Last week, Mr. 1969′s cousin passed away. He was down the street from his house. Sitting on the neighbor’s front porch chatting when he just slumped over and died from a heart attack. He was 50 years old.
His mom was at her house down the street. She came outside and took one look at her oldest son lying on the ground and promptly had a heart attack from the stress.
We went up to Harrisburg on Saturday to spend a little time with the family. She was the mother of three boys and now, her oldest baby is gone. The day was going well. They released her from the hospital and we were all around to make sure she was okay. There were the usual tasks to keep everyone busy. Lots of food arriving from well-meaning family members. Lots to do to prepare for Monday’s services and she was in good spirits all day.
At 8pm, her middle son arrived from Atlanta. As soon as he walked in the door, he threw his bags down, ran to his mom and fell on the ground at her feet crying. The sound is haunting me as I type this. To hear a man cry is never easy but this type of cry was so painful. This was the sound of loss, suffering and pain wrapped into one. It sounded like it came from the depths of his soul. He just cried at him mama’s feet and she sat on the ground and wrapped her arms around him and cried with him.
Parents should never have to bury their children and my heart goes out to the entire family. Rich was a great guy and a loving father.
We have lost so many people this year. E Lynn Harris and Walter Cronkite also passed away this weekend. I hope all of you are making the time to get regular check-ups and to make better decisions regarding your health. I watched a commercial this weekend. I think it was for NutriGrain bars and it followed someone around for 24 hours and showed what they had eaten. So many of us live a grab and go lifestyle and we don’t stop to think about what we are doing to our bodies. If nothing else, stop before you eat something and think about what it is doing to you on the inside. Take a walk at lunchtime, take the stairs, drink water instead of soda. Make small choices that lead to big results. Just stop and think.
Cousin Richard was a phyiscally fit man. He was a former army officer and still in great shape. However, he smoked a pack and a half daily and ate unhealthy food. He had high cholesterol. Better choices would have prolonged his life.
Are you doing all you can for your body? Think about it.
I so sorry for your loss. This is so scary, the number of young people dying. Like you said, we’re such a grab and go society that I think it’s getting worse instead of better. Fast food places and restaurants are advertising that it’s cheaper to feed your family by eating at their establishments than cooking! This thing is something serious! We have been dedicated to the gym, going at least 5 times a week since the first part of the year. Michael had a high blood pressure scare at his yearly physical and it really was a scared straight moment.
It really is alarming. We take shortcuts all the time (as a society) and we need to stop, slow down and take better care of ourselves. Heart disease, diabetes etc….are taking our folks out at alarming rates. *sigh*
I am so sorry for your loss!!! I have been changing the way I eat and I’m trying to get my family members and friends to follow my lead. Some do…some don’t. I constantly remind them of what’s out they should and shouldn’t be eating.
I’m sorry for your loss. I’m trying to stay on the healthy living wagon.
So sorry to hear about the sudden loss of the Mister’s cousin. This month has really rocked me — all this death on TV. It’s been shocking to the system. I’m currently on the quest to quit smoking squares — as I’ve told you — and I’m just tired of them. Tired of lighting them, tired of butts and ashtrays. Tired of buying them. Tired of quitting! So yeah…the best way we can celebrate our loved ones that have gone on is to live the best life that we can.
So sorry to hear about Mr. 1969s cousin. My grandmother is 88 years old and has buried two of her children – I honestly don’t know how any parent makes it through that. I cannot imagine. My heart goes out to her.
I realized that I’ve gotten a little soft around the middle lately and am back in the gym stepping my game up. I’m also paying more attention to what I eat and making healthier choices. I hope that my very overweight husband has some sort of ephiphany before it is too late for him.
Condolences. I have been hitting the gym regularly. I am really trying to make sure I am around to see my children become grandparents. Next month, on my 41st Bday, I will get a mammogram. Its time.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Condolences to your husband. I know the feeling of shock and fright with hte sudden death of a family member. My sister died in her sleep at 51 from heart failure. She had breast cancer but was in remission. We all were so vigilant in fighting the cancer that we all kind of overlooked the other ailments. She was overweight, high blood pressure, probably had high cholesterol and she smoked. So many battles to fight it’s hard to pick which one.
As I approach the next decade I vow to be even healthier. I can not even breath thinking about what my parent would go through if they had to bury me too.
I am sorry for your loss. Is his mother’s name Beulah?
Nope, not Beulah.
my condolences to your fam 1969.. it’s scary and its happening before our eyes DAILY..
1969, I am sorrry for your loss.
To the living: A major thing we overlook is the knee-jerk reaction of so many MDs to write a prescription for whatever ails you. How about getting to the cause? Instead of high blood pressure meds, how about we find out why the person HAS high bp in the first place, and fix THAT?
Forgot to mention: In 2000, my cousin died of a heart attack at 48. At the funeral, everyone said he was the picture of health. Well, only if you snapped that picture when he wasn’t chain smoking. WTF? Then, they served all kinds of “heart attack waiting to happen” food, back at the house. I had to leave.