Thanksgiving 2008+ 2011-- For what is and what has been

November 20, 2011 --------My favorite pic of my Cousin George with the loves of his life--his boys

A reprint of  a blog written three years ago--when my beloved cousin George was taken to the heavens.

Dear Friends

Two weeks ago I expected to be celebrating both Thanksgiving and Christmas in Uganda, but God had other plans, I received notice that my beloved cousin George had died from a heart attack. And his dear sons Brian and David Tague insisted on flying me home for the funeral. In 36 hrs I went from Uganda to Rwanda to Brussels to Chicago to Philadelphia., arriving at the funeral home for the Viewing Sunday evening. Unbelievable!
Losing George is very sad for me personally as we were very close (my parents having a major influence in raising him). Also he was very good at keeping up via the internet and even calling me in Uganda about once a month. In fact we had just had a skype to skype (computer to computer) conversation on Sunday, apparently only hours before his untimely death.
I am grateful to Brian and his wife Barbara (remember I attended their wedding 3 years ago?) for hosting me at their beautiful Conshohocken home and to George’s younger son, David Hugh (who also happens to be my godson-smile) for arranging this trip for me and to my friend Sheba for making it all come together on the African side
Thanks also to Elisabet from Sweden, who was in Uganda at the time and somehow packed my bags and got me on the road, with passport in hand..

David- George-Brians wife " Reindeer Barbara "and Brian holding Annabell-their pooch

I will tell you more about George later,but for now, I just want all to know I arrived in time for the Viewing and the Funeral the next day, visited with Heather Sunday night and my sister Theresa all day Monday, saw Jolie and her adorable children, visited with friends and cousins: Mary and Dick Shoaf (Thanks for buying me the shoes, as I only arrived in sandals),   Peggy Quinn Garafolo (brought me a soft Phila. Pretzel in memory of all the ones we ate in grade school at St. Margarets in Narberth (where Peg is a teacher now) . I also spent time with Pat, my cousin Georges girlfriend for the last + decade. He was blessed to have such a lovely unassuming woman in his life, who accepted him 100% as is, without alteration. This love was repaid recently when George helped Pat thru Breast Cancer , even shaving his head when she lost her hair from the chemotherapy.


. -----------------------George and his sons Brian and David-such a proud Dad!

. Then I am off to New York City to visit with Heather and not only get to hear her sing in her Rock and Roll Band on Dec. 19th, but hopefully see Heathers college friend Marni, as Christine in "Phantom of the Opera "on Broadway!.
I return via Phila.-Chicago-Brussells-Rwanda Uganda--leaving the 29th arriving the night of the 30th .
Happy Thanksgiving to you all. My wish for you is that you stop and “really” look at all your family and friends and thank them for being in your life, then thank God for putting them there in the first place.
---------MARIE=====
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Cousin George and me as younguns-smile -----------Cousin George and me at Brian and Barbara's wedding--about 3+ years ago