JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Brian Austin Whitney Blog Monday, August 25th, 2008

Hi Folks,

Well, it's been a strange few weeks for me. Book ending the Olympics was the death of my father and now this morning the death of my grandmother Marie. We were with her 1 week ago and she was talking and joking around and her usual feisty self and planning to leave the hospital so she could get some good food at the "Golden Corral" she loved to eat at so much. I am glad that I'll have that positive memory of her. She was a tough lady who worked in the war factories during WWII making shell casings and all sorts of things while my Grandfather was in Europe fighting against the NAZI's. She loved the Cincinnati Reds (and was the first woman I knew who loved and followed sports) and she was always quick with a story to tell. Her signature lines were an emphatic "You know what I mean..." or "Yeah..." after making a strong point on just about anything. She loved to tell the story of when I was a little boy and I had a plastic machine gun and was playing with it and went out by the road. She ran out after me and when she tried to get me to come back, I apparently (according to her story telling legend) said "No!" and whacked her hard with the machine gun... she took great pleasure in a long and drawn out retelling of that little episode to every single girlfriend I ever had up to and including my wife Linda.

During that last visit she even shared with me a little mystery story about my family that I have yet to decode and probably never will (and can't share with you here). She was always interesting.

As with my father, I have what apparently is the last photo ever taken of her at our last visit a week ago. She looks old and frail, but if you look in her eyes, you'll see her strength and orneriness showing through.



These last two weeks I've been sort of flat lined myself. I feel a sense of urgency and a lack of energy to do anything about it all at the same time. I watched app. 10 hours of the Olympics every day for those two weeks and they just ended last night. I am sort of glad I had them but now there's a weird void that I am really noticing. So I guess this blog is an attempt to get out of the rut and move forward.

Thanks to all who have sent well wishes about my father. I've been very fortunate in that my family is very young (i.e. my father had just turned 66 days before he died and my grandmother had also just turned 83 days before she passed) so I haven't had a lot of losses for a long time. I already told my Mom that no one else is allowed to get sick, get injured or die the rest of this year in our family. Hopefully they'll all follow my instructions. It's worth a try.

Brian

You whacked that sweet little lady with a MACHINE GUN??? You heartless, no good, son of a gun ! ! .....Dang Brian, you can't catch a break ! ! It seems like that's going around...Sorry about your grandma, I am sure she was a great lady. When is the funeral, Wednesday?

Brian, I am so sorry for your losses.

Thanks Kevin and Herbie. It's been a pretty numb last few weeks. Services are Saturday. I'll be glad when this month is past me.

Hi Brian

God Picked another flower, a red rose, your grand mother. I'm sorry to hear about your losses. My prayers and thoughts are with you & your family Brian. God bless.

Michele

Thanks Michele. I guess this is all a part of getting older. It's certainly not one of the benefits. The sad irony is that the older you live, the more loss you will have suffer through. Obviously most of us want to keep living, but the bittersweet truth is that if you live to a ripe old age, you see a lot of your family and friends pass on before you. Even if you're religious, that's still a lot of sad times to go through. I know it sounds like a huge cliche, but try to enjoy folks while they are here as long as you can. At least in this case we got to have a really nice visit with her right before the end. It really makes things far more bearable than if we hadn't. I hope those reading will reach out to their own family members and friends they might have lost touch with.

Brian

Hi, Brian. I would like to add my condolences as well. It's wonderful that you could be with her at the end. Thank you for reminding us to treasure our relationships in the here and now.

Brian I very very rarely visit the blog purely because of time. I think it was providential that I paid a visit this time and to this particular entry since I would not have known about the passing of your father and grandmother. I am so sorry. I am glad you had a good relationship with both of them. On my key chain is a heart that reads "Every Day Is A Gift" since I believe it truly is. Your counsel is wise about reaching out to family members. Again, so sorry for your loss.

Best,
Lynn

Very sorry to hear about this....Brian...You've gone through a lot.....this summer..

I do see that determination...and orneryness...that was in her eyes..and .It's a beautiful picture.
Am glad you did get to see your grandmother...

When my husband's favorite Aunt died suddenly...(as she was being released from the hospital) we were so thankful..we'd made the trip to Florida to see her prior to that and had a really nice visit with her...as things change so suddenly

very best to you,
Kaley.......


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I just got back from the funeral where I unexpected was asked to give the eulogy.. it was a Catholic mass. I guess I did well as a lot of people came up to me afterwards and said it really moved them... somehow I must have gotten the "communication" gene in the family. = )

Brian

You're kidding right Brian? Any of us that know you, would know that you would NAIL that speech. We see it here every day ! ! I'm glad your "other" family got a taste of your wit ! !