It was our last weekend together before his stroke. It was the beginning of June 2009. Saturday was a beautiful day and we spent most of it outside, sitting on the patio, grilling out, having a beer and really talking, reconnecting. Our son was 4 months old. I remember my husband taking pictures of our son while I "sat" him on top of our big cat making it look like he was riding him. I remember thinking after the stroke that was one of the best weekends we'd had in along time. Finally being able to relax and just be together after the business of work and having a new baby. My husband slowly regained his thoughts and memories in the next few months after the stroke, but another stroke ended his life at the age of 32.
Thank you for reminding me of such a wonderfull weekend with him.

Two months before my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 lung and bone cancer, we went on a cruise with our son and his wife and a couple who are good friends of all of us. I almost postponed that cruise to a later date and am so thankful I didn't do it. We had a wonderful time on that trip and I wouldn't take anything for those memories and how much he enjoyed himself. I'm so glad he got to take one last trip. He wasn't able to travel after the diagnosis and was bedridden not too long after. I'm just thankful we got to spend that time together. Take care, Sandra

The last that is still stuck in my memory is the last dinner party we had. Once a month we got together with two couples here in our neighborhood. We have known them for 10-20 years and we always have a great time together. It was our turn and I had put beef and baby back ribs on the smoker all day, Diana had made her baked beans and brussel sprouts sauted with hazel nuts. It was a gorgeous day, May 16th, and we ate out on the patio. The food was great and the company was great, and we sat out there till perhaps 10 oclock. As we sat around I brought up something that a radio host had said a few days earlier. She got a fortune from a cookie that simply said Happiness is not perfected till it is shared. We all agreed that it was a truism.

Two days later I lost my perfection

Our last "mini" vacation was the 2nd wkend of Oct. 2007. We drove down to Gulf Shores, AL, with our 10 & 8 yr old grandsons on a Friday. My dtr and her husband and the older boys, 16 then, came down during the night Fri. night. One grandson played football and they had to wait until after the game.

Joe and I were usually at the Fri. night games, but this one was one that we knew would be a blow out and Joe said we would just head on down during the day. (It was a blow-out, we won big time).

I remember sitting on the balcony, outside our condo, and watching Joe and the boys flying kites down on the beach. They were all having such a good time. I was trying to get good pics of them with the kites, while on the balcony. The kites looked extremely small way up in the sky. I took a few, and could not tell who was on the beach.

My dtr took some from down on the beach, and we used one of Joe and our youngest grandson in the array of photos at the funeral home. They were standing exactly the same way with their hands~up in the air~ holding the kite string and staring up at their kites. Many people asked what they were doing. It became one of the favorite pictures there.

I can think about this time now, and smile. Joe was having fun with the boys. We had such a good time that we planned on going back with them every year. Of course, that was the last year we went, now I go with them.

That weekend was a lot of fun and a memory I cherish. Thanks for the post.

Hugs, Joely

One of the things that is so sweet about this circle is the sharing. Reading your posts has me going back in time. Unfortunately due to Mike's disease bringing about changes to his personality I lost a dear part of him years before he went home to the Lord..miraculously he became himself for a brief moment. I will always be grateful for that gift. The picture I have in my mind and in photos to look back at are of 'my handsome hubby', one of titles I gave him, smiling and driving his boat in the blue waters of our little paradise...

I am remembering our last kiss. Todd left for his second deployment last October. There were no good-bye's. Todd didn't believe in good-bye. He would be back. peace to all here. Kaaren

I'm remembering the last day Richard was able to speak before being put on the ventilator and being sedated. I took that day off from work and I sat with him holding his hand. The last words we spoke to each other was when I was getting ready to leave for the evening. He said I love you first first first and I said I love you second second second. He said, no first and no second, just the same. A couple of days later, when I was sitting by his beside holding his hand, he gave my hand five very hard squeezes as to say, "I know you're here with me." That was the last time he was able to squeeze anyones hand. Later when the nurse would come and say squeee my hand, he couldn't do it. I feel so fortunate for those "little things"

Carla

The last day my wife spoke, she told me "I love you" over and over again. She said it so often, I even asked her why she was telling me that so much. Of course i am glad she did, and i can still hear her now.

Our last movie was Avatar also, and we loved it. I can't watch it, I am not ready..but his last words were a question to me..Shelley? and I told him I was here..I can't remember the last time we said I love you because it was an every minute thing with us. His love will never end. I know he loves me from the grave. Hugs~Shelley

The last time my husband told me and the kids he loved us was at 10 am on the day that he died at 9:15 pm. Will never forget that or when he told me on the Sunday before he died on a Thursday that I was the love of his life. No greater blessing from above did I receive in my lifetime. That remark will live with me until the day that I join in. Best, Jude

The last time he ever held me. It was the Saturday before he died. He had mostly been incoherent since the day before, but I thought it was the medication and was taking him to hospice (to realign his meds, I thought, NOT for him to die) on Monday. He was lying down and I asked him to hold me and he held me so tightly and warmly and lovingly close to him. I had no idea it was the last time, but I believe that he knew because he was so sure he was dying within two weeks one day earlier and that was 15 days before he died.

The last day spent with hubs was watching him hang the christmas lights on our home. We got so busy that day I didnt remember to plan dinner, so we ate pb & j and such and he told me that was fine with him, he was so easy going and enjoyed just having a day off to spend with me and his children.

The last week together at home had been a tough one. We fought a lot that week. Then he ended up in the hospital. Several days later, I asked him if we were okay, "you & me." I still thought he was coming home. He said, "I love you with all my heart." It was the last thing he ever said to me.

The last thing Rose said to me was..."Honey if I die I want you to know I love you very much." I wish I had said it back. All I said was "Honey you're not gonna die...we are almost to the ER." I know she knows I love her. But I still will always regret not saying it one more time.

I remember our last family gathering, it was Thanksgiving, exactly one week before I lost him. Paul so enjoyed having our children over, he loved to cook for all of us. We almost didn't have Thanksgiving, because Paul was not feeling well and had been getting so depressed, because he felt useless. I am so glad we did.