Chronicles of Trudy and Robert

Hello Dear Friends,

Welcome to what I expect to be the last installment of The Robert and Trudy Love Story...at least for the "blog" universe. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your interest and affirmation and prayerful support over the last year. Writing our story has been a therapeutic "God-send" of which you have been a key participant. Though I live to be a hundred, I shall not cease to grieve the earthly absence of the wife of my youth. Even so, I know that I feel I am emotionally and mentally transitioning from "Reflection" to "What's Next." And so shall it be.

I have been blessed with the richness of Trudy's unrelenting love and for that I will be eternally grateful. Her legacy will simply not be forgotten...not by me, her children, her four grandchildren, extended family, and scores of others. Hopefully, the memoirs of this blog will serve to preserve the epic grandeur of our life together to all who have loved us and perhaps to some who will yet follow in our family line...even to generations far into the future.

CHRONICLES OF ROBERT AND TRUDY: CHAPTER 23

Trudy had yet another life changing upheaval to add to her burgeoning collection of adventures in being Robert's wife! Robert had been doing quite well in his profession as a Pharmaceutical sales representative. In fact, Robert had been presented with the prestigious national "Rookie of the Year" sales award with for his company. And his second year had been equally rewarding as Robert was in a very select, elite group of people being trained for managerial positions. In fact, that career advancing program was only a few months from completion, when some leadership from the Alpine First Baptist Church began to talk with Robert about becoming the Minister of Education, Administration, and Evangelism for the church. Whoaaaa! Hold the horses...could God be calling Robert into the ministry at such a time as this? Well, here was the scenario in a nut shell: Robert would be leaving a stable, well-paying job and he would become a gospel minister. They would at least be staying in their home versus a probable relocation that would most likely attend the coming promotion with the pharmaceutical company. But, it would be change for Trudy, Wendy and Brian at many levels. Especially Trudy...who did not "marry a preacher!" How did she respond? Well, to state the obvious...she was fully on board. In their prayerful consideration, both Robert and Trudy talked about the concept that God would not place this on just one spouse's heart. It had to be felt and accepted by both husband and wife. Perhaps it would be no mere understatement to report that Trudy accepted this new "calling" with more than a little trepidation...but accept it she did...in all of its ramifications. It always struck this pair with wonder, that they would be from that point on...be in..."the ministry." Trudy, well she was simply perfect in this role as the minister's wife. On one occasion when Robert was fielding questions from a church that was in the process of calling him to be their pastor, Trudy was asked to field a question. The question was something like this: "Mrs. Trudy, how do you see your role in the church should we call Brother Robert as our pastor?" Trudy didn't even hesitate as she confidently replied, in maybe just a hint of a sultry voice: "My primary role is to keep the preacher happy...and...I do that very well." Her response brought the house down and effectively ended the Q&A time. The church extended the call to Robert...wonder which of the Daniel's received the most conversation from those folks as they drove home from that meeting?

Robert and Trudy were most assuredly a team in ministry as Trudy accompanied Robert to virtually every event, most in-home visits, and a great many hospital visits. Tiredness never ever stopped her, however, her dedication to her profession as an educator would on occasion require her to be at her post at the school. No doubt, the churches served fully understood her heart and her dedication. Alpine First Baptist Church in Pineville, Louisiana, First Baptist Church in Montgomery, Louisiana, Twin Bridges Baptist Church in Alexandria, Louisiana, and Bethel Baptist Church in Colfax, Louisiana, were the churches the Lord blessed Robert and Trudy with great years of service. Though in some respects it seemed far too brief, Trudy was also in full partnership with Robert for the last nine months of her life as Robert began his present ministry post as Director of Missions for the churches of the Big Creek, Central Louisiana, and North Rapides Baptist Associations.

Written text is woefully inadequate to describe Trudy in her role as a professional educator. She taught for two years at Montgomery High School and then for twenty-one years at Tioga High School. She taught various math and science subjects but was primarily known as the Chemistry and Physics teacher. And teaching was her very special domain. While Trudy was Robert's partner in ministry, Robert was ill-equipped to return that sense of partnership for Trudy's profession. There were inevitably those times in which Trudy would express some frustration with students that seemed to lack motivation and/or present behavioral challenges. Robert simply said to Trudy: "Baby, you know that student that is driving you to distraction with his lack of effort and being a goof-off? Well, don't forget...you married a guy who was once just that kind of student." She allowed a stifled chortle and said: "Well, who knows, maybe there's hope for that student after all!" Though Robert gave full attention to supporting her behind the scenes, Trudy faced every challenge at her school with masterful aplomb. A superb educator in subjects that were quite challenging, Trudy approached her work with matchless determination and integrity. Notably, too, she lived her Christianity at every station of life without compromise and without apology. Scarcely a week passes that Robert doesn't have an affirming and spontaneous encounter with one of Trudy's former students. One might suppose that no teacher could have been held in greater esteem by her students and colleagues.

In the twenty-three years covered in broad stroke in this chapter, Trudy continued to relish her role as mother to Wendy and Brian. There were inevitable challenges, of course, but Trudy was a constant and reliable source of love and encouragement for her children.

She was proud of her beautiful daughter, Wendy, as she completed high school and university. Trudy and Robert were profoundly grateful to see the person for whom they had prayerfully asked God to provide for Wendy arrive on the scene. No doubt, Kirk Jones and Wendy were divinely drawn together. Trudy and Robert were positively aglow at Wendy and Kirk's wedding with a deep assurance that this was God's perfect will for their daughter. Trudy and Robert had often heard that there was nothing in life to prepare one for the experience of becoming a grandparent. My oh my, that truth was personified at the birth of their first grandchild. Trudy was right there with Wendy and Kirk for the birth of Daniel. All of their grandchildren were equally loved and cherished and each birth was uniquely amazing for Trudy and Robert. The births of Melanie and Kara filled their grandparents with an excitement and pride that they never got over.

Brian, too, was enveloped in the matchless love of his mother's great heart. Filled with admiration for the amazing man that had developed right before their eyes, Trudy and Robert delighted in his graduation from high school, university, and his pursuit of a Master's Degree from seminary. Once again, Trudy and Robert were grateful for the fulfillment of the prayers they had prayed all the days of Brian's life for his future wife. His stunning bride, Jessica Whitten Daniel was the beautiful answer to their prayers. With a heightened awareness of the preciousness of life, Trudy, was nine months into her rigorous cancer treatments when she experienced the incomparable blessing of the birth of granddaughter, Meredith.

Trudy faced the battle with Leukemia with faith and courage. Surely she never thought of herself as strong and heroic...yet that is precisely the essence of all that was observed in her. From the stupefying and terrible moment on February 23, 2007, that Trudy and Robert sat in the exam room and her physician communicated the grave diagnosis to them, through the many indescribable experiences, through the terror of various crises, and on through the last conversation that they shared only a few days before her death; her remarkable faith never wavered. Trudy Benoit Daniel was Robert's hero of the faith and he was absolutely humbled in the privilege he had in being her husband.

EPILOGUE:

Well, my friends...I admit that I know not how to close this epistle that has been dedicated to the love story of Robert and Trudy. I do appreciate your readership and the affirmation you have supplied during its writing. Even more, each of you who have read these entries have been inextricably a part of the story. At some level, at various times...you have entered into the lives and the story of Robert and Trudy. I will never take that for granted. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

God bless you,
Robert

P.S.: Thanks for the guestbook entries over the past year. This entire journal and those very personal guestbook entries will be placed into a hard copy notebook. Please feel free to add a your memory of Trudy's legacy by clicking on the guestbook tab and jotting down a thought.. Thanks, too, for the facebook entries...those have been very special.

I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night

Hello Friends,

The title above is from a popular song from 1966 recorded by the classic Rock Band...The Electric Prunes." Hmmm, I feel totally naive, if you know what an electric prune is...don't tell me...I think I should remain naive. But, anyway, the song came to mind as I awakened after dreaming about Trudy only a couple of days ago. However, for me it's more like "I can't remember enough of my dream last night." Anyway, here is one thing I do remember about this dream in which Trudy was vividly present.

Trudy and I were : "Freeway Ice Skating!" (I know, I know...but dreams...whatcha gonna do?). Hand in hand we darted in and out and around traffic; through tunnels and adroitly avoiding almost certain collisions. It was as though we were in some sci-fy movie chase scene. The adrenaline was high and sometimes Trudy squealed at the appearance of some situation that appeared to be certain doom! Yet, we contorted ourselves into a position to miraculously evade the danger. I said: "Come on, let's go this way!" She said: "Are YOU Sure??!!" I hollered out: "I sure hope so!" And away we went, hand in hand, skating at Olympic speed into our dream adventure.

Now, I'm neither an interpreter of dreams nor the son of an interpreter of dreams but I got this one. As I have reflected upon our "Love Story," plainly, we lived our lives in an adventurous fashion. Oh, not so fast as "freeway ice skating" or as dramatic as a sci-fy movie, but with lots of unknown twists and turns, lots of chilling encounters, lots of "I sure hope so's", and most assuredly...we lived our life together...hand in hand.

Chronicles of Robert and Trudy, Chapter 22:

Trudy was glad to be back in Louisiana! We had moved to Rustic Manor Drive in the Pineville area on March 22, 1987. We had to rent the place because our house in Oklahoma City had not sold. We once again did not "church shop" as we immediately joined Alpine First Baptist Church, where Charles Hutzler served as pastor. Wendy and Brian were enrolled in Mary Goff Elementary School and Trudy arranged to do some substitute teaching with the Rapides Parish School Board. Further, she began the process to become certified again after almost fourteen years out of the teaching field. Robert simply waited for April first, which would be his first day with Sandoz Pharmaceutical Company as a Sales Representative. Every time there was a move, there were unforeseen challenges and this move was no different. Our children found that schools were different and that they had to start all over on making friends. It was no picnic for them, but they persevered quite well. Trudy had to take a couple of classes to get her certification active and she found being back in the classroom to be a formidable challenge. Robert had a job that suited him to a tee and probably had the least amount of stress in the adjustment process.

We were greatly helped by being around family in all this newness. We were strategically located right between Winnfield, Louisiana, where Robert's parents lived and Poland, Louisiana which was the community in which Trudy's parents lived. We often made visits to one or the other and they would frequently make visits to us. That helped a lot, especially, I think, with Wendy and Brian. We were blessed to have family surrounding us. We especially appreciated the blessing of family, when in June, 1987, Brian was found to have Type I (insulin dependent) Diabetes. No doubt, God had orchestrated our move back home just in time to provide us with the needed family support for adjusting to Brian's chronic major health issue. In all that process, Brian was great. He learned how to take good care of himself and how to live a fully productive life...playing baseball, soccer, basketball, and power lifting.

By and by, Trudy accepted a teaching position at Montgomery High School in Montgomery, Louisiana. We enrolled Wendy and Brian in Verda Elementary (near Montgomery) and every school day, Trudy, Wendy, and Brian would make that two-way commute of about 45 minutes each way. Meanwhile, Robert enjoyed working with Sandoz and earned several selling awards (and some great bonus checks). One great highlight was when I took the family with me on a business trip to Orlando, Florida. I had a "bus-man's holiday, and we had a great family vacation.

More Louisiana adventures next time.

Blessings,
Robert

Trudy's Sixtieth Birthday / Easter Sunday 2011

We can shed tears that she is gone...or, we can smile because she lived. We can close our eyes and pray that she’ll come back...or, we can open our eyes and see all she’s left. Our hearts can be empty because we can’t see her...or, we can be full of the love we shared. We can turn our backs on tomorrow and live in yesterday...or, we can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. We can remember her and only that she’s gone...or, we can cherish her memory and let it live on. We can cry and close our minds, be empty and sad...or, we can do what she’d want...smile, open our eyes, love, and go on! (Adapted from an eulogy I heard from Mrs. Paula Pinckard, at her grandmother, Mrs. Bessie Deen’s funeral)

Today is Easter Sunday and I can’t help but think of her words on Easter Sunday a year ago: “He is risen, Christ is risen indeed.” She wrote those words on the marker board in her hospital room and spoke them to everyone who came into her room that day. A day before she was placed on the ventilator, she was wearing a full-face oxygen mask that made her voice barely audible. While the nurses and aides were doing some unmentionable procedure, Katy noticed that she was saying something. Upon drawing close to her, Katy heard her singing these words:

Alive, Alive, Alive forevermore, my Jesus is Alive, Alive forevermore!

Alive, Alive, Alive forevermore, my Jesus is Alive.

Sing Alleluia, sing Alleluia, my Jesus is Alive forevermore.

Sing Alleluia, sing Alleluia, my Jesus is alive!

On this day, our family gathers to plant a Rose Bush as a fitting memorial to Trudy. It is planted next to the rose bush that came from her daddy’s garden. On one occasion, we were backing out of the carport to head to Houston’s M. D. Anderson Hospital for a difficult Bone Marrow Aspiration procedure and consults with the doctors. I saw her tears and stopped the car to find out what she was feeling. She said, “Do you see the bloom on Daddy’s Rose Bush?” It’s as though he is saying: “Keep going, Trudy! Don’t give up; it’s going to be alright!” From now on, we will think of Trudy and her Dad whenever we look at these roses. Also, we are planting a Sweet Olive Brush. It is to replace her favorite plant ... lost during some house foundation work. It, too, shall be a ceaseless reminder her joy in her gardens.

Blessings,

Robert A. Daniel, husband, Son-in-Law, Brother-in-Law, Uncle, Dad, Pops

Oklahoma City is Mighty Pretty

Hello Friends,

I want to blog about our days in Oklahoma City, but before I do, please permit me a few melancholy observations about what was happening one year ago. The picture was taken on Friday, March 26, 2010 in a hallway between MDA and the academic area. In the distant background, you can see the very hall that only moments after this picture was taken, we encountered Dr. Giralt (Trudy's Stem Cell Transplant Doctor). She had just gotten her "hair cut" and that experience only added to the very difficult emotions of all that was looming. Dr. Giralt was a perfect gentleman, he remarked that she looked great and offered his opinion that she would "kick this thing" all over the place. She responded with a bravado that is betrayed in this picture. She was gazing out a window presenting the look of a woman deeply concerned. Still with poise and grace fully beyond my feeble comprehension, she gathered herself and we enjoyed the rest of the day and on through noon, Saturday all to ourselves. In fact, I can tell you that those next 24 hours were the most emotionally, spiritually, and physically intimate times that we had experienced in all our years leading up to the time she went into the hospital on Saturday the 27th of March, two thousand, ten.

Now for the next chapter of our "Love Story." We loved living in Oklahoma City. Trudy loved being a stay-at-home mom and we felt as though our lives, our family, our togetherness was in full bloom. Oh, we didn't like being away from Louisiana and our parents, but the great times we were experiencing sure helped. Our children had wonderful friends, and probably we were immersed deeply into more close friendships than any other time of our life together.

Trudy and I were part of a "Care Group" home ministry of our church that was an amazing friendship and spiritual occurrence. Each week we would gather at our house or one of the other Servant Leaders home's for a time of fellowship and spiritually directed discussion. Through the weeks, our group grew in number and it grew in trust and closeness. There was a trusting atmosphere in which people could share openly about their lives. We could call on each other for any need...at any time. The dynamic our "Meeting Needs" Care Group was something we had never experienced before and the impact of that group shaped our lives from then on.

Trudy was involved in so many things in those years. She, along with Dawn Pybas, led our daughter's Blue Bird troop; she was in a day-time ladies care group, she and Dawn, and Gina Merrick had their own custom Mother's Day Out Co-op; and she volunteered one day a week at the child care program at the church. I do believe it was the time of her life that she would agree was her most enjoyable and personally productive. She deeply loved investing her time, energy, and ample creative powers into her role as mother to Wendy and Brian...and she made it fun! Just take a look at the obvious joy and the irrepressible twinkle in her eyes in the pictures. Permit me a quote of the ancient Hebrew expression..."WOW!"

Though we loved our Oklahoma City life, there was this one thing. We were Louisianians in our heart of hearts. Our parents weren't getting any younger and we genuinely wanted our children to have the fullest possible relationship with their grandparents. It was a longing that just wouldn't subside. When Trudy's dad developed some very serious health issues, we knew it was time to get back to central Louisiana. We were home for Thanksgiving holiday in 1986 when one of those "God" events struck. I was always a habitual newspaper reader, so the fact that I had a Alexandria Daily Town Talk (I love that name for a newspaper) in my hands was not unusual, but that I found my way to the employment ads certainly was. Of all the ads, only one caught my attention...there was an opening for a pharmaceutical sales representative for a international firm to work in the central Louisiana territory. So, I clipped that ad and brought it back to OKC with me. After Trudy and I discussed the astronomical odds of anything coming from this, I sent my resume' to the P.O.Box in the ad, and promptly put the whole matter to the furthest back reaches of my mind. However, three days later I got a call from the Regional Manager who was doing the interviews. It seemed that he was interested in my resume' but was wondering why I was applying for a job that would involve a 500 mile relocation. I explained that we simply wanted to live in the Alexandria, LA area because of our roots there and our family situation. I guess that was sufficient explanation because he set up an interview with me...in Alexandria, that would coincide with our Christmas holidays. So, we were back in Louisiana, I met with the Regional Manager and another manager at the Hilton Inn. I didn't know what to make of the interview and there was no indication from the men as to what they were thinking. However, I found out in a matter of just a few days of our return to OKC...the man who would become my manager with Sandoz Pharmaceutical Company called and told me that he was quite interested. After a meeting with a higher echelon manager, I was offered the job. Jeepers! I answered one ad from the newspaper and from December to February, I had a job offer with this huge pharmaceutical company. Trudy and I quickly concluded that this was indeed a "God" thing and we agreed that I should accept the position. After discussing the logistical issues, my manager and I agreed on a starting date of April 1st (no foolin!), 1987.

So, over the next several weeks, we immersed ourselves in the process of separation from our wonderful life in OKC. We announced our decision to our church family with whom we had grown so very close. For a move that we had yearned so deeply for, this was a gut-wrenching situation. I was on the Deacon body and chaired the Finance Committee and had very strong rapport with the staff, especially Joe and Linda Perry. We were Department Directors of a Young Adult Sunday School Department and I sang in the Sanctuary Choir. I was on Basketball and Softball teams for the church. Trudy worked in the weekday child care program and of course there were the...Care Groups. Oh my! Each group had a part of our hearts and it was so hard to tell them goodbye. Care Group members showed up to help us pack the truck and did so through much tears. After spending one last night in our lovely home, we got up the next morning to throw the last things on the U-Haul and make our departure. As we were starting to put the last things on the truck, one more Care Group couple appeared to help. We were especially close to them as they had been with us in the Care Group ministry from the get-go. They even had us listed in their will to take care of their children for crying out loud. It was virtually the final emotional straw. We wept bitter tears as we finally pulled away and headed to Louisiana. The cycle was complete...we wept over leaving Louisiana to come to Oklahoma and now we wept over leaving Oklahoma to return home. Go figure, huh!

Our spirits began to lift though, as we got closer and closer to our families. We had a house rented in Timber Trails subdivision on the outskirts of Pineville. We were one very happy family to finally pull in and have our families there to help us unload and unpack.

God had richly blessed us with our five years in OKC. Our family had surely benefited from that experience. Trudy was great in all this...going to OKC and now in the return. God truly provided the perfect wife for me. Her love for God and for her husband was always perfect and pure and permanent. Thank you Lord, for our Love Story.

Blessings,
Robert

Valentines Day...2011

Hello Friends,

Here's wishing you a very special and happy Valentines Day. Today was the first Valentines Day in forty years that I didn't have a plan in place. Oh, sometimes my plans didn't score too many points, but I always had a plan.

Our first Valentines Day was when we were dating in 1971. Trudy was a resident student at Northwestern State University in Natichitoches, Louisiana. The Baptist Student Union held a gala banquet on Saturday night and we dressed to the "nines" and joined the fun. Trudy wore a beautiful yellow dress complimented by what I referred to as: "Chantilly lace" (picture on the earlier entry of July 9, 2010, here on the blog). I wore a 1942 Tuxedo jacket that I bought from a clearance sale at the downtown Caplan's Men's Store. Trudy wore with grace and style, the pink carnation corsage that I presented to her and I wore the lovely white carnation boutonniere that she had gotten for me. I was sooooo proud to be her Valentine!

All through the years, Valentines Day was a very special celebration for us. I loved assembling roses, greenery, and baby's breath in a nice vase, which I would deliver to her room at Tioga High School. She would stop teaching and kiss me on the lips...right in front of her students! Predictably, they would then go, "awwwww." Then she would delicately place the bouquet prominently on her demonstration desk and carefully touch and adjust a few stems to make it "just so" as she introduced me to the class. Going on my way, I would wink at her and tell her that we had special reservations for Cajun Landing (somtimes, that is) for the evening. However, we also enjoyed setting out the china and crystal from our wedding gifts at our own dining table. I would grill some steaks and Trudy would put together some sides and we would delight in each other at our home-style Valentine banquet.

Too, there were always the church Valentine Banquets to enjoy. The picture is from the banquet at Twin Bridges Baptist Church, Alexandria, Louisiana, back in 2003. We decided to dress our best and no doubt about it, we were (well...she was) show-stopping fine!

On this day, I decided to face head-on, the emotions that inevitably would be present. I'm glad I did. The emotions were in full swing, but I felt God's grace as I embraced the moments. I found about 15 years of our cards...her's to me...mine to her...and was so amazed at how beautifully and poetically affirming she was of her relentless love for me. Then, I took an arrangement of roses to the cemetery to place at her grave (as an aside; I never knew how busy cemeteries are on Valentines Day!). Then this evening, I grilled a New York Strip steak, fixed some gourmet mac and cheese, some cut green beans, and some dinner bread...and carefully presented all of this on our china dinnerware accompanied with iced tea served in fine crystal. Though it was a solitary banquet meal, nothing could have been more fitting for me on this day, as I had in my heart to "celebrate" the 40th anniversary of our first Valentines Day. In my prayer before the meal and throughout the day, I have been so very thankful that I was the man that called Trudy...my Valentine! Thank you Lord, thank you!

Next time, perhaps, the final OKC years and the return to Louisiana.

Blessings,
Robert

Strange Movin_OKC_1982

Hello Friends,

The icy temps of late 1981 brought strange brewings into our eleventh year of marriage. This picture of Trudy and Wendy is their entry into the radio station snow contest in December of that fateful period. We didn't know if it was chosen to be the winning entry because we forgot to listen to the afternoon broadcast...but those girls had loads of fun building that "chilly" fellow.

We were dealing with an offer of intrigue from my employer...American Air Filter Company. I had been offered a nice promotion if we would move to Oklahoma City, where I would manage the branch office there. I was favorably inclined, but we had just sold our house on Pines Road and bought a house on Hayes Drive. We had the move planned for late December. After telling my boss that I didn't see how this timing could work, he said: "No problem! The company relocation program includes a feature to protect you from a housing problem. You list the house for 90 days and if it doesn't sell, the company will buy the house at the appraised value." Well, after some serious talking and praying, we decided that I would accept the transfer. Everything was working like clockwork...the company took care of all the move costs and paid for our trips back and forth with house hunting and so forth. The packers and movers came to our Pines Road house and took all our belongings to OKC...and the house we owned on Hayes Drive...we actually never spent a single night there! That's one for the books...even for Robert and Trudy Daniel. I mean, who buys a principal residence and never lives in it? Uhhh, us, that's who!

We made the move and since the housing thing was on hold, we moved into an apartment (Company expense), and started acclimating to our neat new surroundings. We did everything we could find to take in the sights and attractions of OKC. We joined the only church we visited...probably would joined the first night, except they didn't have an "invitation" on Wednesday night services! We fell in love with Putnam City Baptist Church. The Perry's, Pybas', Merrick's, Edward's, Henkle's, Coppage's, Sibley's, Colclasure's, Rieken's, Evan's, and many others became our extended family. Trudy felt horrible, moving so far from our family, but she soon found OKC to be her home...with so many friends...so many activities...and not having to work! She formed a network with Dawne Pybas, and Gina Merrick to have a "Mother's Day Out" Co-Op to do some really fun things with the boys (Brian, J.J. Merrick, and Justin Pybas)of these families. She and Dawne also became the co-leaders of a "Blue Bird" troupe for Wendy, Angela Pybas, and some other girls. Trudy found her kindred spirits in those dear friends and they helped her and our kids have an absolutely great OKC experience.

Trudy and I also became "Care Group" leaders in our church. Each Thursday, we would assemble four to six couples and build some awesome Christian relationships that would help all of us navigate through areas of personal, family, and individual Christian growth. We were involved in Sunday School leadership, music, and Children activities. It was a great time for our family. As for me, I was able to just about exhaust my sports fanaticism. I played on some terrific basketball teams with some great teammates. I also played on the church softball team, with even more great friends from church. We also had family around as my Uncle Rafe and Aunt Betty, my cousins, Karen, Dennis, and Dale; were OKC natives.

Oh, the rest of the story on the housing debacle. The Hayes Road house had not sold in the 90 day period, so I called the H.R. Department of my company. The manager was apprised of my situation and my urgent request to get the process started so that the company could buy my house. He called me...and sheepishly told me, "The house buying provision" was only for senior managers! No matter what I said, no matter what my Area Manager said, Corporate wouldn't agree to buy our house. Finally, they agreed to continue to pay our rent and to allow us to move into better housing until we got the house sold. So, they moved us into a nice, new duplex. That helped, and thankfully, Uncle Luke and Aunt Jo were our real estate agents back in Shreveport. I don't know how they did it, but they found us a buyer, and with their help we got the house sold with very minimal closing costs...whew! We moved to OKC in January, and we moved into our new house on Mantle Drive, in July. We were very happy to have that behind us. It was a mess, but everyone involved, including our OKC real estate agent, Virgina Rudd, worked together and God granted us a good outcome.

The newly added slide show to the right, includes a few pictures of the houses in Shreveport, the OKC apartment and Mantle Drive house. There is a picture of Brian crawling on head, and his second birthday, in the OKC apartment. Trudy must have been a bit rankled with him that day...she made him an "Oscar the Grouch" cake! But, we still loved the boy and were glad to give him his "Duke'es Hazzard" presents.

I suppose I look back on those OKC days with great fondness...Wendy and Brian were in such fun stages of their development, Trudy was positively in love with being a stay at home mom, and our family simply blossomed. AAF was a terrific job, PCBC was a great church, and we were blessed with friendships that I just can't imagine our life without them.

Next time, the OKC years draw to a close and Trudy's family moves back to Central Louisiana.

Blessings,
Robert

P.S.: I have to relate a present reality as a personal prayer request. One year ago in February, Trudy was dealing with even greater upheavals than even the move to Oklahoma City. Knowing that at best, recovery from the Stem Cell Transplant event would be incredibly long and hard...Trudy arranged to retire from teaching. In some ways, that was a celebration, but in other ways, it was an ominous cloud surrounding the harsh reality that she would be submitted to this procedure that filled her with dread. Her last day of teaching was February 11, 2010. We held her retirement reception on Sunday, Valentines Day. With no "down time" we left Monday, headed for MDA in Houston for the appointments that would set the timing for the transplant. Another portent of things to come was the meeting that Wednesday with Dr. Giralt. He told Trudy and me that there were no fully matching donors. He was visibly upset as he told her that her condition gave no other options...she had to have the transplant, but with no perfect matches, the odds had become much less favorable. She had to have the procedure and she had to have as quickly as possible. There was not a single day after that I did not see in her eyes, the playing out of this dilemma's unspeakable heaviness. I know that in addition to myself, Wendy, Brian, Katy, and Effie will be grateful for your extra prayer attention over these next days, week,s and months. Thanks for all you do to help, and thanks for checking-in here at the blog...Robert

Sigh...Laugh...Memories

Hello Friends,

You may have already "done the math" but today I observed my 60th birthday. Yeah, the first Daniel child born in a hospital! Of course that hospital was about the size of a large clapperboard home...but it was a hospital. I remember it well, even though I was young ... not!

But, today is also the 40th anniversary of our first date. I won't repeat the details (you can find those on the earlier June 19, 2010, post). As you can imagine, the short leap from the first Thanksgiving and Christmas without Trudy to today seems at times too much for me to assimilate. Still, at this point, I am compelled to ponder deeply every memory of our life together. And our life together...as a couple, began 40 years ago tonight. There have been so many remarkable segments to this love story, but I am smitten by the thought that the first date was to my "surprise" birthday party! It was a very simple birthday party...and yet every element was charged with a sense of destiny. The girl accompanying me was the one! And in a mere 11 months and three days we would be married. Thank you, Arthur and Effie Benoit, for your blessings and your ongoing support. Why, even tonight when I returned home from a rare Monday night church service, I had a very welcome voice mail birthday greeting from my mother-in-law. And thanks to my Mom and Dad, for their warm support of my "high-speed" courtship of and marriage to Trudy.

For the past week, I've been spending time with my siblings. We all rendezvoused in Phoenix, at our brother Jim's house. Seated, L to R, is my sister Marcia, Paul's wife Anna, and our oldest brother's wife Karen. Standing is Paul, Jim's wife Sue, Robert, and Jim. Our big brother, Jack, passed away with Kidney cancer on September 21, 2009. With all that history together in one room, you would correctly guess that family stories were remembered with rich tones of hearty laughter and melancholy moments of heavy sadness. Out time together flew...it stood still...but it never seemed quite enough. The walk down memory lane was not interrupted even with the halting, and difficult to speak memories from Karen and Robert. In fact, it was one of the safest and most affirming environments for such openness one could experience.
I don't think I took it for granted, but Trudy accepted my family as it were her own family...and reciprocally...she was fully accepted as part of the extended Daniel clan. Thanks big brothers, sisters-in-law, and little sister...y'all are awesome.

Well, just as our first date had to come to an end, so must I bring this blog to a conclusion. So, goodnight family and friends...I shall pillow my head and perhaps my dreams will grace me with visions of . . .

Our Love Story,
Blessings, Robert