MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS

Friday, February 13, 2015

{Mom Lived 16 Days Short of Her 91st Birthday}

Mom did get so very close to a lot of milestones...

Reaching her 91st Birthday was only 16 days away on February 12!

Mom, being in heaven now, I love to envision her like she looks here, on Friday, February 21, 2014 during her dialysis. That's our 64th trip to The Netherlands and together with Pieter, we came to visit her during each 4-hour dialysis! Time spent together went by so quickly and it sure did cheer her up.
Yes, we went 64 times to The Netherlands for visiting Mom and we also had her 4 times come to the USA for staying with us.
Below is what she wrote in our guest book, after her 2nd visit from March 20 till April 17, 1996.

Mom's words: April 17, 1996. Thanks for an unforgettable vacation - Mom Van den Munckhof and Dad Van den Munckhof...

Bedankt voor een onvergetelijke vakantie van Moeke Van den Munckhof en Papa Van den Munckhof

Most precious words, for having in our guest book... It makes us feel warm and fuzzy for knowing that our gift of those two tickets from Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Atlanta, USA got that much appreciated!

Received sympathy card from a dear friend, a woman who is born in my hometown and lives now near Atlanta, Georgia.

Last trip for Mom & Dad, together with us from Amsterdam to Atlanta, her Dad was on the very same flight. That meant 5 people from Horst, The Netherlands!

He went to heaven before Mom did...

The heart remembers most what it has loved best.

But it is good because my heart does remember my sweet Mom forever!

February 12, is her first Birthday celebrated in heaven, together with her Angel daughter Mariet.
Like in this photo, I will forever have my Mom at my side...

April 24, 2001 - Dearest Mariet and Pieter.

Thank you so much for the hospitality we received here in the five times that we were here. Who would have ever thought that our eldest daughter would end up living in the United States of America and even become an American citizen. And we certainly never would have thought we ourselves too, would visit there. The United States of America, you did hear so much about and you would watch a movie about

Heel hartelijk bedankt voor de gastvrijheid die we hier mochten ontvangen in de vijf keer dat we hier waren. Wie had dat vroeger ooit gedacht dat onze oudste dochter in Amerika zou gaan wonen en ook nog Amerikaanse werd. En we hadden zeker nooit gedacht dat we er zelf ook eens zouden komen. Amerika daar hoorde je zoveel over en je zag wel eens een film over

the Wild West but that was so far away over the Atlantic Ocean that you could only dream of it.

Yet the great miracle came about and in 1987 we flew in a large Jumbo 747, for the first time together with the two of you to the U.S.A. and since that first flight we did come four more times here or rather, four more times for me and for Mom two more times.

It was terrific for us.

het wilde westen maar dat was zo ver weg over de grote oceaan dat je er alleen maar van kon dromen.

Maar toch het grote wonder geschiedde en in 1987 vlogen we in een grote Jumbo 747 voor de eerste keer met jullie samen naar de U.S.A. en sinds die eerst vlucht zijn we nog 4 keer hier geweest of liever gezegd, ik nog vier keer en Moeke nog twee keer. Het was geweldig voor ons.

For us as down to earth market gardeners from the Afhang (hamlet) to be able to experience this ourselves. I will not go into details because then this book will be full but you ought to read my travel journal at home then you know how intense I've experienced it all, it was terrific.

Once again, thank you so much for the hospitality that we enjoyed in Dublin, as well as at your friends'.

With best regards and best wishes from Dad and Mom.

Om als eenvoudige tuinder uit de Afhang zoiets mee te mogen maken. Ik zal maar niet in details treden want dan is dit boek vol, maar je leest maar eens mijn reis verslagen thuis dan weet je hoe intens ik het allemaal heb beleefd, het was geweldig. Nogmaals heel hartelijk bedankt voor de gastvrijheid die we genoten in Dublin ook bij jullie vrienden. Met heel veel groeten en de best wensen, van Papa en Moeke.

From Mom's final stay with us, we have no guest book message as their departure came by surprise due to the fact that the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines plane got claimed for transporting U.S. military to Europe.
Mom & Dad had to depart on an Air France flight, via Paris... but since Mom needed wheel chair assistance (as requested by us) and both of them not speaking any French, I managed to get them on an earlier flight; non-stop on Royal Dutch Airlines.
So this we learned around 7:30 PM that next day their flight home was to be and in this rush, they completely forgot to write anything...
Complete with wheelchair assistance and for Pieter and me a gate pass, we did see them off at the gate.
Then came the final goodbye with tears and all...
They had to pre–board and thus we had to do it early.
Dad thanked and thanked us over and over for the good times and for all we’ve done for them.
Mom said over and over how much she appreciated it and that she couldn’t find words for it, she couldn’t tell us how much it meant to her.
Glad that we could see them off and Dad emphasized on the fact that on their own they would’ve been completely lost.
That was the very last time that we gifted them with a ticket, for coming to visit us.
We've come 64 times long distance to The Netherlands and had Mom come 4 times and Dad 6 times to the U.S.A. of which we paid twice the ticket for both, twice for Dad alone and half for the first time.
That means a lot more than flying over to attend a requiem mass!

The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again. - Charles Dickens quote.

The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone. - Harriet Beecher Stowe quote.

Those that attacked us for NOT showing up at Mom's funeral, due to Pieter's health issues because of heart cramps, and me still going to rehab for my hand, we forgive their act of bitterness.
May they too find the Peace that is in our hearts!