[VivaLasViejas]

.........and begins his journey home.

To all of you who have been following the story of my brother-in-law, who was diagnosed with esophageal cancer a few months back, I want to say THANK YOU for your kind thoughts during his illness. Although he lost his battle early this morning, I'm certain his suffering was ameliorated by the prayers of people he never met, but whose hearts reached out to him in his time of need. Speaking for my sister and family, please know that we will always be grateful to you for this.

Ronald did not have an easy life, and while a good part of that was of his own making, he didn't deserve the cancer that robbed him of first his ability to enjoy one of his great pleasures---food---then his dignity, and finally his very breath. He wasn't educated, his politics were stereotypically redneck, and he had a mouth on him which got him into more trouble than anything else. He's got a rap sheet as long as your arm, all of it minor infractions that were made worse by his failure to respect police authority!

But he had a heart as big as all outdoors---he'd have literally given you the shirt off his back if you needed it---and a way with words that gave birth to most of our family's private jokes and expressions. For thirty-five years, no one in our family has "gone to the bathroom" or done "number two": we "take a Watski"---named for a construction-site foreman Ron cordially hated for much of his career. We don't call something a thingamabob; we call it a "dooflotchie" or a "hoojaflobbets". And thanks to him, I know a few Army medic 'tricks of the trade' that beat anything I ever learned in nursing school.

Now the warrior is gone.........but the imprint he left on our family is indelible. Rest in peace, my brother. God is nigh.

[nursemary9]

Dear Marla,

I send my prayers & thoughts to you and your Family!!

I have been following the story of your Brother-In-Law's Cancer and am so glad you have been giving us updates on him and your`Sister.

I don't have your way with the written word, but please accept my sympathy.

You know, if you need to talk, I have said you can PM me anytime.

Again, My deepest sympathy and all of my prayers.

Mary Ann

[Spidey's mom]

(((((((((Marla and family))))))))

steph

(gotta love family words)

[clemmm78]

I'm so sorry.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I am very sorry, Marla. Rest in peace, weary one.

[donster]

Oh, Marla, I am so sorry. Your posting was just beautiful, and I know he's in God's arms telling Him about dooflotchies.

Please accept my sincerest sympathies on your loss.

[CHATSDALE]

my deepest sympathies

i know men so much like this i can almost see him...the neighbor that was always there before you asked, life of the party at every barbeque and the holiday memories always were better because of him

give him a wake where everyone can share their favorite stories about him

bless you all

[VivaLasViejas]

Yeah, like the time he was helping us load our just-purchased waterbed onto his truck and happened to have a can of Coors in his back pocket. The furniture store manager was aghast as we closed the deal: "Did you know that man has a can of.........of beer in his pocket?" he asked in a stage whisper.

We both shrugged---this was nothing out of the ordinary for Ron---and said "Yeah. Why?"

[Spidey's mom]

Originally Posted by mjlrn97

Yeah, like the time he was helping us load our just-purchased waterbed onto his truck and happened to have a can of Coors in his back pocket. The furniture store manager was aghast as we closed the deal: "Did you know that man has a can of.........of beer in his pocket?" he asked in a stage whisper.

We both shrugged---this was nothing out of the ordinary for Ron---and said "Yeah. Why?"

Marla - I have family members like that. Reminds me of Jeff Foxworthy and "You Might Be A Redneck".

My husband's cousin's son got married at a park and we were walked down the aisle to our seats by this cousin's best man who was three sheets to the wind and holding a can of Coors. Imagine - at a wedding. The cousin was also drunk . . . before the wedding.

But if you needed help, these guys would be there. And they can change a flat tire, put on snow chains, cut you a cord of firewood, fix your car, re-roof your house, shoot you some venison for dinner, etc.

Gotta love rednecks . . . (I married one - although he wasn't drunk at our wedding and we had a "dry" reception).

steph

[VivaLasViejas]

Yep, that was Ronald..........he loved his beer and his guns and his "O'Reilly Factor No Spin Zone" doormat. But if there was something mechanical he couldn't fix or anything he wouldn't do for family or a good buddy, I never discovered what it was.

I just talked to my Army brat, and the good news is, she's flying out here Friday with the baby, so not only will she be able to attend the funeral, I'll finally get to meet my #2 grandson. My oldest daughter will probably still be in the hospital till Sunday, so she won't be able to go, but at least most of us will all be together again, for a brief time anyway.

Youngest son just got home from school..........better get off so I can tell him the news.