Showing Up, a Part of Dave and Gwen's Legacy

On Friday we attended a memorial service for our friend Gwen.  Lot's of great things were said and stories were told.  We laughed and we cried.  I want to retell one part of her story here.  

Dave is Gwen's husband.  They have both lived more than 90 years and recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with a special catered dinner in the Ebeneezer Geriatric Care Center where Gwen later died. 

One thing I will long remember about the two of them is that they showed up.  When anyone would have written them an excuse, they showed up.  The first time they showed up at services on Sunday morning, I saw the two of them coming down the long hall.  Gwen's long hair was in a single braid on the side of her head and I thought, "There is a lady I want to know."  And I did get to know them both, because they showed up.  And they invited people to their apartment for dinner.

When the church made dinner for the Urban Ministry, Dave and Gwen couldn't join in the raucous games the teenagers played but they showed up, welcomed the participants and helped provide food.  When we went to fill food bags for Feed My Starving Children, they couldn't stand for an hour putting ingredients into the bags, but they showed up and sat and put labels on the bags.  When we went to sing with the veterans at the Vets' Home, even though it was dark and the new snow was almost a foot deep, Dave and Gwen showed up.  They showed up in the woods for the annual church retreat and made the long walk down to the river.  And even though they couldn't always hear well enough to know what was going on, they showed up at the annual Vacation Bible School in the park to show their support.  Over and over, Dave and Gwen showed up.

And now that Gwen has gone home Dave is still showing up.  A week ago, as is his practice, Dave showed up at the men's Bible study at the library.  The handicapped spaces near the door were full, but Dave didn't go home, he drove to the lower lot, left his walker in the car, grabbed his cane and trucked up the long set of stairs.  Coming in the door, Dave tripped over the wire connecting the two sides of the scanning device.  He sent word back to the room where the study was just starting that he needed help getting up.  We got him up, he dusted himself off and came on the study.  The librarian was concerned enough that she called 911 for the paramedics.  A police officer knocked on the door and asked to speak with Dave.  Dave was able to convince the officer that he was okay and the officer cancelled the call for paramedics.  Dave stayed for the study.  That's part of who he is - he shows up.

When General Douglas McArthur and his troops were run out of the Philippines during World War 2, as he was boarding the ship, McArthur made the famous statement "I shall return."  McArthur did return and Dave was with him.  Dave showed up and they retook the island nation. When I was in the Marine Corps I learned a saying, "By the grace of God and with the help of the Marines, McArthur returned to the Philippines."  I mentioned that to Dave one day and his reply was a grunt and "I never saw no Marines!"

They are show up people.  Now the trumpet has blown for Gwen and once again she has shown up and heaven will be a livelier place for it.  Charlene read an obituary of someone we don't know from the paper this morning and it said the lady "Marched into Zion," on such and such a date.  We think that speaks for Gwen as well.  The last lines of the poem in her memorial from the funeral said, "And never, never be afraid to die, for I am waiting for you in the sky."  Earlier in the poem were the lines, "Feed not your loneliness on empty days, but fill each waking hour in useful ways."   That was Gwen, and that is Dave.

We expect to join you in the sky, Gwen, but in the mean time we sure do miss you here.