I am glad that her pain has ended, but very sad she is not among us anymore. I'd just talked with her a couple of weeks ago and posted the little story she told me. Today, I'd sent her an early Christmas present with a video of my grandson, who loved his "Grandma Mary" who taught THIS grandma just where his potato hole was (nape of the neck) and exactly how to give him a great big smooch from her right there!

I also know she was pleased to have good friends with a small child who took her beloved Emily, her little dog, to live with them. She missed her, but was so happy they were a good "fit."

Oh, dammit...I hate this.

love you, Mary/Merkle...thanks so much for being here...your song seems even more appropriate now...mostly the Chorus part:

Jesus In The Clouds
By Giac

She saw Jesus in some clouds in Oklahoma,
And Elvis crossing Texas on a train.
She sees her Mama's face in every flower.
She keeps her fingers crossed and prays for rain.

Chorus
The voices, she says, are all around us,
It won't be long til Mama calls us home.
Daddy, he won't care if you come with me,
But I'll ask him, if you want, next time he phones.

She picks up strays like goats and dogs and kittens,
Who go with her across the country wide,
In a wagon pulled by two old bay mares,
But they always make it home by wintertime.

When she was young, she heard of Ferlinghetti,
With his junked out men and naked horseback queens.
She saw him and Rexroth in some cellar,
And it led her stifled mind to Manisfree.

Chorus

She has a cabin down along the river,
And says a spaceship landed in her yard.
Aliens talk to her in the popcorn,
They tell her why her years go by so hard.

She has her pride and won't accept a favor,
Or she lives on welfare, barely getting by,
But she's got a thousand stashed out in the henhouse,
To bury her real nice … when she dies.

Chorus

(guitar through verse and chorus, then…)

She saw Jesus in some clouds in Oklahoma

(guitar)

She sees her Mama's face in every flower … (fade)

May your peace be abundant and full of sweet dreams, Marydarlin'...

luvyakat