The Death Of A Spouse

(Part 5) Joe and I of course often joked about old age and frequently made wisecracks about life in a nursing home,and what might or might not happen if and when we possibly wound up in one. Joe made me promise that I would be sure to scratch the "Crown Jewels" when he became too old to do so (or to find them, as he often wisecracked). He loved his beach home and often stated that he would only leave it "feet first". The first request is nil of course, but he followed through on the second.
Joe and I purchased property early in our marriage over in Washington State because we were Washingtonians at heart and did not want to have to change anything, including our drivers licenses. This property was almost 2 acres and had a creek on 3 sides. We found it the first day we began searching. Over the years we enjoyed developing it and Joe was proud of his huge lawn and happily battled Moles that insisted on making ugly hills on the large expanse of green. We also had a problem with Beaver and we had to hire a certified trapper to relocate these critters at $95.00 a pop. Our neighbors to the West of us were transplanted Californians and considered Beavers "cute" and a welcome part of Mother Nature. I it wasn't for Joe they would have had over flowing septic tanks every year!
This property was mostly covered at the beginning with wild Blackberry bushes. These bushes were another irritation and a constant battle, and to try and choke them out, Joe faithfully cut and planted Willow branches each spring. You cut one and shove it into the ground and presto! The following Spring you have a willow tree over 6 feet tall!
Eventually we had a garden in raised beds, planted our own fruit orchard and enjoyed the one-bedroom apartment that was part of a huge pole building that Joe had built. I did all of the planting, the veggies and flowers both. We worked well together and called this plot our Funny Farm. Our families came there to camp in their R.V.'s and we had many,many family gatherings and reunions there with pictures taken for posterity. Eventually we purchased another 4 acres across the street, which was half wooded and which also included a creek and 2 road frontages.
Joe loved this place so much and was so proud of what we had created together. When his health began to fail, he could not bring himself to put it up for sale, but hung on, doing what he could and with me tagging along beautifying things. Joe was a happy man on his John Deere riding lawnmower and he rapidly became a legend in that small town. Remember, Joe bragged that he had finally found a town without a stoplight!
Our Funny Farm is where I chose to hold Joe's Celebration of Life and Memorial.
(To be continued)