The workings of the human mind are beyond comprehension. Somehow, the mind can put off death or encourage it's arrival. I'm sure many of you can cite an example where one or the other case seems to have been at work.
This evening I attended a funeral visitation for a good friend who passed away on Wednesday at age 72 from the effects of Lewy Body Dementia. While there I learned that his wife of 18 years had passed away on Thursday at age 71 from cancer. This is no mere coincidence.
I too have been amazed at the number of times I have seen where elderly couples will pass away within days of each other.
Hey Dave, a thread steal here, but where in Shenandoah Valley area are you? My family is from Stanardsville. Actually my family has been in Virgina for over 400 years but the last couple hundred have been in the Greene County area. Names like Early, McMullen, Shelton. Love the area.
and yes, the mind is a powerful thing. I think it's one reason why the end of year holidays is when so many people die. They hold on for that last family holiday. My mom died of cancer one week after all the family went to her home for the last Thanksgiving with her. I had her out in my car on Wednesday shopping and the following friday, 8 days later, she left us. She had said her goodbyes.
I'm from a little wide place in the road called Mt. Crawford - between Harrisonburg & Staunton. My wife's home is Earlysville and many times that we go over there we pass through Greene County. Know of many of the names you mention. Probably some relations in there.
And I can directly trace my Ingram family back to 1704 in VA and the first Ingram in Virginia was 1612. Some day I hope to connect things up.
My family on my Mother's side is from a little area called Round Hill near Winchester. Mom was born and raised there. I believe she told me they lived in Stephens City at some point. My Great Uncle Joe Bayliss ran a store in Round Hill for many years. I still have Uncles and cousins in Va.
It is not uncommon also when a person retires and they die within a very short time. Less than a year, sometimes within a few weeks.
With spouses I guess 'they've nothing to live for now' which is occasionally heard, could be attributed to their departure soon after their loved one goes.
And then theirs many who die young, leave a grieving widow who live, still single, to a ripe old age.
I'd suggest there's more to life than can be found in reason, text books and other areas.
I often think of certain persons who smoked like a chimney, worked outdoors in all weathers, but outlived many others who lived a 'more medically correct' life.
We're a complex breed.
I know Round Hill well, dated a super guy there but life took me elsewhere. Nice little diner there before the highway was enlarged and put through there.
Dave,
I'm sure our lines cross since I have about 3 different lines that trace to Jamestown, the first being in 1608. I looked at my family tree, a lot of it imported from trees I intersected, and it seems like there is one Ingram who married a Smithson probably in Tennessee and was still living 10 years ago when I posted the tree but probably dead by now based on the parents' birth date.
Geneology - cool stuff and does relate to the mind being powerful. I think a sense of purpose and of belonging is a part of that equation.
Love is like gravity.
We all know it's there and real.
We just don't completely understand it.
