This Memorial Day has special significance to use because a dear friend of ours died recently, a World War 2 veteran, father to one of our other dear friends, and though we only got to know him through very short visits at our friend's house, we treasured the times we got to spend with him.
Oh, the stories he told!
Charles Shapin came back from the War and settled down to become a math teacher at a high school back in Long Island, my old stomping grounds. We became close friends with his son's family through our daughters' friendship at school; and though the girls' friendship has waxed and waned as they have grown and changed, our friendship with the family has continued to grow stronger. It's a friendship we treasure greatly. They are an amazing, wonderful family. Whenever Eric's folks were in town, they would invite us over for dinner. And when Charles and Audrey came to visit, it becomes an even more special time, not only because they are wonderful people, too, but because they brought with them stories of Long Island.
Truthfully, I could listen to stories about Long Island all day long.
Charles had been sick for quite a while. This past year has been especially difficult on him -- and on Audrey, too, of course. So it was very sad when he died, but at the same time, it was kind of a relief that he would not be suffering anymore.
We are so happy to have known him, to have come to love him and be a (small) part of his life; most especially, we are grateful that he and Audrey raised such a wonderful son, who together with his amazing wife, formed a beautiful family who we are very privileged to be friends with.
We're grateful to Charles for the service he did his country, for the sacrifice he was willing to give, for the fact that he underwent such hardship and horror in order that we could enjoy the life we have today, free from tyranny.
We're grateful to God that, though we as humans have to suffer through the trials and tribulations brought upon ourselves by our own failings, he gives us hope for a new and better life when we have passed from this earth.
And we look forward to seeing Charles once again in that new and better life.
Oh, the stories he told!
Charles Shapin came back from the War and settled down to become a math teacher at a high school back in Long Island, my old stomping grounds. We became close friends with his son's family through our daughters' friendship at school; and though the girls' friendship has waxed and waned as they have grown and changed, our friendship with the family has continued to grow stronger. It's a friendship we treasure greatly. They are an amazing, wonderful family. Whenever Eric's folks were in town, they would invite us over for dinner. And when Charles and Audrey came to visit, it becomes an even more special time, not only because they are wonderful people, too, but because they brought with them stories of Long Island.
Truthfully, I could listen to stories about Long Island all day long.
Charles had been sick for quite a while. This past year has been especially difficult on him -- and on Audrey, too, of course. So it was very sad when he died, but at the same time, it was kind of a relief that he would not be suffering anymore.
We are so happy to have known him, to have come to love him and be a (small) part of his life; most especially, we are grateful that he and Audrey raised such a wonderful son, who together with his amazing wife, formed a beautiful family who we are very privileged to be friends with.
We're grateful to Charles for the service he did his country, for the sacrifice he was willing to give, for the fact that he underwent such hardship and horror in order that we could enjoy the life we have today, free from tyranny.
We're grateful to God that, though we as humans have to suffer through the trials and tribulations brought upon ourselves by our own failings, he gives us hope for a new and better life when we have passed from this earth.
And we look forward to seeing Charles once again in that new and better life.
No comments:
Post a Comment