Tuesday, August 27, 2019
My Last Time Spent with Jean
Jean and I have always enjoyed being together – especially in our 90-plus years. Jean and I (Melba Cox, wife of Tyrus Cox, Jean’s brother) could be seen in a large family gathering cornered in some obscure place with both heads together and lips “a-flapping”. Both of us graduated from Talpa High School and both knew everyone in the small community – the merchants, the Methodists, the Baptists, the teachers, and all family members. Discussing idiosyncrasies, accomplishments and failings, along with bits of gossip about the community, made us burst into loud laughter. The family paid no attention. I cherish those remembrances.
Being on a walker and not driving a car limited my time with Jean. I had not seen her since she moved to the Pavilion. However, David came to Austin and took me to her new apartment to have lunch with them. David had to park the car and do some chores. Jean and I were seated on her red sofa. She suddenly moved closer to me and wrapped her arms around me, clasping me as hard as she could, holding me tight and said, “It’s so good to see you! I love you so much!”. She held me that way until David came to go to lunch. At that time no one knew of her cancer.
When I later learned from David and Margie that Jean was in intense pain all the time and having to take radiation I shuddered with shock and grief. I stopped breathing it seemed. In retrospect, I felt that God had given us this wonderful time together during our last gathering at the Pavilion to say our goodbyes. The situation was prophetic.
