I am the youngest of 10 children, so I've always known I would likely live to see the rest drop off one by one.
Brother Joe was killed in Vietnam; I was 9 when that happened. He was 9 yrs old when I was born.
Sister Bobbie died early 2000's from Lewy body dementia
Brother Robbie died from Mesothelioma around 2003?
The line up by age is
Nancy Tippins (Mama's first marriage)

Is the oldest, she was born in Oct 1933. Physically a wreck, but mentally still sharp.
Yes friends she will be 90 next year.
The eldest of Daddies first marriage was Claudelle, who is from Oct to July younger than Nancy

^{↑This was at her daughter's wedding in 2013, the closest I've ever seen her smile↑}
She is nearly as ill as Sylvia, with dementia piled on top

Then my sister Sylvia, the subject of this post. She came next in that lineup.
So about a month ago, she fell extremely ill (even more so than has been her "steady state" for several years)
After about 10 days in the ICU, they determined that
A. her liver quit
B. her kidneys were almost done.
C. her diabetes had wreaked havoc on her body.

In short, she is dying as I write.
Her children brought her down to Metter Ga because they could provide her with closer almost constant care, but oh what a emotional overload for those who have never worked as a caregiver, to now be bathing, turning and changing your mama's diaper. They were not prepared.

I tried to get down there all last week, but always something stopped me, mainly they were telling me she was already nearly comatose.
This last Wed I went anyway,

I rented this for 2 days (I think it may be a flood car, because it had a constant 'wet dog' musty smell in it)
I rented a Motel room at the Days Inn, then I went out to see my sister.
Three of her daughters had been there, but after nearly 2 weeks, The oldest went back to Jax for a break, the next to the youngest (whose property this all was happening on) was across the street with her husband, so there was only Daughter #2 there with me and my sister.
Just up the street, I found my road

Who knew?
So while visiting with my barely awake, bedridden sister, I looked around and noticed a Martin Guitar case in the closet.
When I asked, I was told
"That is Clay's guitar, mama wanted to see it again"

(Clayton was her second son, musically talented, who was killed on the job while I was in the air force
He is the upper right corner in the photo)
The guitar is an Epiphone, I asked and was given permission to tune it.
I strummed and picked a bit, trying to think of all the songs we used to sing together as a family, with harmony, but I drew a blank then.
So I played "You Are My Sunshine" and she surprised us both by singing along!

The daughter who was there (#2) got a bit of it on video, because it was so surprising and unexpected, she missed the first bit.
So here is my sister in 2013 with her 4 living children minus the daughter #2

And here are the 4 daughters

So Friday, I got up with the intention of going back to visit again before I came back north to Mableton, but when I called, they said she had been unresponsive all night.
I went over, held her hand, and sang the one song I remembered that she and I used to sing in 2 part harmony, of course I sang both parts, low on the first verse high on the second.
By that time I was crying tears rolling down my face.
I leaned over and Kissed her forehead, and said "Good Bye sweet Sister"
I then went back to Metter, got air in the tires (alerts on the dash, and I was stressed all the way back)
Bought lunch for me and another niece who also lives in Metter

And drove back with plenty of time, only I forgot it was Friday.
Nearly 5 hrs (for a 3 hr drive) and MILES out of the way to get around a crash on I-75, and I made it home to my house.

I will miss you Sylvia.

"3 days of stress and Love"

^by
Jerry E Smith
©11/5/2022
All images are mine







^{Self Portrait from about 1978}