This is my mother and her “significant other”, Larry. Larry passed away Easter morning. I thought it important to say something about him. I can’t really say that I knew him very well. But my mother loved him and by all accounts he was very good to her and they were happy together, so that’s all that really matters.
They live in a different state than me and I had more contact with my mom than with him. I know he liked video poker, liked to deep fry turkey for holidays, was a pretty good cook, went for long walks almost every day and picked wild asparagus to bring home for dinner when he found it on his walks. He had a wicked sense of humor and would send me cartoons, links and emails from time to time. Larry enjoyed driving and the few times that I have been able to go and visit them he drove us around Yellowstone and Cody to show me the sights and tell me the history.
My mom and Larry lived the “in sickness and in health” thing for sure! Over the past few years they each went through bouts of serious ill health, one taking care of the other through whatever happened. I’m very grateful that he was there to take care of her. I’m also grateful that his daughters have a good relationship with my mother and were there with her when he was ill and dying since my sister and I couldn’t be there with her.
Probably the coolest thing Larry and I had in common (besides my mom) was watching the Decorah Eagles on the live, 24-hour feed that he told me about last year- http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles. It’s a camera high up above an eagle’s nest in a tree in Decorah, Idaho. Last year we watched 3 eggs hatch and fledge (learn to fly and leave the nest). The 3 eggs this year hatched last month and we were again watching them on line. He had been in the hospital for the last 2 or 3 weeks of his life and my mom told me he had his laptop with him so he could watch them as they hatched and started their lives.
I continue to watch the eagles, but now I don’t have Larry to email when I see them doing things I find funny or interesting. It’s kind of strange. So I will continue to watch the chicks grow and thrive and they will always remind me of Larry, a good man.
