You’re The Best!              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                    Mum and Dad

 

        celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in April 1999             - 50 years of loving, sharing and giving. I'm the first to admit that I get pretty crabby at times, and I am not the    easiest person to live with. Mum and Dad look after me     when I am not well, lend me money for my computer                    habit, look after my cats when I have a holiday, give                                                      me heaps of advice and help me with whatever                                                                 project I may be involved with at the time.

 

           
            Memories - so many of them over the years. Your            favourite hymn, “Love Divine, all loves excelling”, sums         them up. Mum reading me the “Anne” books - to this       day I “hear” all the characters speaking with her voice.       The holidays we had in the old caravan, and then the       excitement of the new caravan. Getting our first TV            and Mum not believing I had seen Uncle doing a Vincent’s commercial. Going to the park to watch Dad       and John play cricket. Running away from home - just                             until after tea. Sitting in the branches of the tree while              Mum stood underneath calling me. Dad going out to             buy some flowers and coming home with a new car.        Mum and me in bed with the “Asian flu” together. Dad            teaching me to play “500”.

            Mum and Dad and the others all visiting me in hospital   after I was hit by a car. The fun and excitement of         preparing your Silver Wedding Anniversary surprise       party. Begging you for a budgie - which you gave me as    well as my first book case. Mum and I alone in the           house at Boggabri when I discovered the 6ft brown snake! Dad eating all my cooking failures. Dad throwing me out of Scripture class when I didn’t behave, much to the teacher’s amusement. Dad driving back to Moe to buy me a set of china poodles because I had my heart set on them. How nervous Mum was of planes before they went to New Zealand, and how when they came back Mum would look up at every plane and say, “I wish I was on that plane!” When it was my turn to read the bible in church, Mum taking me over on Saturday, sitting in the back pew, and we couldn’t go home till she could hear every word.

 

Mum providing great Sunday suppers for the youth fellowship. Mum slipping on the front steps to sprain both ankles and break her wrist. Your endless hospitality to all our friends and church folk from all around the world. Dad constantly driving me to work as I always was running late. Always making gardens wherever you were. The wonderful party you gave me for my 21st birthday. Dad running around the park retrieving golf balls when I was learning to play. When I hurt my back working at a nursing home you collected me after Synod so you could help me to recuperate. Mum entertaining half a dozen church ladies each week for afternoon tea, and all the goodies she cooked for them.

Seeing Uluru for the first time with Mum and Dad at sunset; our dawn flight around the Rock and the Olgas (a gift from Beth) followed by Dad and I climbing the Rock - Dad having lots of rests while waiting for me to catch him up; having our photo taken on the top by another tourist. The retirement move to the Blue Mountains, the retirement party where you were given an inkling of the regard people have for you. You both helping me with my moving house. Feeling very proud when Dad received the Premier’s Award for Community Service. Dad removing baby snakes and lizards from the house that my cats had brought inside.

 

The happy time with many family members and friends celebrating your Golden Wedding Anniversary. Dad simply refusing to retire when a 2 month supply appointment at Camden lengthens to 18 months.

I (along with many others) am not good at speaking about what I feel, and I am becoming increasingly aware that we should tell the people we love that we appreciate them while they are still alive - instead of telling others in a eulogy at their funeral.

So, Mum and Dad, I hereby tell you - and the world - thank you, I appreciate everything you do for me and I love you.

 

 

       

 

        This is my tribute to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

          Always Home to Me

 

 

"There are few doors in my life that I can enter without first knocking - carrying no gift, no invitation, just myself - and feel the immediacy of a genuine welcome. Home has always been one.

There are few people in my life who have seen me at my very worst and my very best - whom I can be with or away from, yet have no fear of being hastily judged or unfairly criticized. You have always been two...

There are few times in my life when I have told you what you both mean to me, though I often believe you already know. But I want this to be one of those times.

For all the comforts of home, the generous constancy of your love, you are both held warmly in my thoughts, close in my heart, and always with love and affection."

 

 

- Carol Ann Oberg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                   The Very Best!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          Brothers and Sisters

 

           

            "Why is it that brothers and sisters never               seem to be able to tell each other how                               important they are to each   other?

            We can talk and joke about so many things; we                reminisce about the times of our lives when we were                      growing up; we try to keep in touch with each other's                   comings and goings...

                        But of all the things I've ever said to you, I don't think                    I've ever said something I've always known was                true...

                        And it is true; you're a very special part of my family                     and a very important part of my life... and I love you."

- Collin McCarty

 

                                                                        Memories

                       

                        I remember John's friend giving me a black eye               while practicing bowling - but being proud when I              went to see John play cricket. I remember Sue                             fussing at me - but being proud when I could tell my                       friends that my big sister was a nurse. I remember                         being annoyed at Beth for playing scales constantly                    on the piano - but feeling proud when I could                 recognise tunes.

 

 

John - trying to make me sit away from the TV so I wouldn't ruin my eyes. Naming our cat “Joseph Aloysius Bartholomew Nosh”!!! (Joey for short). Letting me go bowling with all your friends for your 21st birthday (I was 9 years old). Your wedding when I was 11 years old. All the family helping to paint your first home. Your announcement that baby number one was on the way at Mum and Dads' Silver Wedding Anniversary party. The baby arriving during a shocker of a heatwave when I was 13 years old. Me driving out to Griffith overnight when I became an aunty for the 2nd time. Mum, Dad and me helping when you bought the toy and sports store. You constantly moving house. You, Dad and Paul taking me to the park the Christmas Day I got my golf clubs, teaching me to play. Threatening to burn all my books before you would help me to move house again. Your face when I sank a 20ft putt at the Deniliquin golf course (I was equally astonished!) Coming to help me clean Mum and Dad’s new house before they moved up from Deniliquin. Happy celebrating your Silver Wedding Anniversary.

Sue - going off to nurses training school when I was 8 years old. The excitement when you came home from Sydney for days off and holidays with exotic (French and Tongan) friends! Seeing you off on the plane when you went to High Prairie in Canada. Waiting for 6 weeks to hear about your trip and getting a postcard of a Mountie that said, "Dear All, Well, what do you think. Love Sue"!!!! More excitement when you came home after 2 years. Going to New Zealand with you for a holiday. You going to New Zealand to live for 10 years. Riding a VERY HOT pedal boat with you on the Torrens in Adelaide when visiting for Jane's wedding. You coming home from NZ just before I stopped working and helping me to move - including having to clean the flat I was leaving AND the house I moved into. You treating me to a weekend break at Ross River and the great time we had there together. Helping with advice, and money when needed.

Beth - forever playing the piano. Bringing home your school friend who played the ukulele. Training as a nurse at the local hospital in Newcastle. You looking after me when Mum and Dad went on long service leave. Seeing you off when you left for England for 2 years. You helping the youth fellowship to put on "Come Together". Visiting you and Jane when you ran the hospital in Birdsville - Jane and I holding a surprise birthday party for you. Dad and Sue being very impatient teaching me to drive, and you just getting on with it. Helping with advice, and money when needed. Feeling helpless when you were so ill with CFS at Heathcote. Visiting Alice Springs for the 1st time, very happy at becoming an aunt for the 3rd time. And the not so happy visit 2 years later when you were so ill. Making the christening cake - how to make a believable-looking dove? Your gift to Mum, Dad and me of a fabulous dawn flight around Uluru and the Olgas.

Thank you all for your help, care and love.