~MEMORIES~

This past week I attended the funeral of my neighbor and friend Eileen Thompson.  She lived through the pasture from us my whole life. She was such a sweet and humorous lady that had a very contagious laugh.

Her and her husband Bill had a milk barn and spent many hours out there milking cows. During the summer her grandson's would come and stay and help with the milking and chores (lucky for us they were pretty cute :) We spent many summer days playing in her yard, swinging, jumping on the trampoline and running through the sprinklers.  She would always come out and offer a Popsicle or ice cream of some sort.  She was also my piano teacher for 6 years which I am very sad to say, I was a VERY stubborn student and refused to practice, so I still CANNOT play the piano.:(  The only way I got through lessons was to have my older sister play the song for me. Then I would watch where her hands would go and I could play it.

After moving back home 5 years ago I happened to go in the bathroom at the church the same time as she did. The guilt was so overpowering that I had to apologize to her for being such a terrible student.  She just laughed and said, "you were such a sweet little girl but you just didn't like to practice, did you." I told her I wish I could do it over.  I'd do much better now. Now I can just live with the regret.

She was also the ward organist and pianist for as long as I can remember.  She even played in church the Sunday before she passed away. Every time I saw Eileen she had a hug for me.  I will miss not getting that hug or seeing the light on in her kitchen window at night. Not seeing her in the hall at church and not passing her as her and a couple of her girl friends would go get a coke everyday and drive around the streets of Scipio ever so slowly.

 I guess one of the problems with moving back home as an adult is that nothing is the same as you remembered it as child. It all seems so nostalgic.

Here's a picture of her accompanying my daughter at the 24th program this past July. (Yes, my daughter HAS learned to play a musical instrument!) :)

Today is November 17th 2011 - Eileen's husband Bill didn't wait long to join her.  He passed away a couple of days ago.  His funeral will be tomorrow November 18th, 2011.  Sure sad to see the place so empty.