There was quite bit of fog this morning as I crossed over the Peace River into Punta Gorda for a stop at the funeral home to pick up death certificates for my aunt. She was cremated last Thursday and taken to the cemetery yesterday. I tried to go by there this afternoon, but they’ve closed the road for construction. I wasn’t sure exactly how to detour my way there so I came back to the hotel and looked it up online. I’ll go by there in the morning before I leave town.
I spent about 5 hours going through her things once I got to her apartment. I wasn’t looking forward to this chore, but it had to be done. I had figured it would take a couple of hours, since we got rid of most of her belongings when she moved there in 2006 from her mobile home. But I spent more than five hours going through everything. I put aside several notes and things I found that she had saved. I’ll post a few of them when I get home. I’m not even sure where they are now… but boxed up in the trunk of my car. Some are jokes she saved and some are just lists of things.
I’m leaving her furniture and some of her clothes that they can share with some of the residents who don’t have much. The people that run the place where she lived were very good to her and very nice to me.
I also spent some time taking care of some banking business and trying to track down a safe deposit box. I thought it was in one bank, but they had no record of it. So I found it at another bank. The box was empty. I couldn’t remember if we had cleaned it out on a previous visit or had left something in it.
Here’s something I found in one of her drawers.
There must have been a dozen hairnets in that little package. 20 cents! One can only guess how old that is.
It’s sad for all the obvious reasons but also sad for me because I won’t have a reason to come back to this area that I’ve grown to really like. Certainly not as often as I have in the past. Bye bye Port Charlotte.
Hey, I could ride Charlotte down and take her by the place where I adopted her. I was hoping to do that this year with my buddy Mel. Dang!
Sometimes that’s the hardest task, going through a loved ones things, hopefully it will bring back some good memories. Going through my grandmother’s things brought a few smiles and alot of tears as well. Keep your chin up Jonco!
Prayers and peace to you during this difficult time.
I vote that you hold a Southern BABBQ in that area in, say, February of 2011, when the weather sucks in most of the country.
Jonco: Wishing you all the best during these emotional times… several years ago my Mom passed and left a record of a safe deposit box located in Panama City, Florida, where she relocated from Springfield, MO, after Dad’s passing. It, too, was empty but the really fun part was seeing all of the things Mom decided to save throughout her Life. Hoping you are find the same things. Have great trip back to the cold white north and thinking of you here in the metro Daytona Beach area. Stay Safe and Drive Carefully.
Paul – I’m all for a Southern BABBQ, but let’s shoot for March when the baseball teams are going through spring practice. I’ll be at Disney World for Atlanta Braves practice games the 24th-28th of March this year.
I was just thinking, ‘You will always have Charlotte’. xxoo
I volunteer to go to Florida with you any time you want to go again– just to go. We can drive around the old mobile home park and by Bob Evans and you can tell me about the times when you took Aunt Ivy there… good times…
I must have missed something…who is Charlotte?
Charlotte is my motorcycle. While in Port Charlotte visiting my aunt in August of 2007, I had been looking for a motorcycle. I ended up buying one in Port Charlotte and hence, the name. I wrote about it here (first 3 posts).
My thoughts are with you Jonco. This is a tough bugger of a trip. Kisses.
sending a big hug ((x))
Jonco take care and big hugs from here to there.
Sorry for your loss. So nice your aunt had you to look out for her. May those mementos bring you happy memories. Hugs