Monday, November 9, 2015

REMEMBERING

I was married 37 years to my husband, Clay, when he died on November 10th 2012.  Over half of my life was spent with him. The last 6 years he was disabled with medical conditions, including frontal lobe dementia. The last 2 were the most difficult because of the dementia, which slowly took him away from me even before he died. Anyone who has been through this knows how difficult it is to watch the change in your loved one.  
We shared so many wonderful times and adventures together and that is what I cherish and hold on to.  Clay was my soul mate and with him I enjoyed sharing our love of nature and life and so much more.
He loved family and enjoyed time shared.  Clay is the curly haired man with me cradled to his chest.
 
He loved to go camping and here he is in his favorite coveralls!
This is Clay all dolled up for a night out to celebrate our 1 year anniversary.
 
Clay had quite a sense of humor and here he enjoyed posing at Universal Studios!
 Such a ham!!
Here is Clay hugging our first dog, Trampas. We loved animals. 
He loved boats and enjoyed playing on this museum ship.
This is our wedding day, May 29, 1976. Left to right: Clay's stepmom Marie-France; Clay's dad, Chan; me, Rose the Bride; Clay the groom; his mother Ellen; My dad Harold and my mother, Rose.
 We had been married 10 years in these photos above.  
Clay loved this railroad hat he picked up somewhere during our camping days, and wore it often.
It suited him. It was almost a part of him. He was sad when it got lost after 20+ years.
He was my handsome man and I loved him dearly!  Always in my memories.
If you love someone enough, you can still hear the laughter after they are gone.

16 comments:

  1. So nice of you to share with us as you went down memory lane. He was very handsome and it is obvious that you two where meant for each other. Mental disease are the worst. As for wonderful Robin Williams. Thank you for sharing. I love and miss you

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  2. What a beautiful tribute to the love of your life. I loved seeing all of the pictures.

    Love, hugs, prayers and God's continued blessings on you dear Rose.

    FlowerLady

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  3. What a tender tribute. You have such a heart full of love. Bless you, my dear friend.

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  4. What a lovely tribute to the love of your life. You were so good together; I can see the happiness and love in your eyes. Thank you for sharing some of your golden memories. Alice

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  5. Oh Rose,
    I can tell you loved him very much! What beautiful romantic photos and how handsome he was and how lovely you are too. I am so sorry for your loss. Take care Dear Friend.
    Karen

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  6. Your love for one another shines through these photos, as well as your memories of him. He still "hovers in spirit" around you, Rose.

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  7. We share an anniversary that I wish we didn't have to share. My Jake passed away on November 10,2010.The memories will stay in our hearts forever. I understand some of the pain of losing one we love so dearly.

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  8. What a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to your dear husband, Rose. Such a lovely couple - so full of love. Sending you love and blessings. xo Karen

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  9. Thank you for sharing these pieces of your heart and your history.

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  10. I'm sorry for your loss, and the way you had to say goodbye. It really is a difficult loss.
    Wow. It's cute seeing all the styles and your happiness through the years. You can see what a vibrant person he was.
    xoxo
    Su

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  11. Thank you for sharing such a lovely tribute.

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  12. Rose I am so sorry for the loss of your dear husband. I can see from the pics and read in your words what a love story you had together. Dementia is so hard and takes our loved ones a little at a time far too soon. Blessings to you as you hold fast to your beautiful memories. xo

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  13. I'm so sorry you lost him. He looked like such a fun person to be around.

    hugs to you,
    rue

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  14. It is wonderful to hear the healing from your loss of the love of your life, Clay, not just 3 years ago, but longer in your beautiful words and pictures. You are just remembering the good times over most of your married life, and that is a blessing to you and others as we see your example. My thoughts and prayers are with you on this "anniversary" day.

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  15. Rose, this was a beautiful post. You were a wonderful couple judging by the photos. You guys are so cute on your wedding day. I loved reading this.

    xo Dianne

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  16. What a sad and also beautiful post Rose. Wow, you were such a good looking couple. And yes I agree, you can still hear loved ones after they leave, love NEVER DIES. So true.

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