No hot dogs here.

Musings on the Death of My Perfect Partner

Fresh from Birch Creek

John A Bayerl

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Birthday: May 30

Bio: My wife of 47+ years died at home with me at her side, on November 12, 2010. She and I, together with our children and many friends and relatives, fought her cancer for four years, seven months and a week. This blog acknowledges her courage and exemplary life. She taught us how to live, and she taught us how to die. The blog also honors the love she shared with everyone who knew her.I am a retired school counselor and college professor.

MY RECENT POSTS

SIMPLE MEDITATION
September 26, 2012 05:14PM
STILL LLOVE
August 27, 2012 09:16PM
Loving in the Afternoon (or, Invasion of the Body Snatcher.
July 25, 2012 01:32PM
OURS ENDLESSLY
July 16, 2012 05:02PM
THE PERFECT CIRLCE OF LOVE
July 12, 2012 10:46PM

MY RECENT COMMENTS

“Thanks, Bones, your attention to detail and awareness of history are an example f…”
May 24, 2013 07:40PM
“Thanks, Bones, your attention to detail and awareness of history are an example f…”
May 24, 2013 07:40PM
“Certainly describes many of us, Rita. Sometimes when I catch myself "in my…”
September 27, 2012 12:56PM
“The good news is that if we do the work broken hearts can heal. Lovely as always…”
September 27, 2012 12:52PM
“Thanks, Michelle, I love everything you write.”
September 27, 2012 12:42PM

John A Bayerl's Links

MY LINKS: $4.95/mo Web Hosting; Amazon Hot New Releases in Books; Fresh from Birch Creek

« Back to Posts

MAY 19, 2012 10:56AM

Rate: 11 Flag

484188_3215489225702_1220485148_32379087_1520676664_n

Author tags:

me., gwen, bertha, barney, at gwen's graduation, 1980., family

Your tags:

TIP:

Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!

Comments

Post a comment

Perhaps my written description of three incredibly important people in my life aren't enough. Here they are, all in their prime. Yes, I know, they don't look like they sound.

John A Bayerl

May 19, 2012 11:09 AM

Nice memento, John, of a time and place. (Barney looks like he enjoys getting his photo taken as much as I do.)

Boanerges1

May 19, 2012 01:16 PM

A good moment for all of you, and a good looking family. Good thing you weren't two inches shorter, huh. ;0)

just phyllis

May 19, 2012 03:23 PM

John,so right that you have no words..Love sρeaks and without words...Thank you for sharing such a beautiful beauty!!!Rated with wishes for the best!!!

Stathi Stathi

May 19, 2012 04:06 PM

You nailed it as far as Barney was concerned, Bone, the only other time I saw him that dressed up was at our wedding.

John A Bayerl

May 19, 2012 04:44 PM

Phyllis, I too noticed how I was peeking over that mortar board; guess I wanted to make it clear just who this was all about.

John A Bayerl

May 19, 2012 04:46 PM

Phyllis, I too noticed how I was peeking over that mortar board; guess I wanted to make it clear just who this was all about.

John A Bayerl

May 19, 2012 04:46 PM

Stathi, you know how much you are loved here on OS. You have such courage.

John A Bayerl

May 19, 2012 04:47 PM

Lovely pic but I think it is more like "Who Let The Dogs Out" Rated with a Jali smile of course. :-)

JALI 17

May 19, 2012 07:15 PM

Dear friend sometimes words are not good enough and this is one of those moments

M. C. S.

May 19, 2012 08:05 PM

Barney's a lot lankier than I'd had pegged, but my eyes go straight to Gwen, & the rather proud-looking guy over her shoulder :-)
Then they go back to Gwen.

Kim Gamble

May 19, 2012 08:07 PM

Jali, I see where you get that, "Who let the dogs out." Thanks for a smile.

John A Bayerl

May 19, 2012 08:11 PM

Mary, my friend, you are so right, sometimes there just aren't enough words, or the right kind of words.

John A Bayerl

May 19, 2012 08:12 PM

The back story, Kim, is that Barney and Bertha weren't too excited that their lovely daughter who was attending college on a scholarship was going to marry this skinny farm kid. In our marriage vows I wrote in a sentence where I promised that Gwen would graduate college. The picture is the fulfillment of that promise. So happy that Barney and Bertha were able to be there.

Thanks for being such an amazing friend, Kim.

John A Bayerl

May 19, 2012 08:17 PM

Please note: No Brooks Brothers or Armani suits were harmed (or even worn) during the making of this photo!

P.S. Gwen looks lovely. You have a right to be proud with her, dude.

Safe_Bet's Amy

May 19, 2012 08:26 PM

Love it, Amy:) Montgomery Ward comes to mind. Thanks for stopping by.

John A Bayerl

May 19, 2012 08:39 PM

P. S. Amy, thank you for the nice words about Gwen, she was a beauty.

John A Bayerl

May 19, 2012 08:42 PM

You wrote it in your marriage vows the promise that she would graduate? What a beautiful expression of commitment and respect ... to Gwen ... but very much so her parents.

You honoured them as you did Gwen.

You're a very good man, John. I am indeed blessed to call you my friend.