Blue Rose

....as a little remembrance for our friend Doug's mom who passed away a couple days ago in the town where Big R  and Doug grew up.   Big R is safely back there now to attend the wedding of our nephew...but in addition he was able to comfort his childhood best friend D who now lives in San Francisco.   Big R and Doug met at the school bus stop in second grade....this is when R also met Doug's mom Kay for the first time.  He really loved her and felt she had a big influence upon him growing up.  She had a gentle quiet wit blended with opinions that didn't mince words.  She smoke and drank and used colorful language and had a wonderful warmth about her.  Big R found her such a contrast to what he knew at home....and he found her a pleasant contrast too realizing all those who didn't hold the same behaviors weren't necessarily bad folk as he'd been led to believe growing up with rigid religious values.  Doug's mom loved her son as much as R's mom loved him....she sustained a long time marriage as have his folks, and she was very kind and loving and accepting and tolerant.....these were additional traits she passed on to him.  Here's to you dear Kay!  And love and healing comfort to you Doug.

Thanks for all the well wishes to R on his trip back to his childhood home for the wedding too.  Much appreciated are all your kind words.