Life Goes On

We went to Mom Mom's house on Monday, May 31st.  Chris was meeting with Mom Mom and Allen at the funeral home.  Ian, Ruby, and I went to the house and hung out with Aunt Trudy and Cousin Dan.  It was difficult when we pulled up to the house and Ruby was yelling, "Pop Pop, Pop Pop!"  Aunt Trudy and Dan had arrived from NJ the night before.  Aunt Trudy and Mom Mom are very close so it was a relief that she could be there with Mom Mom at this time.  Mom Mom seemed to be doing pretty well and she enjoyed the distraction of the children.  We played in the yard and rode bikes.  Ian and Ruby ate a lot of strawberries from their patch.  Ian caught a catapillar who he named "Catapilly".  Ian even fished on the dock.  Oh, how Pop Pop would've loved to see Ian fishing off of his dock with Ian's birthday present, a Lightning McQueen fishing rod with tackle box!  We believe he was watching and sent us some fine cool breezes across the water.  Chris and Mom Mom showed Ian how to work the fishing rod and he had quite a few bites but nothing stayed on the hook.  Ruby fell asleep on Mom Mom while we sat on the dock.  It was very sweet.  Chris showed, again, what a great father he is.  Pop Pop taught him well. 

On the evening of Pop Pop's death, Chris, Ian, Ruby, and I were in Ashland watching trains.  My friend, Kathy, who was with us, along with her family, reminded me that we waited and waited for a train to come.  And then, around the time Pop Pop went to heaven, there were 3 Amtrak trains in a row and tons of train whistles in the distance.  I love that!  I believe it was Pop Pop saying goodbye to us and approving of our train-watching.  He put on a good show for the kids! 

On Saturday, before Pop Pop went to the hospital, our neighborhood pool opened and boy were we ALL excited.  I think Ian was the most excited.  He wore his bathing suit and blue goggles for 2 hours before the pool even opened at 11am.  He wore them to Target and the grocery store.  We got a lot of smiles.  Did I mention that Chris had his bathing suit on for 2 hours before the pool opened too?  Hmmm...  We had a great time at the pool opening party with all of our wonderful neighborhood friends.  We missed the Helsleys though, they were out of town for a camping trip. 

Here is a photo I took of Ruby and Molly after church on Sunday.  So cute!  I can't believe that my baby girl will be 2 years old in 10 days!  And my first baby girl, Molly, will be 8 years old in October. 

So, life goes on...

In Memory of Pop Pop

Yesterday, around 6:10pm, Allen M. Starrett, Jr. died at Rappahanock General Hospital in Kilmarnock, VA.  Mom Mom (Shirl) tried to wake him for dinner on Saturday around 5pm and he would not wake up.  He was breathing and had a faint pulse.  She called 911 and he was taken to the hospital.  He never regained consciousness.  Apparently he had an infection and his body had no reserve to fight it.  He had finished chemotherapy on Monday, May 24th. 

Chris went to be with his mother and brother on Saturday evening.  He stayed with Mom Mom overnight and went back to the hospital with her the next morning.  He came home around 4pm yesterday and his brother, Allen, was going to stay with Mom Mom overnight.  Chris was exhausted and emotional when he got home.  He needed to rest but want to see his children so we, along with our friends, the Suydams, took the children to Ashland to watch trains and enjoy the Randolph Macon College campus.  We were watching trains when Pop Pop died.  Allen called Chris on our way back home from Ashland.

I have never known a man that loved trains more than Pop Pop.  Ian now loves trains and Pop Pop really enjoyed that.  He kept a copy of Ian's first Christmas photo on his table next to "his chair" in his living room.  It's a photo of Ian and the train Pop Pop gave him to put around our Christmas tree. 

Pop Pop was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.  He was a police officer, volunteer firefighter, soldier that served in Korea, fisherman, race car fan, and a lover of trains.  He was so proud of Chris and loved Ian and Ruby so much.  He will be missed.