Two weeks later !

Today it is two weeks since the home call of Dr Frank Garlick! 

Frank's sense of humour comes to my mind. We were on an outing to a park outside of Brisbane and came to a continental coffee bar at lunch time. He said,' Shall we order for rice and sambar'! He said that because he thrived on south Indian food so much so, that Val often made it in their home. 

Anna and I turn our thoughts to Val and their children who adjust to his physical absence from them. 

Turning our thoughts to Val, we recall a visit to their home. During one of the conversations, Val mentioned that their focus was to spend as much time as possible with each other and with their children and grandchildren. 

It was their custom to have a weekly meal with the children and grandchildren. As Mike and Bruce lived in Brisbane it was easier to have those weekly get togethers. John also joined as and when possible.

Val took every effort to keep the family ties alive and relational.

One example of this was how Frank and Val took a keen interest to take one of their grandchildren for horse riding regularly and had her spend  the day with them. 

Val's sense of thoughtfulness surprised me deeply once!  While I stayed with them during one of my visits, Val offered to do the laundry for me. Next morning when I got up, she had left my shirts hanging outside the room in hangers, neatly ironed! It was her natural way of caring and helping! 

Anna and I have several memories of our own experiences of how Frank and Val lived in intimacy of trust and mutuality as a couple. All their three children referred to this intimacy they experienced from their parents, during the thanksgiving service on 20th January, 2023.

Theirs was a life lived to explore the depth and breadth of marriage relationship and a celebration of their discoveries. 

Now, Val will have volumes of memories to live gratefully!

Anna and I remember Val as she adjusts to a new season in her life! Our wish is that Val will experience the joy of abundance of life she shared with Frank and face this transition to live well and fully!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)