Mega Task of 100 hours for Fleur de Lys curtain in 11 days

 On Sunday morning, January 22, at 4:30 AM the new handcrocheted curtain was hanging!

Just pray for me...

Pieter replied: You are an amazing person! 

Great result!

Related link:

Mega Task Crocheting DONE | previous post

Mariette — The Heart Stubbornly Independent

 

Mariette — The Heart

Stubbornly Independent

Women like Mariette are hard to find and impossible to forget. She has the heart of an angel and the spirit of a warrior. She has faced nightmares as dark as midnight, but it only made her stronger. She is not a sweet talker, but she prefers to be judged for being real, than be loved for being fake. Mariette has a big heart, and whoever is loved by her is the luckiest person, but don't fool yourself thinking that you can abuse her trust. Mariette is the sun, and whether she warms you, or burns you, depends on the way you treat her!

Liefste Pieter–M'n allerliefste Maaike—Dearest Pieter–My dearest Maaike

Dublin, August 4, 2021

Dearest Pieter,

Have been lying awake for over an hour. Spooky tried to stroke me in his way, with his sharpies... and his teeth. Nevertheless, he is sweet, and he lay with his head against my cheek for a while. Kneading my armpits felt not so good, but with saying 'gently' he understands you.

Wanted to thank you again for always solving problems or stress situations by going out.

Someone of 92+ and then performing something like that is great!

Feels good to still have such a gallant knight.

Unimaginable what you have achieved in your entire life.

Always to make everything yourself, solving things and often correcting other people's sloppiness.

Especially in the home and garden!

Those Spivey people didn't do the garden to our liking either...

We always had to make ends meet with a budget because of Thea and Liz. Nevertheless, we managed well together.

Editing the old videos brings things up again. 

Sad that we are only now doing our own 'behind the news' program.

An afterthought of a very special love through thick and thin, through mountain and valley. Always together—a lot together.

That God may keep it 'whole in heart and kidneys', then we can reminisce together!!!

Rich inside, with a great and rare love.

A heartfelt hug for now and always connected by soul from LL

Dublin, August 5, 2021

My dearest Maaike,

What a surprise to find such a sweet letter (at breakfast); it brought me to the brink of crying. I'm not very good anymore at articulating my thoughts, but you should know that my feelings for you are indestructible. I love you, through thick and thin, and pray every day, morning and evening, to thank God for such a jewel of a wife and ask Him that I may live a few more years alongside you. It is so true what is written on those wall tiles: 'love covers everything, endures everything; love never perishes. 

Your loving Pieter.

I would like to write a book about your qualities; but as the song says: words are just words...!

September 12, 2021 biking together made Pieter so happy!

My Angel Sister who Died TWICE

 

BLUE BAND MARGARINE

Cute decorative grocers nostalgia

These two boxes date from the first years just after World War II when the margarine was delivered to the grocery store in large blocks in a box. At the customer's request, the desired quantity was cut off and packed in a greaseproof paper or bag.

Parts of the production stamps are still present.

The lidded boards are missing, but the boxes themselves are in good condition.

Dimensions: 34 x 24.5 x 9.5 cm or 13.4 x 9.6 x 3.7 inches

Production stamps still present

On Wednesday January 11, 1950 my Angel Sister Mariet was born...

At least, she struggled hard for making it into this world!

She was the very FIRST GRANDCHILD on Dad's side of the family...

Here in the house (photo courtesy of brother Jan Van den Munckhof) where seven of us are being born, except the youngest who was born in the hospital...

Mom had to manage doing this with the assistance of a midwife, which was normal for that time.

My Angel sister had been too active and twisted around, so she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck and arrived looking BLUE

None of them acted rapidly for giving AR (artificial respiration) to the baby, for saving it.

WORSE, it got taken away from Mom, she NEVER got to see her own daughter... 

It would be better for forgetting and getting over it FAST, they reasoned.

How CRUEL. The baby clothes also got taken away.

Thirteen months later, I got born and again, I had the umbilical cord around my neck but the midwife came timely.

But now back to those Blue Band boxes...

Dad put the tiny body of my Angel sister inside such a wooden Blue Band box and put her under the fast-binder at the back of his bike.

My Angel sister Mariet was not allowed to be buried on blessed ground of the real Catholic Church's graveyard but instead on a small parcel of ground next to it.

When I was a toddler and a bit older, often Mom would take me there for a visit.

She told me about my older sister that had my name... I could feel her unprocessed grief. 

I've for that reason, always felt so very close to her and in a way tried to live for her as well.

Maybe that's why I got two crowns on my head, a funny way for trying to part my hair when making two tails.

Later on that parcel of ground, an iron shop got constructed, also selling household goods.

~

My Angel sister has been always very close and I often can sense her presence. 

She has been watching over me.

When I talked to Mom over the phone after she got hospitalized, it was on my Angel Sister's Birthday, January 11, 2015. 

Mom had been weeping all night, so scared and feeling so lonely.

Then around 7:00 AM Dutch time (1:00 AM our time), I called and a gracious nurse lend her the phone for half an hour.

I started by saying to her: Congrats with the Birthday of your first born today!

Oh, she said, is it?... I had not realized that and her voice changed.

I then went on that SOON she would finally be able to hold and hug her and SEE her for the first time.

She did so on January 27, 2015.

It felt so good for sharing these thoughts with her, her innermost thoughts and even for me myself, they'd been pent up feelings for so many years.

When Dad himself, was still active as the family patriarch, Mom's obituary came to be like above:

My Angel sister is listed at the very top, strange though with her baptismal name, one of three and she never got baptized...

Guess they found it odd for listing twice 'Mariet'...

Dad had arranged a solemn requiem Mass at our local Catholic Church, where also the choir sang, in which Mom was a member for over 25 years and lately, together with Dad.

Organ music and all.

Again, this got done by Dad, the patriarch!

The patriarch had died himself so now my sister Diny took the lead, and she omitted our Angel sister!

So that is WHY she Died TWICE!

She did however add her significant other to whom she was not married...

Worse, there was NO requiem Mass, nothing, not even a chance for condoleances.

And that for Dad, who got his Royal Certificate for being a Choir Member for exactly 81 years to the date of his death. He got a Certificate for 70 and 80 years; unique in The Netherlands!

Over the weekend we heard that our honorary member has died

Piet Van den Munckhof

Piet has until this day been a member of the Horster Men's Choir; he joined in July of 1938 and was by far the oldest member of our association.

Although he has not been actively singing in our choir for many years, in May we were able to enjoy his singing qualities when singing the old Horster Anthem. As an accomplished performer, he recited this song at the St. Lambert Church.

"Horst can boast of scholars, shine because of their great talent", he sang then.

Piet was our teacher for many years as a 1st tenor and we are grateful to him for his contribution and commitment.

Board and members

Horster Men's Choir

Horster Mannenkoor

In the guest book of the (Horster Men's Choir)—Horster Mannenkoor—I replied to the above:

Deemed board of directors and members,

From Dublin, Georgia we would like to bring the following to your attention.

We had a certain premonition and therefore we were during Papa's last days in Horst and thus have been able to say goodbye.

We cannot take the thought out of us, how wonderful it would have been if his very beloved Horster Mannenkoor would have graced his Requiem Mass.

We do not doubt that the singers would have liked to have done so.

Unfortunately, my younger brothers and sisters have denied you this opportunity because they decided not to have a Requiem Mass...!

We congratulate the board of directors and members of the Horster Men's Choir for the well-chosen words in the newspaper report of Hallo Horst aan de Maas.

With respect and warm greetings from the U.S.A.,

Mariet(te) Van den Munckhof-Vedder

Pieter Vedder

PS The American law first uses the maiden name, then that of the spouse.

Related links:

From CitizenM Hotel on Delta Airlines from Amsterdam to Savannah, Georgia | previous post by me

{January 11 Angel Sister had 1st Birthday in Heaven together with Mom...} | previous post by me

{My Angel Sister & Mariette's Back to Basics Explained} | previous post by me

Afscheidsbrief toen Pieter zo zwak was... Farewell letter when Pieter was so weak...

Dublin, January 9, 2021

Dearest Pieter,

There we are, in front of the painful exit of your special life...

For more than 51 years I was allowed to participate in it and for 37 years in a very nice and intimate way. 

A great love and a deep faith are what unite us.

Proud of the completion of our book; your intellect is preserved for many...

Proud of your always modest way of performing.

A very hard worker, who could do everything, knew everything, and tried everything.

Our critters loved and do love this special person just as much.

Your Dad is waiting for you...

It's been so long. Also, you will meet my oldest sister and more loved ones, who will also accompany you.

How I will ever live without you—I don't know, but for the kitties I'll do it. I also know that your soul is always with me—until you welcome me too...

Faith is strong and it sustains.

Everywhere in the house are the memories and also outside.

Videos that are valuable!

Thank you for so much love...

LL

It is in self–limitation that a master first shows himself. 

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

 

Pieter's Legacy Letter to be Opened After his Death

 

LEGACY LETTER WRITTEN BY PIETER ON NOVEMBER 5, 2020, FOR WHEN HE WOULD NO LONGER BE WITH ME.

HAD TO OPEN IT ON THE DAY OF HIS DEATH...

BUT I TOOK IT WITH ME TO SAVANNAH MEMORIAL FOR MY SECOND SURGERY TO HAVE SOMETHING FROM HIM NEAR ME... HE COULD NOT VISIT ME, HARDLY CONVERSE VIA PHONE... (due to his hearing problem).

November 5, 2020

Dear Mariet; my everything for almost 40 years? 

I can't tell you anymore how much I've always admired you. As two people of different character and age, we obviously sometimes had differences of opinion, but true love on both sides always provided a peaceful solution.

Also, I can't tell you anymore how much I've always loved you, but I don't have to, it showed every day we were together. 

Both of us are not the type of so many words, not sweety, darling etc., but more no–nonsense individuals; no lame talk but do something.

I think there are few couples who have lived and worked together practically every day of our togetherness so intensely.

In general, they were beautiful and productive years.

We tried to be good to people as well as to other people's children.

In addition, we have made many friends all over the world. We have both always given everything in our work and we leave something behind in the form of the book, which you have also worked on with heart and soul.

We had our own little family, with Mauzie (Dachshund girl) and our furry babies (kitties) who, like us, enjoyed our paradise like spots in Georgia.

For years I prayed in silence that I might live a little longer; so that I could be with you a little longer, and still do something for you.

Unfortunately, the body no longer wants to listen so well to my spirit, but still let me, together with you, still ride a bike.

My body has now given up, but my spirit remains, not only in your memory, but also from the afterlife.

From there, together with our deceased family and friends, I hope to be able to follow you in your actions. 

I will continue to follow you with love and admiration, my dearest.

Look up if you need help; there are some, along with me, who would like to help you.

I sincerely hope that you continue to live for a good number of years, together with friends (and babies) and live on the many and beautiful memories, until we are together again. 

Forever; your Pieter

Yes, we both did form a unity, inter–subjectivity from the start.

35+ Years Together

 

Dear Mariet

35+ years together!!

What is it that brings 2 people so inseparable together?

I don't know the answer exactly; in my opinion, it is one of those mysterious, complicated, possibly supernatural influences. 

Whatever it may be; we have found each other; two people with different personalities, ideas (and age) but also with many similarities. Some traits sometimes clashed with each other, but the love between the two of us always turned out to be stronger. 

With this in mind, I've always loved you, and that hasn't diminished over the years. 

We lived together for over 13,000 days; in general, sunny days with the occasional rain shower to keep things fresh. 

I still love you very much girl. Both of us are not such overly 'sweeties', not exactly such soft romantic types; we are too level–headed and too rational for that. We may not say often enough that we can't miss each other, nor do we kiss enough, but when we say something like that, it comes not only from our lips but from our hearts. 

I hope to be able to live with you for many more days; Our life together was, and still is, the result of the 'something' that brought us together. There will come a time when we will have to say goodbye to each other, but even then this 'something' will continue to exist.

Beyond doubt!!!

November 2018

your Pieter