Hello Friends,
The garden angel above was passed down to me from my friend Marv. He had this angel in his garden. He gave it to me to have in my garden and I have been instructed by him to pass it on to one of my boys.
For those of you new to The River, Marv is a dear friend of ours who is 92 years old. He is a Koren War Veteran, a dear friend to our boys and my gardening mentor.
If you click on the below link, you will be able to read my tribute to Marv this past Independence Day 2020.
Marv suffered a stroke in September 2020. He has moved to Illinois to live and be cared for by family. He is slowly healing from the stroke. He also has been diagnosed with bladder cancer.
We call each other weekly. At the start of the year I could sense a change in Marv. He was remembering our boys when they were little fellas, and talking to me as if they were living here at home, going to school and playing out in the garden.
This past week, the same thing, he asked me how the little guys are doing. I do not correct it. I go along with it. I enjoy each conversation I can have with my friend Marv, thankful that he does remember me and my family.
At the end of our conversation this week he did say for the first time,
"Carla, I love those boys. You tell them that from me."
♥
A heart that's broke is a heart that's been loved
A life with love is a life that's been lived
I love your garden angel. Such a sweet gift from Marv to remember him by. I'm so glad that you can still talk to him and that he remembers the boys even though it's when they were young. His love is there, just the same. I remember the tribute to Marv that you blogged about but I went and revisited it.
ReplyDeleteHow sad that he has bladder cancer. I hope that he won't suffer too much.
Thanks for sharing.
Hugs, Julia
Your words at the end are so beautiful, Carla. You have such a dear friendship with Marv, and thank you for giving us an update on his health. I'm so sorry to hear this. I can't believe he's 92. What a life he has lived. So sweet of him to remember your young men as boys. The time spent with them must have been happy times for him. We learn many things from special people like Marv, don't we, Carla?
ReplyDeletelove to you this week.
~Sheri
Oh my gosh, he is the sweetest man! Thank goodness you two can still talk on the phone weekly. You must be such a comfort to him!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, bitter/sweet post.
ReplyDeleteGentle hugs...
😊 😊 😊
Oh what a sweet post. I'm glad he has family to care for him and the memory of good friends too.
ReplyDeleteOh Carla I have tears rolling down my face of what Marv said in his good bye to you. How sweet and heartwarming. Glad to get a little update on Marv. I know how much you love him. Have a good week ahead. xoxo
ReplyDelete((Hugs)) I know how hard this is for you. I'm sorry to hear about his cancer. Memory loss is never easy to deal with but we must just go along with it. Praying for Marv.
ReplyDeleteI am glad for this update, and so sorry. My Mom had bladder cancer, it used to be more rare. You are so wise not to correct him, just let him have his lovely memories as long as he can.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you do not correct Marv. I have finally stopped correcting my husband when he gets a bit mixed up and talks of people 60 years ago in the present.
ReplyDeleteOh, Carla - I'm so sorry to hear about Marv's decline! Thank you for sharing, though - it helps to know how to pray for you. Thank you for being a good friend to him, even through the harder times.
ReplyDeleteThat was touching.
ReplyDeleteIt must be good to still have contact with Marv but also hard when you know he is not doing so well.
ReplyDeleteI was teary eyed just reading your post. God bless Marv. Janice
ReplyDeleteCarla, I'm know your calls mean so much to him and it's kind of you to go along with what he remembers. It's his reality now and I'm sure he's happy to have your and your boys "with him" once a week...no matter how old everyone is! Cute angel!!
ReplyDeleteAh, you are such a good friend to Marv. He sure must love you and those boys. It's sweet that he thinks of them as small boys. I sure hope he recovers completely from the stroke...and the cancer.
ReplyDeleteWell now you've got me ALL choked up! God love him! How special that your family were able to become friends with Marv. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed reading about Marv throughout the years. Thanks for the update, and I will pray for him! It's sweet that Marv thinks of your sons as if they were still young. You will always cherish the sweet little garden angel to remind you of your special friendship with Marv!
ReplyDeleteI had to reach for a tissue, such a biter-sweet post.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the update on dear Marv.
Saying prayers for you all.
All the best Jan