Memorial Weekend

I talked to my Great Auntie N last night. Her husband has been very ill and we didn't know about him being so sick. Every time I had talked to her she had said his back was a bit sore but he was great. That wasn't the case and she was having a hard time accepting it we found out. Who would blame her though, we all want to hope our loved ones get better. My cousin had called me while we were in Florida and let us know how sick he really was and asked me to call my Aunt to see if I could talk with her . (My older relatives in NY seemed to take direction from me that they wouldn't from immediate family, not sure if its because I was from Ireland like themselves or as one job manager suggested to me - that I would do well in customer service as I wore glasses and people take a lot more crap from folks wearing glasses...)

Anyway I called my Aunt and after a week of her phone being busy or no answer I finally got through last night. She said her husband was very ill but she hoped he would get better. She talked about him coming home in a couple of months. The cancer, blocked arteries combined with being a hard smoker and drinker for most of his life was draining his life in large pieces. I didn't press her on how sick he was, I could tell she already knew but was hoping for the best. I'm glad we talked as my cousin called me this morning and sadly Liam had passed away this morning in the VA hospital. May God look after him

My great Aunt and Uncle had met in their late 30's in NY, both immigrants and had no children and loved each other fiercely. My Aunt who let me stay with her when I first came to America and then again after that after the car accident. They were like my adopted grandparents away from home and I would drive my Aunt around groceries and beer shopping or anything she needed. Liam was a dry funny man who could rub people the wrong way a lot of times but I didn't have any bother with him really. He liked a good argument and I had learnt to do that as a young child with my Grandad Mac at home so we had good Irish rows about nothing and then a beer and laughed about it. He loved my Aunt and they were devoted to each other.

He was born and reared in Ireland and is going home to be buried there in Dungarvan. He served in the army here and was proud to be an solider, serving at one point in Germany during the war. He'll be missed and on this Memorial weekend saying a prayer for him and all the family and friends who have passed on. Also saying a prayer for all the troops around the world, regardless of what country they are from or where they are serving, a prayer that they come home soon and safe. We couldn't ask for more on this Memorial day.