idea for Linda and Russ to “get acquainted”. Thus began a pen pal adventure with a happy ending. Linda went back to California with me when the ship returned, they met in person, and a true love story was born. Russ got out of the Navy and few short months later they were married in a huge church wedding in Russ’s home town in Georgia. Not one of her family members was able to attend the wedding.
After a few months, Russ noticed Linda wasn't smiling and laughing as much anymore. Smart boy figured out that she missed her family. He simply told her that he’d learned from his time in the Navy that he could live anywhere and if she wanted to “go home” then South Dakota would become his home too. So they moved back to Sioux Falls and my family finally met Russ. They welcomed him with open arms. But Russ was having trouble keeping a job. He’d find one, work a while, hear about a “better” one, quit and then go apply at the new place. He spent almost 2 years job hopping. It drove Linda crazy.
Ken and I were home on leave once, and we were all sitting outside after a big family barbecue. I don’t remember why, but for some reason the subject of last wishes came up. After a long series of bad “when I’m dead” jokes, Russ announced, “Well, after my time in the Navy I've decided that I just want to be cremated and have my ashes spread at sea.”
Linda didn't even look up. In a dry, yeah-whatever voice she retorted, “If you don’t get a job and keep it pretty darn soon I’m just gonna throw your a** on the barbecue grill and dump whatever's left of you in Covell Lake.” Russ got a job at the newspaper in the maintenance department and has been there ever since. And I'm also happy to report that the barbecue grill is no longer hanging over his head.
