Iny and Bill
the news from cincinnati is not good. hospice has been called in for uncle bill, my aunt iny's husband. theirs is a love story that has lasted their whole adult lives, and it is very sad to think it might end this christmas.
iny and bill were teenagers when they met. i think they knew right away that they wanted to get married. but iny was studying to be a ballet dancer, and my grandmother wanted her to give that a good shot. bill went into the service. iny became principal dancer of the kansas city ballet.
eventually, bill came back from the service, and eventually they married.
my sister kristin always said that uncle bill was the perfect man: steadfast, calm, loyal, and true. the kind of man, kristin said, that the rather high-strung and intense women in our family needed. certainly he has been perfect for iny. they raised three children, they moved from missouri to pennsylvania to iowa and then to ohio. they traveled to paris and switzerland. a year ago, iny and i were emailing about a trip she and bill wanted to take to ireland. they planned to go in the spring. and then his cancer was discovered.
you and i have talked about some of this already; in late october, i wrote about whether or not i should pray the rosary, as iny had asked me to do. that posting brought more comments than any other i'd written--all thoughtful and benevolent comments. some of you have been praying for bill since then, and that kindness astounds me.
be sad for them, because this is a sad time. but don't be too sad; they have had a wonderful, adventurous and happy time together--more than 50 years. and for that we should all be happy.
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They are a lovely couple and appear so happy. She just looks like a ballet dancer, doesn't she.
My thoughts are with you all, Laurie.
Always keeping in mind that you can't be the master of your ultimate destiny, as my son was not the master of his. Sometimes we have to accept the inevitable even when it seems unfair and difficult. What you say is true, They had those 50 some wonderful years together and that is a lot. It's a true gift. I hope your aunt does well.
We all know that eventually we die, but somehow that doesn't make it any easier in the slightest. This is a sad time, so allow yourself to feel sad, and break out the rosary beads if you feel the need.
I'm sure I'm safe in saying we all feel for you and Iny (especially Iny).
Sometimes we are fortunate to find that forever person with whom to share our lives. Surely that is the way Iny and Bill must feel about each other. The hospice team will provide both the medical and family support to help both of them with this hard passage.
My wish is that they are able to share one more holiday season together.
I'm so sorry for them both and for you.
Their story is both beautiful and rare.
Their story is really beautiful and so are the photos.
It is a sad time for you all, though. My thoughts are with you.
50 years is a good time tohave together, so while it's a shame they can't have more, at least they've had a good bite. Doesnt make it any less tragic for you though.
It's always so sad when something like this happens at this time of year.
My thoughts are with you and your family Laurie.
So sorry to hear this news. But you can't do any better than 50 years together. I agree with your closing comments, true until the last. Some reason to celebrate, even amid all the sadness.
My Mom died four years ago - and I run into people all the time who say - I miss your Mom.
That will be said of your uncle - and it really says it all.
We should all be so lucky.
50 beautiful years together is amazing.
Best to you and your family at this difficult time, Laurie.
I love love stories like this. The women in my family are high strung, too. A few of us (me) have been lucky enough to find those steady, calm, solid men.
It's okay to feel sad (I'm a little teary just thinking about it), but you're right. Not everyone gets fifty years of mostly bliss. My thoughts are with you all, as well.
This has got to be so hard for your family and especially your aunt. The fact that it's happening around such a "joyous" time of year is a cruel irony.
But in fifty years a bond has to have been formed that will transcend this somehow. Fifty years. What an amazing thing.
We're all sending our best to your whole family.
Well, I'm one of those praying types, so I'll be praying for peace and calm and sweet words of love at the end, if there is an end. And that he'll leave the light on for her.
It's a hard time of year for tragedies like this. My grandfather recently ended up in the hospital and was put on a ventilator.
My thoughts are with you and your family.
ah, you guys are all so kind.
tomorrow's post will be less bleak, i promise.
Sending love and best wishes Laurie. I can't imagine what you're all going through. But 50 years is astounding.
It is sad that something so wonderful has to end. Or maybe it just moves on to something bigger and better.
Sorry for the difficult time your family is going through.
This is such a nice tribute to them. Nicely done and thanks for sharing this. :-)
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