Going back in Time. Final part – Love is
Life was good for Sidney and Jeanette. Sidney now worked as a restoration artist, restoring the murals and paintings in the castles around England and Wales. It was a very high quality job and Sidney deserved it. He had worked hard in the decorating trade all his life, climbing ladders all day with his painful, ulcerated legs. He still had to climb scaffolding in order to reach the high ceilings of the castles, but at least he was very well respected now.
A really high point for Sidney was when the Queen came to see her murals being restored. He had to give her a small demonstration of how he cleaned all the cracked and browned varnish off before starting the actual restoration work. Later Sidney laughed and said that she would have had a fit if she’d known what he was using to remove the varnish. He was painting ‘Nitromors’ (which is basically acid) on her priceless paintings!
Sidney bought Jeanette her own little house in a small village in Kent. He converted a large back room into a lovely kitchen for her. They had their dream home, and things couldn’t get much better. Within days of moving in, just about every neighbour had been to introduce themselves to the ‘family from London, who had a bunch of pretty teenage girls’
Sidney’s job took him away from home often. A lot of his work was in Wales and he had to stay away for months at times. He would come home for a weekend as often as he could, but most of the time he could only write letters to Jeanette. He missed his family.
I was about seventeen and working in London when my boss came over to me, solemn faced, and said “I think you should get home as quickly as possible. Something has happened to your father”
It was a long journey home, and I had no idea what I was going home to. The whole family had been contacted and were all making their way either to Wales, or to Kent, and Jeanette, my mother. By the time I got there my mother was already on route to Wales with one of my brothers. My other brother had a little mini-van. It was a tiny van with no seats but us girls piled in the back and sat on the floor. We were on our way to a hospital in Wales where Sidney lay, not expected to live through the night – again.
Sidney had suffered a massive coronary while he was alone. He had crawled along the landing of the boarding house he was staying in, and managed to get to the bathroom, where he propped himself up and dunked his head under running cold water, in order to stay conscious until help came. He managed to attract the attention of the landlady, by banging on the pipes. She immediately called the ambulance.
A large room had been made available, in the hospital, for us to stay the night. We were now an even larger family with in-laws added. We were allowed in, one at a time, to see Sidney. He was conscious but was a dreadful grey colour. We all settled down for the night and waited nervously. The next morning Sidney was still alive, and the next, and the next.
Some weeks later Sidney arrived at his home in Kent to start the upward journey back to health, and his life with Jeanette. Again, he had cheated death. This had frightened Sidney. He was aware that it could happen again if he wasn’t careful, but slowly he regained his confidence and life was good again. Sidney gave up his restoration work, as he didn’t want to continue leaving Jeanette for long periods of time. Now he travelled to London daily as a high class interior decorator.
Their little house was a happy home, always full of people and pets. Children, grandchildren and friends were always visiting. Their home had always been a place where people gathered, and a place that us children were not in a hurry to move away from.
The years rolled by and it was now 1980. Time for another big celebration. Family and friends (Jeanette and Sidney had made a lot of those) all gathered in a large hall, which was decorated with balloons and streamers. Jeanette looked radiant in her long red dress, and Sidney was still so proud of her. At the age of seventy she was still the most glamorous woman in the room!
Halfway through the evening, the music was turned off and Jeanette and Sidney made their way over to the centre of the room.
Sidney took Jeanette’s hand, remembering the time, fifty years ago, that he watched Jeanette walk down the isle of the beautiful 18th century church, to become his wife. Now, on their Golden wedding anniversary, they repeated their vows. The priest blessed their happy and enduring marriage, and their children looked on proudly.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)
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Jaffer
| 12 April 2009 at 22:52
Beautiful ! (Sniff) :’)
Jaffer´s last blog post..These guys will take you out to lunch
Sandie
| 12 April 2009 at 23:38
What a lovely story. I am so sorry it is the final part:0(
Kathy
| 12 April 2009 at 23:49
Oh, Babs. I got chills reading that and now I’m weepy. Incredible, wonderful, uplifting story. And I love that verse from scripture. It’s obvious they lived it day in, day out. Thanks for sharing your story.
Kathy´s last blog post..Windy’s Birthday Party
Comedy Plus
| 13 April 2009 at 3:35
Oh honey, you had me on the edge of my seat when he had the heart attack. I was so very happy that he recovered. What a beautiful story of love and strength. Thanks.
Have a terrific day.
Comedy Plus´s last blog post..Friendly & Zombie Chicken Awards
Vampy Vic
| 13 April 2009 at 7:32
OH they sound like such very beautiful people. And what real role models they are for you all
Eric and Flynn
| 13 April 2009 at 11:10
That was beautiful. It gave me goose pimples reading it. What a fighter Sidney was to survive against the odds, not once but twice.
Jackie
Oh, and I hope I look half as good as Jeanette did when I am 70!
Eric and Flynn´s last blog post..Mancat Monday
june
| 13 April 2009 at 11:12
What a beautiful story, true ones are always the best. Sidney sounds like a wonderful man and full of spirit. He and Jeanette must have been very happy…a real fairy tale!!
june´s last blog post..Fish and Chips
Ivanhoe
| 13 April 2009 at 14:34
What a wonderful family you have. And mom does not look seventy at all on these pics. I hope there’s more stories to tell & post on this blog
)
Maureen
| 13 April 2009 at 14:38
Oh Babs… what a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing it. I too, thought the worst when he had his coronary. What two incredible people they are.
“And they lived happily ever after.”
Maureen´s last blog post..Adventures at the Mall
babs - beetle
| 13 April 2009 at 15:42
Jaffer: Ha ha! What a romantic you are
Sandie: Yes, It was hard to make if so short, in the latter years as there was so much I could have written
Kathy: I got a bit weepy writing it too. They had their moments, but one of the things that stood out for me was that dad always made mum FEEL so loved and beautiful – very important
Sandee: I’m glad you enjoyed it. It was good to write too :O)
Vampy Vic: They were exceptionally good role models. Not perfect, but always stood solidly together to face whatever life threw at them.
Eric & Flynn: Yes, he was a real fighter. I think the secret to looking beautiful is to love and laugh a lot. It comes from the inside
June: Even though they went through bad times, their strong love and respect for one another far outweighed those bad times.
Ivanhoe: I expect there will be more stories to come, as and when I think of them
Maureen: I’m so glad you enjoyed reading it. I always felt that their story needed to be told. I so wished they had lived happily ever after. I still miss them
babs – beetle´s last blog post..Going back in Time. Final part – Love is
Blazing Minds
| 13 April 2009 at 16:11
What a lovely post, it’s nice to visit blogs where you can have a nice read about something interesting instead of the usual SEO posts that a lot of blogs do these days…
Blazing Minds´s last blog post..Getting Your Music Released – Tunecore Vs CD Baby
granny grimble
| 13 April 2009 at 17:10
That was a nice happy time and place to end the story. Things weren’t too happy health wise for last four years, but Mum and Dad carried on with their great love for each other until the end. What a wonderful set of rules they laid down for us, and what a pity they didn’t live long enough to see all the grandchildren (15 I think) following their code as well!
granny grimble´s last blog post..AND BABY MAKES FOUR – OR IS IT FIVE?
beetle
| 13 April 2009 at 19:26
Blazing Minds: Hi and welcome. I’m so glad you enjoyed reading this post.
Granny Grimble: They did lead us all by example in most things. They at least saw their children following their code. I’m sure that was enough :O
Ruthie
| 13 April 2009 at 20:40
What a beautiful and touching story! Thank you for sharing it with us
Ruthie´s last blog post..Happy Easter Everyone!!!
Jay
| 14 April 2009 at 14:26
Awww! That was lovely!
How did Sidney get into restoration work? Did he do a specialist course? How lucky for him to be able to do that, and how clever he must have been!
beetle
| 14 April 2009 at 14:54
Ruthie: I enjoyed writing it
Jay: No he didn’t have any formal training. Self taught, he painted most of his life, often copying the old masters. He worked with Tom Keating and learned a lot from him. Tom Keating was a lovely man, and did not forge to make money, but to fool the system ;O)
http://www.premierpaintings.com/keating_tom.htm
Swubird
| 14 April 2009 at 16:41
Babs:
That is a wonderful story. But it worried me all the way through. At the end I thought you were going to say that he passed away. Whew! Close one.
Happy trails.
Lauren
| 14 April 2009 at 17:06
You tell amazing stories and have such nice memories. When I imagine what the stories would be for my parents — in my head — they are humorous but not in a good way.
Lauren´s last blog post..Bow To Me Baby!
JD at I Do Things
| 14 April 2009 at 20:55
Oh, my gosh. How lucky you are, Babs. What a lovely couple, and what a lovely family. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story with us.
JD at I Do Things´s last blog post..I Find It Kinda Funny, I Find It Kinda Sad so you don’t have to
Ana
| 14 April 2009 at 21:54
Oh wow, that is so lovely… that’s true love! *sigh*
Ana´s last blog post..Cat Profile
beetle
| 14 April 2009 at 21:54
Swubird: It still wasn’t his time. He had many more years left thankfully.
Lauren: They had plenty of hard times too, but got through them together.
JD: Yes, we were very fortunate to have parents that loved each other so much. They were great ‘life’ teachers.
beetle
| 14 April 2009 at 21:59
Ana: Yes it was a deep love, right to the end. I think the secret was that Sidney always told Jeanette how beautiful she was. Never a moment went by when Jeanette felt less than all Sidney could ever want in a wife :O)
meleah rebeccah
| 15 April 2009 at 3:30
I love *LOVE* this whole series.
I had actual tears in my eyes when I read the part about how they repeated their vows. I was sincerely touched. You had a first hand look at TRUE LOVE.
Also, you have told an excellent story and I thank you for sharing this with us.
meleah rebeccah´s last blog post..What A Week
Musing
| 15 April 2009 at 14:41
I’ve so enjoyed reading this series. Beautiful story, beautifully told.
Musing´s last blog post..Your take
beetle
| 15 April 2009 at 15:41
Meleah: I had tears in my eyes writing it too. They were great role models.
Musing: So glad you enjoyed reading it. I enjoyed going back there too
Liudmila
| 15 April 2009 at 20:02
Beautiful and touching story… The real stories are always much more involving as any invented in books.
Liudmila´s last blog post..Strange Pet
DrowseyMonkey
| 16 April 2009 at 0:34
Oh, such a lovely story. I love knowing couples like this exist out there. I’ve never met any myself and I’ll never be part of one – but does my heart good to know they’re out there.
DrowseyMonkey´s last blog post..Unintentional Peep Show
Mrs. Mecomber
| 16 April 2009 at 1:39
I’ve been following this story– lovely! Thanks for sharing.
Mrs. Mecomber´s last blog post..The Dark Sky Festival in Florida
beetle
| 16 April 2009 at 2:14
Liudmila: Yes, true stories always make for better reading
Drowsey Monkey: Oh there are plenty out there I think. Though a lot give up at the first hurdle, instead of allowing it to strengthen what they have. Never say never. It could jump up and bite you when you least expect it to
Mrs Mecomber: I’m never quite sure if people like to read a story posted in parts. I’m glad you came back to read them all.
Black Cat
| 17 April 2009 at 2:50
This is such an uplifting story and the fact that it’s a true one brings hope into what sometimes seems a very dark world. Your parents are a delight and inspiration, they overcame so many obstacles yet stayed beautiful and full of love. They must be so proud of their children and their achievements! For example, your writing and drawing skills. That cartoon of the knickerless woman… Priceless! Wish I had half your talent!
MySpace. Well, I hardly ever go there, but there are friends there so I keep it open even though I don’t visit it much. Not my scene either, I prefer Facebook, though I’m getting a bit tired of that too… Can’t be doing with hunting eggs, lol!
xxx
Black Cat´s last blog post..What the…?
beetle
| 17 April 2009 at 13:22
Black Cat: They were very proud of their children, just as we were all very proud of them
Facebook’s OK if you hide all the things that irritate you
Jeff
| 17 April 2009 at 16:39
Nice work, as usual. You have a real knack for story telling. I know that because I’ve been engaged in your stories and I don’t personally know any of your relatives. That’s the sign of a good writer.
One question though… is that you in the spandex pants?
Jeff´s last blog post..Uh… I can’t find a good song on my radio?
beetle
| 17 April 2009 at 16:56
Jeff: Thank you very much, and no, it isn’t me in the spandex ha ha! That’s my slightly more extrovert sister
Margaret (Nanny Goats)
| 17 April 2009 at 21:11
OK, there is no way that 50 year-old mother of yours was 70 years old in that picture!
I loved this story! What a treat to read.
Margaret (Nanny Goats)´s last blog post..Arrested Development. And the Bulk Candy Aisle.
beetle
| 17 April 2009 at 22:45
Margaret: She always did look young for her age
Irish Lass
| 18 April 2009 at 1:47
How very sweet! Lovely story!
beetle
| 18 April 2009 at 3:37
Irish Lass: Hi and welcome. I’m glad you liked the story.