The last month has been a whirl for me... Dukes & Boots is coming into season, putting together all the marketing and parties for Our Anniversary, for Holiday Parties, Thanksgiving Eve, Black Friday $2 Lunch, Black Friday Night, The Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, New Years Eve, a Brand New Menu, plus all the day to day of operations, lunches, ordering, inventory..... Then in the middle of it all... My Uncle, My Brother of 56 years... Becomes sick... Like I drove 100 mph to his house and carried him to my car and too the hospital kinda sick. They were awesome at Bothwell Hospital...Angels... They nursed him back after three week. He went home, and he was so happy.... I was there every day, every night.... His Grandaughter Julie was there & A week later he was in the hospital at the VA.... Only three days and get to come home... Less than a week later he was back at the VA... He would be there for 9 days. So was I. On the 7th day, the Dr and I told him gently that he had Stage 4 Lung Cancer... There would be no chemo, no radiation, no surgery.... He was on a ventilater and couldnt speak but he could nod... I asked him if he already knew and was trying to spare us the pain... He nodded again.... He fought till the end.... On the 9th day His only remaining brother made it at 12:15 Thursday Afternoon and he left us peacefully, quietly, gracefully.... An hour later....I believe he waited for his brother to get here. I whispered it was okay to go home an I kissed his forehead....I know he left this life to go to a place we can never truly understand. A place where he got to be with his Mom, his Dad, his Brothers, Sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends..... Never alone again.... I have spent the last two and 1/2 weeks trying to get his affairs in line.... His estate, his final resting place, next to me.... Next to my mommy... With family in both worlds... I want to thank my Staff for helping me so much at Dukes... Helping me get things done... Because you deserve the best we can give you... Michael Thomas Glenn, Taylor Kehoe, Joshua Jackson, Charity Neumann, Ryan Niederwimmer and another 20 plus people.... Plus we had an auction today. He didnt have much. That didnt stop all the people that came.... Thank you Kevin Ulmer, Jan Ulmer , Bob Ramey, Anne Ramey Townsend, Jacob Hardy, Chris Haskew for putting together a bunch of second hand items and helping me raise the money to settle his estate and lay him to rest next to me......and at no charge. I am not used to being on this side of the help, the strength, the compassion and the selflessness all just to help me, help my Uncle.....with nothing but just wanting to help. You have made this whole horrible situation bearable and easier..... I can never thank you enough.... But I will always try too... And as this chapter closes this week, Ill be able to focus on the next few months and making all of you as happy as I can at the big red barn....because thats what I do.....God Bless you all and your well wishes in this time that I needed it most..... ~Dale~
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 04:39:57 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015