Big Brother

Besides celebrating my birthday and checking out waterfalls, the main reason we went to Florida was to visit my sweet brother, who is in a skilled nursing facility, Westminster Woods, in Jacksonville, Florida. Some of you may not know that I had two older brothers. Ray (the one we visited) is 20 yrs. older than I am (which makes him almost 87. My other brother (Jim) was 12 yrs. older than me, and he lost his life to cancer in 1985 at the young age of 55. My mother was 42 when I was born, and Dad was 53. All are gone now except Ray and me. Today I will share some pictures of brother Ray ---taken through the years. Above is a picture taken on August 4, 2009 when we visited Ray. Below are more!





This was taken about 1945. Ray was 23 and I was 3.





This was on Feb. 18, 1951 --at Ray and Evelyn's wedding. From left to right: me, Evelyn's friend, Evelyn, Ray and our brother Jim. The wedding took place in California. Since my Dad worked for the railroad, we had 'free' passes ---so we rode the train from our home in Virginia all the way to and from California. What a wonderful trip!!!





This one was taken in January of 1953. Our family attended the Eisenhower inauguration in Washington D.C. Ray was 30 and I was 10.





This is Ray and Evelyn, taken in 2004, when they visited George and me here in Tennessee. We of course had to take them to Fall Creek Falls one day while they were here.





Brother and Sister --at Fall Creek Falls, in 2004





Ray and his 'kids' (Bob, Carolyn and Steve); This picture was taken at Evelyn's funeral in September of 2007. Ray and Evelyn have three wonderful children --and six grandchildren, although one is deceased.




Brother and Sister ---taken in Sept. 2007





Taken last Summer (2008) when we visited Ray





Sister and Brother---taken August 4, 2009; God Bless You, Sweet Brother of MINE!! I Love you!

Hugs,