[at-l] The End

[DaRedhead@aol.com]

Well, I made it home in time to hold Mom's hand.  She passed away at 8:38 
this morning.  I thank all of you who sent her cards and flowers and things - 
she had them all in her hospital room - I guess she knew, even if we didn't, 
that she wouldn't be going home.

She knew what was happening - and made her own decision to stop life saving 
measures, up the dosage of Morphine, and pass quietly into the relief from 
the pain she has been suffering.  Reading was her only means of escape from 
her pain these last weeks, and she asked me to read to her, to help finish 
the book she had started, as she drifted off to forever.  My voice might have 
broke a few times, but I did so.  She had a poster of Katahdin on the wall in 
her room, and told me I'd be there someday, and that when I was, she would be 
with me.  She was very strong, right to the end, and kept her sense of humor. 
 She told her doctor that we should all come with an on and off switch.  I 
cannot express in any words the depth of love between us, and how desperately 
I will miss her.  She will be laid to rest next to my father.

I don't expect anyone to fly in to attend services.  But - Mom and I had a 
conversation once, after she won the first round with cancer.  I told her I 
wanted an old fashioned Irish Wake, to have my ashes scattered along the AT, 
and that I didn't want flowers.  She told me she wanted a huge service, with 
flowers everywhere, enough flowers to make it look like we were holding her 
service in a floral shop.  So - for those of you with the financial means to 
do it, I would only ask that you send flowers.

The service will be held Weds at 11:00am, the viewing Tuesday night from 7 - 
9.  The address is:

Holloman-Brown Funeral Homes
For Patty Haynes
Great Bridge Chapel
524 Cedar Road
Chesapeake VA 23320  

I thank you all for everything - this list meant a lot to her in the past 
year, and the people on it became so much like family, it was a great comfort 
to her in many ways, least of not the support over the past few weeks. 

Thank you.

The Redhead
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