RIP Bobbie Sue
- Thread starter ShallowsNole
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ahhh... Thanks Tootsie!
I'm jazzed because a good friend was able to 'degarble' the tapes of some life stories Greg had recorded. We'd thought the recordings were a total loss... so having his 'voice' restored was wonderful birthday gift for Greg!
The Crumbling of Rome
This story was gleaned from Greg's own recordings (with minimal poetic license)...
For some crazy reason when I was in 7th grade I had to take Latin. I didn't know why I had to take Latin (still don't for that matter). Why did I need to learn Latin? The whole thing didn't make any sense to me... so I didn't pay attention.
Now back in those days we didn't have air-conditioning in the schools; so there I am sweating my a$$ off from the heat AND the misery of Latin. The teacher... well... he's up there trying to teach Latin and I'm twirling the window rod trying to get us some air.
Long story short: Latin didn't love me.
Fine... the feeling's mutual... to hell with a buncha Latin.
To halt my ongoing efforts to introduce some fresh air through the stifling 'windows' of Latin:
Disgraced, I report to the Librarian. She was... well... a nice enough lady. A bit of a wet noodle; but not the stereotypical myopic, shushing-prune librarian of movies.
Anyway, I figured out right off that there was money to be made in the library business! People paid fines for overdue books! What a silver lining... literally!!
Not a lot of money... just nickel and dime stuff. But what the hell...
I pocketed the overdue library fines.
Besides 'collecting' overdue fines, my other job in the library was to return books back to the shelves. I was supposed to shelve the books according the Dewey decimal system. Dewey decimal system?? What the f*ck is a dewey decimal? Never met those kinda decimals in math class... was never told to wait to mow the grass until the sun burned the dewey decimals off the grass. I didn't know. I didn't care. I just wheeled that library cart round & round stashing books however and wherever the f*ck I felt like.
Empty cart? Check.
Books shelved? Check.
Dewey Decimal? If you say so
This story was gleaned from Greg's own recordings (with minimal poetic license)...
The Crumbling of Rome (is that in FRANCE?!)
Now back in those days we didn't have air-conditioning in the schools; so there I am sweating my a$$ off from the heat AND the misery of Latin. The teacher... well... he's up there trying to teach Latin and I'm twirling the window rod trying to get us some air.
Long story short: Latin didn't love me.
Fine... the feeling's mutual... to hell with a buncha Latin.
To halt my ongoing efforts to introduce some fresh air through the stifling 'windows' of Latin:
I was permanently banished to The Library.
Needless to say, pointless to mention, and oblivious to observe:
Needless to say, pointless to mention, and oblivious to observe:
I [FONT=&]F[/FONT][FONT=&]lunked[/FONT] Latin... with a CAPITAL RED 'F'.
Anyway, I figured out right off that there was money to be made in the library business! People paid fines for overdue books! What a silver lining... literally!!
Not a lot of money... just nickel and dime stuff. But what the hell...
I pocketed the overdue library fines.
Besides 'collecting' overdue fines, my other job in the library was to return books back to the shelves. I was supposed to shelve the books according the Dewey decimal system. Dewey decimal system?? What the f*ck is a dewey decimal? Never met those kinda decimals in math class... was never told to wait to mow the grass until the sun burned the dewey decimals off the grass. I didn't know. I didn't care. I just wheeled that library cart round & round stashing books however and wherever the f*ck I felt like.
Empty cart? Check.
Books shelved? Check.
Dewey Decimal? If you say so
Greg just called
I freely admit that I have what some folks deem "out there" ideas and beliefs... although I know many of you share this particular one:
That our gone-over loved ones communicate with us all the time if we but watch & listen.
So when this just came on the tv I KNEW INSTANTLY:
it's Greg delivering this message to US...
cHA-cHA-cH-AHH!!
I freely admit that I have what some folks deem "out there" ideas and beliefs... although I know many of you share this particular one:
That our gone-over loved ones communicate with us all the time if we but watch & listen.
So when this just came on the tv I KNEW INSTANTLY:
it's Greg delivering this message to US...
cHA-cHA-cH-AHH!!
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Art Therapy
GTF's Art Therapy
Three months before his passage from this earthly life, Gregacquired some broken pieces of antique tortoise shellfroma life-long friend who had caught a sea turtle many years before sea turtles were placed on the endangered species list. The whole carapace hung on his friend's wall for many decades before falling to the floor and breaking into pieces.
Greg's cancer had metastasized to the brain causing double vision. He'd decided to undergo some additional radiation to the brain on the chance it might help the double vision. As a gambler, he declared that he'd play a 50/50 odds hand! Sadly the radiation did not help the double vision. Never one to whine or wallow, ever positive GTF could always find the silver lining within any situation!
Greg thought he'd return to his earlier days of jewelry making and create some shell pendants. He started experimenting with the tortoise shell fragments; trying different methods of cutting, carving, grinding, and polishing.
We were both astounded when he discovered that doing small, highly focused work actually "tuned out" the discombobulating effects of his double vision! GTF's art was always imbued with the Spirit of Mother Nature's gifts... and the pieces he created from the tortoise's shell represent a continued sharing of Mother Nature's blessings!
These tortoise shell pendants are manifestations from Greg's final months of ART THERAPY when he created the most finely detailed artwork of his life!
GTF's Art Therapy
Three months before his passage from this earthly life, Gregacquired some broken pieces of antique tortoise shellfroma life-long friend who had caught a sea turtle many years before sea turtles were placed on the endangered species list. The whole carapace hung on his friend's wall for many decades before falling to the floor and breaking into pieces.
Greg's cancer had metastasized to the brain causing double vision. He'd decided to undergo some additional radiation to the brain on the chance it might help the double vision. As a gambler, he declared that he'd play a 50/50 odds hand! Sadly the radiation did not help the double vision. Never one to whine or wallow, ever positive GTF could always find the silver lining within any situation!
Greg thought he'd return to his earlier days of jewelry making and create some shell pendants. He started experimenting with the tortoise shell fragments; trying different methods of cutting, carving, grinding, and polishing.
We were both astounded when he discovered that doing small, highly focused work actually "tuned out" the discombobulating effects of his double vision! GTF's art was always imbued with the Spirit of Mother Nature's gifts... and the pieces he created from the tortoise's shell represent a continued sharing of Mother Nature's blessings!
These tortoise shell pendants are manifestations from Greg's final months of ART THERAPY when he created the most finely detailed artwork of his life!
The Day Greg Visited
Got this email from Chase Johnson...
From: chase
To: Donna
Sent: Sun, Jan 27, 2013 10:27 pm
Subject: The day Greg came to visit
Mom and I have been distressing a dining room table in Texas. I had no idea of the long process this was. 2 hours in, I was clueless, frustrated, and ready to give up. Then I heard Greg's voice: "C'mon Chaser, you can do this. Nothin to it!" He guided me through the rest of the day. He was the only way I got through that task. I didn't say anything to mom. I just secretly enjoyed our little project and his presence. The next day I was back at it again.
Mom was taking a break and watching.
We started talking and I said "... you know who was with me all day yesterday?"
Her instant response was "Greg! I've been seeing him stand RIGHT beside you but I didn't say anything cause people think I'm crazy when I say things like that."
GOOSEBUMP MOMENT!
She said she didn't really notice what he was wearing but he was standing close with his head cocked. Kinda studying everything. She said "he was teaching you."
I met Greg at the end of his life so I didn't really relate him to woodworking. I thought of him and the metal or tortoise shell. When he first made his presence it took me a minute to figure out why in the hell Greg France would want to be with me in South Texas sanding and carving on a damn table. Then I remembered the Mac Farms sign.
I have lots of loved ones on the other side and I have never felt someone's presence that strong or for that long. He has guided me through the last 3 days. It was wonderful to spend time with him again.
He made good on his promise that we would have a work day together...
I will cherish that, and my new dining table is named Greg.
Thanks for sharing Chase!
Got this email from Chase Johnson...
From: chase
To: Donna
Sent: Sun, Jan 27, 2013 10:27 pm
Subject: The day Greg came to visit
Mom and I have been distressing a dining room table in Texas. I had no idea of the long process this was. 2 hours in, I was clueless, frustrated, and ready to give up. Then I heard Greg's voice: "C'mon Chaser, you can do this. Nothin to it!" He guided me through the rest of the day. He was the only way I got through that task. I didn't say anything to mom. I just secretly enjoyed our little project and his presence. The next day I was back at it again.
Mom was taking a break and watching.
We started talking and I said "... you know who was with me all day yesterday?"
Her instant response was "Greg! I've been seeing him stand RIGHT beside you but I didn't say anything cause people think I'm crazy when I say things like that."
GOOSEBUMP MOMENT!
She said she didn't really notice what he was wearing but he was standing close with his head cocked. Kinda studying everything. She said "he was teaching you."
I met Greg at the end of his life so I didn't really relate him to woodworking. I thought of him and the metal or tortoise shell. When he first made his presence it took me a minute to figure out why in the hell Greg France would want to be with me in South Texas sanding and carving on a damn table. Then I remembered the Mac Farms sign.
I have lots of loved ones on the other side and I have never felt someone's presence that strong or for that long. He has guided me through the last 3 days. It was wonderful to spend time with him again.
He made good on his promise that we would have a work day together...
I will cherish that, and my new dining table is named Greg.
Thanks for sharing Chase!
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Shared Thought...
A coupla weeks after Greg passed he unexpectedly beamed in with this:
"RESPECT was always a stronger emotion for me than Love"
He'd expounded (which I won't go into here)... but this thought had never occurred to me before; now I can't STOP thinking about... and working the huge implications of.
A coupla weeks after Greg passed he unexpectedly beamed in with this:
"RESPECT was always a stronger emotion for me than Love"
He'd expounded (which I won't go into here)... but this thought had never occurred to me before; now I can't STOP thinking about... and working the huge implications of.
"Not all who wander are lost" ~ JRR Tolkien (and Wm Shakespeare)
Greg's lifelong friend, Larry, shared this quote that had recently come to his awareness and made him think of Greg... and chuckle.
Greg's lifelong friend, Larry, shared this quote that had recently come to his awareness and made him think of Greg... and chuckle.
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a Dult
"a Dult? the world definitely needs more 'Dults!"
Greg's philosophy on Quitting:
"Life is like a hand of blackjack: It is just as important to know when to fold & quit as it is to know when to double-down. Remember to Do what you Do for the sheer love of Doing it. Sometimes money will follow and sometimes not... but in the end you will get paid."
"a Dult? the world definitely needs more 'Dults!"
Greg's philosophy on Quitting:
"Life is like a hand of blackjack: It is just as important to know when to fold & quit as it is to know when to double-down. Remember to Do what you Do for the sheer love of Doing it. Sometimes money will follow and sometimes not... but in the end you will get paid."
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