Monday, September 22, 2008

mosses monday III


(my mosses' crooked little fingers)

finally, after all the craziness of the early evening had come to a conclusion, ida looked over at me and asked if i wanted anything from the cafeteria. 

"no, thank you; i'm fine," i replied.

"i'll be right back then," ida said.

"take your time," i smiled at my new friend.

i sat at the side of mosses bed with my book, the grapes of wrath, in my lap... listening to the c-pap machine force air into his lungs. he seemed very at peace unlike previous hospitalizations. he was still, his arms lying at his side. i had covered up and tucked him in with katherine's pink and white gingham, flannel baby blanket i had brought from home...

i had fallen madly in love with this man over the many years i'd been blessed to have spent with him...

our love wasn't a romantic kind of love-
 at.all.
(meester berrong has my market cornered on THAT kind of love!)

no, the love i felt for my mosses...
i cannot even describe other than to just say
it was undeniable, unconditional, deep, and reciprocated.

as i looked at him, i knew in my heart i wasn't going to have him for much longer. i reached over and took his crippled hand with his crooked, little fingers into my hand and crawled up on the bed next to him. 

i whispered in his ear, 
"it's alright, mosses. you can go. 
you don't have to fight anymore..."
(my mosses was struggling and suffering.)

i was still sitting on the side of his bed when ida returned with her dinner.

she sat down, bowed her head to say grace over her meal, and began to eat.

it was as she was eating she looked over at me. i was still holding mosses hand. 
she said, "he loves you like a granddaughter..."

"i know," i replied. "i love him, too."

"you could be his granddaughter?" she was prodding.

"no, if you'd ever seen my dad, you would know i am drury through and through," i smiled at ida.

ida was a petite woman with dark skin and very dark hair and eyes. she was in her mid 50's i thought. ida had lived a hard life (she told me so). she also told me she had once nearly died and had heard the voice of God. the incident had changed her life forever. ida was a servant of the Lord. 

she was also a servant to mosses.
she treated him like a king!
in a very short time, 
i had grown to love ida for that.

"well, i HAVE seen pictures of mr. moss' son, mike, and you look just like him," she stated matter-of-factly between bites of food.

i just smiled and assured her it wasn't so.

"i don't know," she got the last word in rather sing-songy.


that was the first time anyone had ever been bold enough to say it.

~@~

(in loving memory of my friend, ida)

Ida Mae Sawyer Gee

Services for Ida Mae Sawyer Gee, 61, Henderson, who died Sunday, will be at 11 a.m. today at Benton-Glunt Funeral Home. The Rev. A.G. Winters will officiate. Burial will be in Fernwood Cemetery.

Friends may call after 10 a.m. today at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Murray Carter, Zach Stone, Ronnie Williams, Randy Bentley, Chuck Gee and Josh Gee.
(courtesy of the henderson gleaner)


(to be continued...)

love and God's blessings,
dani xx

ps you will find earlier entries in ascending order on my side bar entitled, "our love story":)

24 comments:

Amanda said...

I felt my eyes welling up Dani.
You have a lovely way of telling the story of the Mosses.
And i had a little laugh at the end of the story at what Ida said:)
Bless them both.
hugs,
Amanda x

Tabitha said...

Another brilliant installment and I am waiting with baited breath for the next part!!
love and hugs XXXXX

Jan said...

I loved the little picture of the hand. I can just imagine the gentle touches of it. I love your story. Ida Mae is a name in our family too. How lovely.

Bren's Life said...

What a sweet story this sure is. I love your monday story & follow along so close.
I love the relationship you had with them.

The Adventures of Maverick & the Mrs. said...

I don't think you know how long you can make a week last! Your Moss stories are addictive!

Kellan said...

They sound like they were very special people in your life and I think they were also certainly lucky to have you in theirs. Lovely story and I love the photo!

Take care - Kellan

Tanya said...

This is such a beautiful story Dani!! love your Monday's have to remember because your Monday is my Tuesday!! can't wait for the next part!!

have a beautiful day :)

love,
t. xxxx

Dana said...

Wow...hadn't heard the Ida story! He was a sweet sweet man, Mosses...
l, d

SuzanSayz said...

Whoa, whoa, whoa, back up, back up back up here Dani. I didn't think I had missed an installment but All of a sudden I am lost. When did that sweet Ida Mae come into the story??? When did your mosses become so frail and sick?? You turn this right around now young lady and give me more info. I want to hear about all your years of learning to love your mosses and stuff like that. If I have somehow missed all of that then please tell me where it is. I want more details and I want them now!!!! I quite often feel like I'm not sure whats going on in this big old blogging world, and this is a pretty big one so if I'm just being dumb (heaven forbid) then let me know that too. I'll be back tomarrow and I will expect answers!!!!! Answers I say!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh Dani,
I am so glad you could do a tribute to Ida Mae today, it is obviously a very tough time to do it and so lovely and apt that your Mosses story includes her.

Big hugs
xo
PS - I have to 2nd what Tanya says - I hate to wait until our Tuesday to get your Monday Mosses story!! :)

dani said...

amanda,
my eyes were welling up when i was typing, too... also, i giggled at the end thinking about the look ida gave me as she was "prodding"... tee-hee.
love,
dani

dani said...

thank you tabitha:) it has been a very sweet reflection thus far...
love,
dani

dani said...

jan, mosses hands were tough and had done many things in his 92 years... but, they were also very soft, tender, and warm.
love,
dani

dani said...

thank you, bren:) with what a relationship i was blessed!!!
love,
dani

dani said...

thanks, christina:) i'm tickled you are enjoying them...
love,
dani

dani said...

thank you, kellan:) i think i was definitely the more blessed!!!
love,
dani

dani said...

it is your tuesday; isn't it,t??? it could be your monday night story; but i never get it out that early...
sweet dreams!!!
love,
dani

dani said...

d, when i get back around to her, i think you will remember (or not/i am your memory;right:?) ha.
l,
d

dani said...

i posted a special post just for you, suz:) it explains all, tee-hee!!!
love,
dani

dani said...

i was pleased to have a sweet story to pay tribute to ida, juz!!! she was a good woman:)
love,
dani

Anonymous said...

I love that you're sharing this sweet love story. Stories like this need to stay alive as an example to us all!

dani said...

jenn, my mosses were an example by which for us all to live...
love,
dani

Little Sweethearts said...

You're writing a pageturner here Dani!

Love,
Tania

Emma-Kate Castricum said...

Dani,

I've been reading but just haven't commented yet. I'm so loving this story but feel it's too long to wait for each monday to roll around to hear more. Couldn't it be an every second day kind of story?? I can't wait until another Monday for another tiny snippet, I need more sooner. The last entry was so sad, poor Ida Mae, 61 is too young to pass.

Em