Loss.............

 

"One day we will remember how lucky we were to have known her love with wonder, not grief."

Many a chair stands empty in homes where a loved one was taken far too early.

When I go home to England in October to see my family and friends, 

one dear person will be missing, the lovely daughter of my dear cousin.

Denise passed this week after such a long battle with health issues - MS for 

many, many years, breast cancer a couple of years ago, then a severe stroke

 a few weeks ago. 

She was a fighter. She was stoic. She remained positive in her outlook.

She kept a sense of humor. She was loved by all, especially her husband, 

parents and brother. . . . . . and we three second cousins and our families.

My family is not large compared to some but we are close and get together

as much as possible. For me it's harder being so far away, however I do try to

 get home to the UK annually to see my loved ones.

Denise was so special and much loved. 

May she now rest peacefully in a good place.

Kissing cousins, brother, husband - "my guys" ---------

A short distance along the coast from Torquay is the smaller, a little more old fashioned seaside town of Teignmouth.  At the mouth the of the River Teign, beneath the cliffs and sloping hills, it was for several years the home of my mother her parents and siblings, and has always been the home of my dear cousin Sue. I spent many summer holidays there as a child and teen, we two girls were loving cousins then and still are to this day despite an ocean between us!

 

Teignmouth seafront

Mary (me), cousin David, cousin Sue, my brother John

We are the four cousins, our three mothers were sisters. Sue (79) lives in Teignmouth, David (78 today) in Torquay, John (70) in Southwest France, and yours truly (78) in Raleigh, North Carolina. Getting together has taken three years due to the pandemic, however yesterday we managed to do it. . . . . .. and in brilliant, hot sunshine we hugged and kissed like never before!

Bob, looking debonair in a borrowed hat, when we sat on a rooftop restaurant for

lunch in Teignmouth. Unbelievable weather here - hot, dry and non-stop sunshine every day.

Supper last night with John (today he's flying home to France) at our favorite fish 'n chip shop SALTWATER in Torquay.

Off to meet up with a really 'old friend' this afternoon - at a quaint tea room overlooking the bay. Jackie and I have known each other since before birth!!! Our respective mothers actually met at the maternity hospital before we were born!  We've remained good friends all these years and always pick up where we left off last time. . . . . . .as only best friends can!