Tuesday, January 1, 2013

May 2013 be a happier year

   2012 is over...thank goodness.  I am certainly hoping that 2013 will be a happier year for the Albritton/Mersman families.
   Mom, dad and I went down to Louisiana in April and went to the Albritton Reunion.  There were about 90  relatives there!  They thought that was one of the biggest turnouts ever.  I'm so glad that we made the trip down.  We always stay with Dan and have such a great time.  The weather is always so nice and the trip down is fun to watch the shades of green perk up as we get farther south.
   Dad had Alzheimer's for several years but in late September he started having back aches and by the first of October he had been in the ER several times...but it seemed that by the time the Dr got to him the back aches had gone away.  But it turned out they were justified...he had bone cancer and several tumors in his back.  He spent 2 weeks in the hospital before being transferred to a local nursing home in Perry.  He only spent 4 days there before passing away.  It's so hard losing a parent...even though he had Alzheimer's he still had a funny to tell and a sparkle in his eyes.  I just know that he is in a better place and without pain and he has all his old memories back...
   We lost one of our black labs in early October.  I came home one evening and he was 'gone'.  So sad for us.  He was 14 years old but a good old boy.  Russ and I loved him and enjoyed all the years we had with him.
  I went on a vacation in late October after dad's funeral.  It was bittersweet but the trip was preplanned and prepaid...so not really a viable option to not go.  I went on a 9 day trip with a gal pal.  We had a great time.  Mornings were the hardest for me and they still are for some reason.  When I think of dad and him not being around ever ever ever again...it really makes me sad.
   I am going to start writing down as many 'dad' memories as I can.  He was an awesome dad and I learned so many lessons from him....so I want that to be documented,
   Well, I haven't posted for a long time and really would like to do a better job of keeping the blog up to date...but one just never knows.
  I just hope everyone has a great 2013 and that there is more peace on earth this year and not so many tragic stories of death and violence.