My former journalism professor's obituary - just found out about this

 https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/augustachronicle/name/joseph-cumming-obituary?pid=197095573&fbclid=IwAR24wtFTCYoavtgjJw1Sp4m6mFhjdNF1YpD1Ad0Qmc0AMvvROzKvLoFAC3U

McKenna's 21st Birthday Letter by Terri Rimmer

 Aug. 13, 2021

Dear McKenna:

Happy early 21st birthday!

It's so hard to believe that in two days you'll be 21.

I meant to get this letter to you sooner but have been trying to get my thoughts together. 

I'm so glad you decided to go home and celebrate your birthday with your family and take Cas with you. Your mom was so excited about it!

I hope you had a blast as I'm sure they did.

I was picturing all of you together having fun.

I hope you have a great school year this year and enjoy your new apartment.

When your mom told me a few months ago about Cas I was so happy and excited for you! I'm glad you've found someone who loves and respects you and also who has a family who feels the same way about you.

When I was 21 I was a wild child so I very grateful that you're not like that and that you have your feet firmly planted on the ground. Even though I was in college and working, my life was crazy. I'm thankful that you have stayed the course (I sound so old) and have not let your life get upside down like I did. My fear regarding you going off to college was always that you would repeat my same mistakes.

I still worry about it but not as much.

I know your parents love you so much and only want to help you be the best you can.

It's hard to see that when you're 21. I was stubborn into my late 30s, really. It's hard to grow up. At times I can still be hard headed.

I have always been the instant gratification type.

This wasn't supposed to be a lecture letter.

So, end of lecture.

I will always be proud of you, worry about you, love you, think about you, pray for you (and your parents), and wonder what you're doing every day because I can't help it. I miss your laugh, your smile, and everything that is you.

God knows every hair on your head and everything that makes up your spirit. He knows all your hopes and dreams and all the wishes of your heart.

And you can achieve whatever you set out to do. I believe in you and so many others do, too.

I love you.

Happy 21st!

Love,

Terri 

In memory of Olen Childers by Terri Rimmer

 We scattered my step dad Olen's ashes on a Tuesday night in April in FL but I kept some of them and brought some of him with me back to TX. It was a beautiful ceremony. We played his favorite music and as each of us took a scoop and returned him to the ocean that he loved, we all said our individual private things. Since we didn't have any scoops the minister who was there, thoughtfully scooped up oyster shells on the beach which was perfect since Olen loved oysters. After it was over we drove across the sand playing his songs with the windows down and looked out over the water where his ashes now were. There were birds flying overhead and a nice sunset. The minister said no one ever catches any fish in this particular spot. We watched a guy catch 7! Someone was helping him out!

Dream by Terri Rimmer

 In memory of my step dad Olen: Recently I dreamed about you again. In the dream I was upstairs in a house and I could hear you downstairs talking normally, as if you'd never had a stroke. I rushed down and heard you talking and laughing with everyone including the grandkids and great kids.

You said, "I'm fine. There's nothing wrong with me."

I was so happy. You kept saying that. It was such a happy time.

Then I woke up to that old familiar, awful feeling of you being gone.