Hard to say goodbye...

As if the stress of moving a long way across the country at the age of 72 was not enough... people seem to want to express their appreciation for the little things I have done over the years.  

I am touched beyond measure at this.  I am and have always been much more of a loner.  I do not get involved with a group just to stay busy.  And when I do join... and those of you who know me, please do not giggle at this... I try to just sit in the background and listen to others until I see how the group is run and what the core values of the group are before getting too involved.

But once I commit to any group, I am quite capable of doing a service or task well and contributing to the cause.  I am a good organizer (Thank you, Mom) and I have learned to search the Internet for information and ideas to promote any activity.

All of the farewells began last weekend, with my Quilty, Red Hat, Indian Acres ladies.  It was a delightful picnic and,  as I mentioned in a past blog, we laughed, shared memories and hugged.  

I got a couple of very thoughtful gifts from that group.  Debby Patton, with whom I have shared some really good and some really heart-wrenching times, gave me a beautiful silver bracelet.  It has some very special charms that will have me remembering her every time I wear it.

M A Carroll gifted me a very special item.  Her late husband, Billy, was a very talented artist and he loved painting the local Maryland wildlife on local mediums.  Before he died he had painted a darling Blue Heron on a small piece of slate.  I have already carefully bubble wrapped it for the journey.  It will bring me many, many memories of my times at Indian Acres.

Billy Carroll was such a talented man in so many ways.. and M A and I went on countless adventures that often turned out to be more than we expected.  Good memories.

Today was probably the hardest goodbye event I will have for this move.  Since 2012 I have been going to Parkesburg Mennonite Church either as a GriefShare participant, or as a guest to the church and finally as a member.  It is a small church, we are lucky if we have 30 people at Sunday School and church services.  But it is a dedicated membership who refuse to let the church die, even though we have not had a pastor for several years.  (We can only sustain a part-time pastor for now and they are hard to find.)

This church is, however, a tight-knit family.  And even though I was a stranger, I immediately felt the warmth and caring from this church.  I helped them continue GriefShare for several years.  I was a leader... with two other capable ladies... in starting the Sew Much Love ministry where we create pillowcases for Children's hospitals, Dresses for Africa and prayer shawls for our Prayer Shawl Ministry as well as helping the Parkesburg Point with their new Prayer Shawl program.  I also had a great deal of fun running the simple Audio/Visual program for the Sunday services.

Today they had a Community meal for me following the church service.  They had a special reading and presentation during the service.  The church had commissioned a painting by one of our congregation so I could remember them.  Anita Palmer-Gordon painted a beautiful rendition of the church building.  It will be one of the first things I hang in my new home in Alaska.  I will look at it often and have wonderful memories of all of the people and activities there.

Denyce Tober stopped by Sew Much Love yesterday to give me a beautiful "Lemon" basket of kitchen things to brighten up my kitchen during the cold, dark winters.  And it certainly will.

Sheila Williamson, aside from hugs and tears of her own, presented me with a lovely Christmas ornament for my first Alaska Christmas Tree.  It is a Lenox ornament, wishing Blessings on my Home.  I have felt Sheila's blessings all the time I have been at the church, from the first bear hug at GriefShare to this morning and will continue them as she will be here this week to continue helping me get ready for the packers and movers to come after Labor Day.  You have been such a blessing to me!!!

Sheila, I hope that you will add Alaska to your bucket list after you have finished traveling Europe.

Finally, in addition to cards with gift cards and cash, I had a very unique gift from Patches DiGregorio.  She also gave me cash, but along with her card, she gave me a beautiful bouquet.  It was delightful dollar blossoms.  I loved it and will certainly find it handy during my journey from Parkesburg to Fairbanks.

Patches has also been a trooper by helping me on some evenings as I sort and pack up my sewing room.  Anytime you and your family want to come visit, there will be space for you.  Marina has already said that she will be coming to visit, so you might as well all come and we can all have a wonderful time together.

Lots of tears today.  But lots of love, too.  I know that we will be missing each other. but in today's age, we can always video call, email, text or just old-fashioned phone call.  So I will never be more than a couple of numbers away from my friends.  I will just be adding new ones to my circle.