Carolyn was my sister, older than I by one year. I always got a kick out of introducing her as my “elder” sister, and her scowl never stopped me!! She always kept me informed about what aches and pain to expect by my next birthday, her “heads up” she called it.
We shared a bedroom growing up. She loved design. In High School Home Economics she planned an entire bedroom re-design, and then carried it out: painting, sewing, furniture repurposing. She loved studying furniture styles and thought about becoming an interior designer.
Even though we were very different, we shared some interests in common. We were both avid readers, starting way back with The Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew Mysteries. As time went by she moved through several author favorites and often gifted books to our mother, who also loved to read. They both were intrigued by biographies, Winston Churchill was a favorite. Carolyn and I loved books by Jan Karon starting with At Home in Mitford. We collected the complete set. Bill enjoyed them too.
I think her love of reading inspired her to pen the most interesting letters. The details of their travels through English villages were sent in wonderful letters to our mother, who cherished them and re-read them often.
We day dreamed at one point of “someday” opening a unique and quaint little “Shoppe” that would be a combination tea room, book store, and travel agency. This was further inspired by our visit to Camden, Maine where we saw part of our vision come to life in the most enchanting tea room/ bookshop combination. We spent hours in that sweet place that overlooked the harbor with its crisp white sailboats.
This was part of a 10 day vacation to New England Bed and Breakfasts, a trip Carolyn, our mother, and I took together. (All the while Carolyn kept saying, “I wish Bill could see this.”) Carolyn was the vacation planner in their household, but I planned this trip because I already lived in New England. What a great memory!
Carolyn also loved good music and, with Bill, had quite a collection, which became their background music for an evening of reading next to the fireplace. In addition they collected many of their favorite PBS series: “All Creatures Great and Small”,
“Foyle’s War,” Agatha Christie’s “Poirot”, and many others, saved for watching on a cold winter’s night.
Before I use up all the space here, let me close with my most significant memory of all. I love Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, and I want to share Him with others because I want to see them again in Heaven one day. I also want them to know how to commit their lives to Him, how to become an active disciple of the Lord, and how to see the Bible become daily spiritual food. God uses His Word to transform our minds from the way the world thinks and acts and makes decisions to the way God thinks and acts and makes decisions. This transformation process takes a lifetime. Through the Bible we receive counsel, encouragement, discipline, guidance, course correction, increased faith, confidence for the challenges, and bright hope for eternity.
I prayed all of this for Carolyn for thirteen years, and I shall never forget the letter from her that came to me in California telling me she had made that commitment. Soon I retired and moved to Ohio, I shall treasure the one- hour, fifteen minute drives we made to go to a Bible teaching church on Sundays and on Thursdays for women’s Bible Studies. On those drives God gave us precious times of sharing about the Lord and His sanctification process in our lives. We discussed sermons, Bible verses, questions, and challenges. Looking back, I have no doubt those seven years were God’s special gift to us before Alzheimers began to claim Carolyn’s mind and body. She is now whole again in His Presence and I look forward to our reunion one day. We’ll both kneel and thank Jesus for His indescribable gift of forgiveness and faith, paid for by His death on the Cross and empowered by His resurrection.