Rest in Peace My Friend
My birthday was barely over. It hadn't been 24 hours since I was blissfully cutting and eating cake that I had waiting all year to eat. In spite of the fact that I didn't do much or any celebrating my cake was basically it. So, the phone rings early in the morning. Well, early for me anyway on a holiday weekend. It was my uncle. I was still drowsy and figured that he didn't want much of anything but to check on everyone so I said to myself that I would call him back when I was fully awake.
So, a couple of hours later he called back before I could call him. I was just starting the day more or less. It was a holiday and my nephew was cooking the Memorial Day ribs. So, he asked how everyone was as usual and what we were doing. I gave him my standard answers, fine and cooking. So, I asked how he was because I heard something in his voice that was not right. He said he has some bad news that Renie died. Renie is the mother of two of his kids and they were together a long time and they were still pretty good friends. I was in shock. I could barely speak. Then he said there is more. I am thinking what more could it be? This was enough right there a woman, a mother, grandmother, hard working, nice to all woman, only 8-10 years older then me died. So, I braced myself and he just continued and asked me if I remembered her older sister. I said yes, of course. Then he said she died too an hour later. By then I was speechless. I didn't know what to say. So, he asked to speak to my mom right after he got the words out and told her the news. I don't know what happened to either of them in detail. All I know is that Renie was complaining of stomach pains and went to the ER and didn't make it. I guess that is enough.
I first met Renie in the 90's. My uncle started dating her in the early 90's and at first we only saw her in a passing by fashion. At that time we lived in a duplex. He lived in back and we lived in the front. He parked in the long driveway always behind my mom's car so his truck would be right in front of our back door most of the time and near the kitchen window. Well, at that time he told her something like nevermind who the people in the front are when she asked. So, she never minded and kept moving to the back where he lived. It is pretty funny now that you think of it. So, one day she told her mom that the people, us, looked like him and she told her brother too. Well, her brother worked with my uncle at the time and he is the one who introduced him to her. So, her brother being that he is overly curious came to the door one day and introduced himself and that is how we eventually got to know Renie. After that she and my mom became good friends and she would always invite my mom to come to my uncle's house to talk and have a drink whenever she came over. They always hung out together when she was there.
Years later she had her first daughter with my uncle and soon after the second. The bond between her and my mom thickened and they became even closer. Even years later after the break up they remained close and when things happened in life she would always call my mom from time to time just to talk.
My mom got sick and she wanted to come and see her for a long time. She would ask my uncle to take her over here because she couldn't drive and the bus ride would be a little long. One Sunday she was coming over about a year ago. Then something happened and she couldn't make it. That probably would have been the last time we saw her. Then this phone call happened right after we, my uncle and I were just talking about her maybe a month before. I always asked him how she was doing and he would say oh she is good still working.
Renie was a good person, kind and caring and not afraid to tell him like it was. I liked that about her. She would tell him in a minute what she thought about whatever. Most of the time he would just shake his head but he knew she was right 80 percent of the time. When we were trying to save my grandmother's house she told him that he should help and told him that we are all family and should be helping each other. I guess she hoped he would listen but that didn't happen for the most part. In one ear and out the other with him. She was family oriented and family met every thing to her. She used to joke and say that she has one granddaughter she only saw once a year at Christmas. And the girl only lived blocks away. I am sure she saw her more but that was Renie she could always make you laugh.
Although, I didn't see her often I will just miss her being on this earth. I will miss her occasional phone calls to my mom and I will miss her smile and her good humor. I hope she is resting in peace as they say or at least resting well in heaven.
So, a couple of hours later he called back before I could call him. I was just starting the day more or less. It was a holiday and my nephew was cooking the Memorial Day ribs. So, he asked how everyone was as usual and what we were doing. I gave him my standard answers, fine and cooking. So, I asked how he was because I heard something in his voice that was not right. He said he has some bad news that Renie died. Renie is the mother of two of his kids and they were together a long time and they were still pretty good friends. I was in shock. I could barely speak. Then he said there is more. I am thinking what more could it be? This was enough right there a woman, a mother, grandmother, hard working, nice to all woman, only 8-10 years older then me died. So, I braced myself and he just continued and asked me if I remembered her older sister. I said yes, of course. Then he said she died too an hour later. By then I was speechless. I didn't know what to say. So, he asked to speak to my mom right after he got the words out and told her the news. I don't know what happened to either of them in detail. All I know is that Renie was complaining of stomach pains and went to the ER and didn't make it. I guess that is enough.
I first met Renie in the 90's. My uncle started dating her in the early 90's and at first we only saw her in a passing by fashion. At that time we lived in a duplex. He lived in back and we lived in the front. He parked in the long driveway always behind my mom's car so his truck would be right in front of our back door most of the time and near the kitchen window. Well, at that time he told her something like nevermind who the people in the front are when she asked. So, she never minded and kept moving to the back where he lived. It is pretty funny now that you think of it. So, one day she told her mom that the people, us, looked like him and she told her brother too. Well, her brother worked with my uncle at the time and he is the one who introduced him to her. So, her brother being that he is overly curious came to the door one day and introduced himself and that is how we eventually got to know Renie. After that she and my mom became good friends and she would always invite my mom to come to my uncle's house to talk and have a drink whenever she came over. They always hung out together when she was there.
Years later she had her first daughter with my uncle and soon after the second. The bond between her and my mom thickened and they became even closer. Even years later after the break up they remained close and when things happened in life she would always call my mom from time to time just to talk.
My mom got sick and she wanted to come and see her for a long time. She would ask my uncle to take her over here because she couldn't drive and the bus ride would be a little long. One Sunday she was coming over about a year ago. Then something happened and she couldn't make it. That probably would have been the last time we saw her. Then this phone call happened right after we, my uncle and I were just talking about her maybe a month before. I always asked him how she was doing and he would say oh she is good still working.
Renie was a good person, kind and caring and not afraid to tell him like it was. I liked that about her. She would tell him in a minute what she thought about whatever. Most of the time he would just shake his head but he knew she was right 80 percent of the time. When we were trying to save my grandmother's house she told him that he should help and told him that we are all family and should be helping each other. I guess she hoped he would listen but that didn't happen for the most part. In one ear and out the other with him. She was family oriented and family met every thing to her. She used to joke and say that she has one granddaughter she only saw once a year at Christmas. And the girl only lived blocks away. I am sure she saw her more but that was Renie she could always make you laugh.
Although, I didn't see her often I will just miss her being on this earth. I will miss her occasional phone calls to my mom and I will miss her smile and her good humor. I hope she is resting in peace as they say or at least resting well in heaven.
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