Remembering Uncle Jim

My Uncle Jim died Friday. I just found out. It brings a sorrow to my heart. I haven't seen my Uncle for several years. When my Aunt Nancy was ill with ALS he wouldn't let me come to see her. He wanted me to remember her as she was before she got sick. I wanted to see her, I wanted to be with her. I remembered her kindness to me as a child, touching me with loving touches. The only touches I remember receiving as a child. I remembered visiting her apartment in the Bronx just after she married my Uncle and the fish aquarium in the apartment. I remembered the time she brought home Maryann and proudly wheeling her about in the carriage. She wanted children and they wouldn't come, then Maryann, beautiful little Maryann came home, then Brian. I really don't recall Brian very much. Years after Maryann, Aunt Nancy was finally pregnant and the sweet, precious Kelly arrived.

Uncle Jim was the story teller. Boy, he could spin a yarn that would scare you silly. He was involved with the boy scouts for years and years. He loved the boy scouts. He loved to tell them the scary stories at night, in the dark, sitting around the campfire. He would tell the stories to me and my four brothers...."the hand"...oh would we jump, scared to pieces every time.I remember pitching pennies in the corner of my Aunt Vieno's apartment on Perry Ave in the Bronx.

She was really my gramma. My mother's mom died before I was born and grampa remarried a beautiful young teacher from Minnesota. She became Aunt Vieno. A more gracious and lovely lady I do not think every lived. Growing up we went to her apartment about once a month for Sunday dinner. It was so special. The table set with her finest China. Uncle Jim told us stories and pitched pennies. Aunt Vieno made peanut butter and bacon appetizers for us and set a special table for the children.

I spent many weeks with Aunt Vieno and Grampa when my folks would go off skiing in Canada. I loved being with my gramma, except for going down into the basement of the apartment building. That is where the laundry was done. It wasn't very nice and to a young girl frightening. I would never go down there alone. During those visits after Uncle Jim married I would walk down the street to visit with my beautiful Aunt Nancy.

I loved my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jim. He was my mother's brother. He was Irish and Aunt Nancy came from a big loving Irish family. She was beautiful, very beautiful.

Uncle Jim got remarried after Aunt Nancy died. I never did meet his wife. Her name was Jane. I wanted to see Uncle Jim, but things changed when he remarried and I was not able to contact him. I missed him, I missed Aunt Nancy.

Now they are all gone. As the cousins got older we lost contact. Now I feel as if my family is gone. It makes me very sad.

Comfort, Texas

Aquarena, man eating catus!

Comfort, Texas a typical backyard in town

Aquarena, San Marcos the old street lights

San Marcos River walk

Jane and her Indian friend, San Marcos

Main Street, Comfort, Texas

Greetings from Comfort, Texas, His Hill Bible Center. Located in the lovely rolling hill country, where there is a view from every bump in the landscape. Speaking of bumps and lumps, this ministry is not good for the figure. One lovely lady's ministry to the SOWERS is to bake something luscious every work day for coffee break. And coffee break is two hours after we start working and and two hours prior to lunch. She has opened her home to serve the SOWERS. Hard to resist, but resist I must because my wardrobe is complaining mightily. Even though Dale and I go for a long walk each day, it is not enough to equate calories in, calories out.  I decided not to eat any breakfast so I could enjoy the yummy freshed baked treats. 

The little town of Comfort was founded mid 1800's by "Free Thinkers". German folks who base their lives on their minds, minus God. Many of the descendants of the Free Thinkers are still living here, so I am told since everyone knows everyone gossip is a bad idea.

Yesterday we visited one of my favorite places, Aquarena in San Marcos. It is 70 miles from here, that in Texas is around the corner. We have visited every time we are in the vicinity. Aquarena used to be an amusement park featuring mermaids, swimming pigs, glass bottom boats, a hotel, an arial ride across the natural springs and restaurant. It closed years ago and has been purchased by Texas State University. They are developing the area as a persevered natural habitat. The springs are the beginning of the San Marcos River that leads to the Gulf. The original structures have been left standing, taking one back in time to around 1950, a wonderful time capsule.

It is very dark at night, with no city lights to interfere with the stars. The Texas sky is huge, one can see from horizon to horizon a zillion stars. Amazing!

Still in Spicewood, Texas

Today we should be in Comfort, Texas at our second project, but we are still at Highland Lakes in Spicewood.  Dale has been ill with pneumonia and is recovering.  He is not strong enough to work and the wonderful folks here at this camp would like us to stay as long as we need too.  They are so very gracious and loving.

I'm getting a little stir crazy.  The project is finished, the next group of SOWER's has arrived and I don't have work to do.  Hopefully we will be leaving here within the week and move on down to Comfort, TX.  When I arrived here for my first project, I was a little apprehensive.  I thought that all the ladies would be so very spiritual and better than me.  I found out we are all the same, children of the Lord in various stages of growth.  There are ladies from good, loving and Godly homes, from abusive homes and everything inbetween.  Some ladies have ministered to me and I have been able to befriend and minister to a very hurting lady.  It has been a blessing and another of those wonderful learning opportunities.  God is so good!