Holiday Deaths

I always feel sad about deaths during the holidays. My dad passed away on Dec, 2, 2000, and of course, it affected our Christmas--especially since his birthday was Dec. 23rd. Even though I think of him every day, every holiday season I especially remember him. I always tried to buy him more gifts than he really needed just because I thought, since he was a Christmas baby, he got cheated on birthday gifts.

This Thanksgiving, three of my favorites passed away. I've always been a Zig Ziglar fan. I have a few of his books and admired his words of wisdom, his positive way of looking at life, and his encouragement.

As Ziglar put it, “Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days.”

He challenged people to think creatively and outside the box.

I've blogged before about my favorite bad guy--Larry Hagman. I watched him in the popular TV sitcom I Dream of Jeannie long before he became J.R. Ewing. Daughter and I were stunned to hear of his death during Thanksgiving. We watched the new Dallas and we were looking forward to the next season. We marveled at how J.R. Ewing never changed; he was just as mean and conniving as always. I guess we thought J.R. would live forever. We often form opinions about movie stars based on what we see on TV or read in the newspapers. I think Hagman was pretty quirky in real life, but he was married to the same woman for 59 years. As far as I'm concerned, that man deserves a gold star! Dallas won't be the same without J.R. Ewing and they sure better not try to replace him--the way they did Ms. Ellie!

Deborah Raffin became a fav of mine when I watched her in Once is Not Enough, a movie based on the best selling book by Jacqueline Susann. She played January Wayne, a young woman who goes from poor-little-rich-girl to tragic heroine, as she searches New York and Los Angeles for a man just like her father, Mike Wayne, a glamorous movie producer. Love, love, love the drama! What I didn't know about Deborah Raffin was that she and her husband launched Dove Books-on-Tape in the mid-1980s. The company's first best-seller was Stephen Hawking's opus on the cosmos entitle d "A Brief History of Time." 


Are you familiar with any of these people? Did they influence you in some way? When you think about it, TV personalities are a study in characterization. Comments?

Thought for the Day:

"Even in tragedy, God through His word offers hope for those who seek and believe. It starts with the promise of a better tomorrow, of life everlasting, of eternal peace. It’s called faith, and it offers hope where none existed.” – Zig Ziglar

I Lost Another Lela

Lela Black Kohler
Lela Black Kohler, 92, passed away Saturday, June 14, 2008, peacefully in her sleep, in the comfort of her daughter's home in Katy, TX.

Back in late November, I lost a good writer friend/critique partner. Her name was Lela. Last week, I lost a dear reader friend/soul mate. Her name was Lela too. What made this Lela so dear to me was that we connected on several levels. Here are five things I loved about Lela Kohler:

1) She never said a mean thing about anyone. When my husband worked in Houston, Lela would ride with us, meet up with her daughter and they'd spend a week or two together. On our return trip, we'd usually stop at Cracker Barrel to eat. Lela would order some sweet concoction--Apple Dumplings, I believe. We'd talk about everything under the sun but especially the church we attend. Lela was a member for more than 50 years and I enjoyed hearing stories about friends we had in common. Lela never said a mean thing to me about anyone. Some people are just naturally nice. She was one of them.

2) Lela was a social butterfly. She'd go anywhere at the drop of a hat. I loved her spontaneity. I'd call and ask if she wanted to go to the book store and she'd say "Give me fifteen minutes to get ready." The older I get, the more spontaneity I lose. The fact that Lela loved to go to socials and parties and meetings and shopping irritated some. They felt a woman in her late 80s should stay home. Lela was a good example--for all of us. We grow old faster if we aren't social.

3) Lela was a reader. When we went to the book store, she browsed with pleasure. She walked the aisles, reading the titles of various books, caressing their spines. And when it was time to go, she'd take out a snip of paper with the title of a book she wanted. I liked that she actually bought something. I've never enjoyed 'window' shopping. If I can't buy a book, I don't want to be in the book store. I loved the way Lela appreciated and treasured books and writers.

4) Lela loved chocolate. When we'd go out to eat, I'd ask her if she wanted dessert. "Do you think I could get a chocolate bar to take home with me?" She explained how she liked to savor it in the privacy of her own home. I like that. I like that she was honest enough to say it.

5) Lela was a pack rat. My true soul sister. We had many serious discussions about saving things from newspapers and magazines. I was thrilled to know someone who understood exactly why I have trouble discarding things. Lela's house looked like mine. :)

And so I sit here today thinking about my friend Lela and visualizing her family going through her belongings and wondering why their mother kept such strange useless items. I wish they understood.

This scripture reminds me of Lela.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ~1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Lela Black Kohler
Born May 18, 1916 -- Died June 14, 2008

Lela went to sleep one night and woke up with Jesus. A fitting way for my sweet friend to leave this earth. God blessed her and I was blessed to be a part of her life.