As I have said before there are so many wonderful things about the military life. One unexpected joy is getting to know the parents of those you befriend. When you are stationed so far away, often parents come and stay for a month or so to get in some real quality time.
For example, my Mother and Dad came for at least 2 months at a time when we were
stationed a day or more away. They would pack up their motor home and come to live with us for that time. My Dad would have fish frys? on the side porch and all the kids in the neighborhood would come by and eat his famous fish and hush puppies. He would sit for hours with me in the front yard watching all the children and talking to the Mothers who walked by. He would pitch the ball for hours as they played catch with him. My Mother would go for walks with me and take the kids to the park. As our sons became teens Oma and Opa as they were known became a very important part of those friends’ lives also. Dad would teach them how to play card games and Mother would cook for anyone who came over. They were very much a part of our lives as we traveled around the world and always joined in at each and every place we lived.
We had the pleasure and honor of befriending deeply a mother of one of our military friends. We first met her in Yongsan, S. Korea. I soon learned that she was coming from Australia where she had just visited and was actually a native of Australia before marrying her American husband. Our friends explained that she was beginning to lose her hearing due to circumstances beyond her control. I remember how she would watch and laugh as our then teenagers would provide antics of silliness and she would laugh and love us through her smiles.
As the years went on, the Lord had our dear friends settle in what we thought to be at the time our final home on this earth after the military (we have moved 4 times since and will be moving our 5th very soon) . Soon after their move , their mother/ mother-in-law settled in that same city with us. Oh , the times we had. How she loved to cook for us and with us. How she loved to sit and laugh with us and at us as we shared family times together.
Mrs. Anita Sherrill also taught me so much about life. I used to tell her that I wanted to be like her when I grow up. She had such a positive spirit about her ALWAYS! She taught me patience as she had lost her hearing completely and we would sit for hours with the TDD or pen and paper in hand communicating with her. She would answer with that wonderful Australian accent and tell stories of times gone by.
She would always say, “You kids go have fun.” She never made you feel guilty if you had to leave or if you had anything else on the schedule. (I have so tried to emulate that characteristic through the years)
She always called my Richard the HH which stood for Handsome Husband and she always said in her letters or emails or faxes…tell the HH hello and give him a hug.
The most amazing thing about this relationship is that Anita became best friends especially with my Dad because they were both such joksters but also with my Mother. What a joy that friends we consider as family extended over to our beloved parents.
This is a lot of words that I know are not very interesting to most who would read it but it is my way right now of working through a loss in my life. It is a void in my heart that is there and I will be remembering the wonderful times with Anita until the day I am called to be with the Lord and be reunited with her.
So, Anita, this is my way of saying how very much I loved you. I want to thank you dear friend for all the laughter and the great food and the hugs and everything that went along with who you were to others on this earth. The McGlothlin family will miss you dearly. I know you and Dad are having a great time catching up in the presence of the Lord!!
WE’LL MEET AGAIN!
2 Corinthians 2:15 “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”
Thank you Anita for your sweet fragrance in our lives!
