Tuesday 10/28 Tough losing a friend, when you have so few.

 

Picture of the day

 
         Vondale and Rose at their 50th Anniversary

BUT for now:

Some names grow together over the years. In my family it was Dick & Kat, Shirley and Jim etc.  The names Vondale and Rose became a set. They were married a few months after us, so they were together a long time. WE just learned that Rose passed away.

Our lifestyle does not accumulate close friends. I met Vondale when my dad pastored in Albemarle, NC. We became friends in about 1949 and have stayed in touch since. Vondale’s family moved close to us when Dad pastored Belmont where I met Sherry.  Belmont is where Vondale met Rose Mae.

IT was during that time that I wrecked my beautiful ’48 Chevy convertible. Vondale was riding shotgun and went out with the top when it rolled over. That radio was playing loudly “Rock around the Clock”. It was still playing when the car landed back on it’s wheels in the ditch. Thank God neither of us was hurt bad. I only had cracked ribs.

Anyway, I joined the USMC and left town.  Vondale stayed around and married Rose. They tried RV’ing for a while, but it did not last.

This is a picture of a picture.  I was in Turkey when they married.

It is sad as you grow older to see friends and acquaintances dropping away.  You can bet Vondale will miss his girl after nearly 70 years of marriage.

They moved from the city to a farm.  Rose worked as a nurse and Vondale raised chickens.

WE will miss knowing she is no longer out on the farm.

I have only one more close longtime friend, that is Buddy. Bud tells of his first day in school the teacher was calling names and kept calling out 'Richard.' Since he was the only one who had not answered to a name the teacher asked his name, “I am Buddy Sansbury!”  She told him from now on in this class you are Richard.  He was upset and told his mama the Teacher had changed his name.

Buddy and I have been more alike, in that we have moved around a lot and both Retired Military. He and his sweet wife Dianne live here in Florida. WE will visit them this Wednesday.

He is one who said, “Come visit before I am 'Bud in the mud' and you are 'Jack in the Box'.”

Nite Shipslog

PS. 

Seeing friends pass just lets us know life is fragile, we do not have a schedule for death, only HE knows that.  So, we will live until that comes about.