I cannot begin to say enough thank yous! My grandmother felt so special. She even got several more calls Monday, Tuesday, and today. You all are just amazing. Thank you, thank you, and thank you! Her phone rang all day on Valentine’s. She is a wonderful conversationalist and if you did talk to her, I’m sure you enjoyed it. She is also a true Southern Belle. When James has a dirty diaper, she says, ‘I think James needs his panties changed.’ Seriously. It’s so cute. She is adorable and you all made her feel anything but isolated on Valentine’s Day. She felt whatever the word is for the opposite of lonely. Surrounded, encircled with love, supported? She felt all those and more.
I have a great family. No doubt there. My Father is an incredible man. He just got off the board of Athens Academy (the school I went to from K4-12th grade) after 15 years and his hard work will never be forgotten there. At Honor’s Day my senior year of high school, I received the Robert F. Marion award. Mr. Marion passed away earlier this yer and recipients of the award were asked to write letters to the Marion Family. Here is the letter I wrote that was given to them at the Board retreat a few weekends ago that was the end of my father’s 15 years of service:
Dear Marion Family,
In an entirely a new way, I see the importance of receiving the Robert F. Marion award and feel so blessed to have been a recipient. I had a massive stroke in April of 2008, and I almost died. I was on life-support for 40 days, before pulling out of the darkest waters. I am still fighting many major deficits, and I have just recently been able to walk again. I know Mr. Marion was a fighter as well and never let his blindness keep him from doing many wonderful things in his lifetime.
Serving Athens Academy was something he did very well, and I cannot think of a more worthy endeavor. I love the Academy and consider it to be such an amazing place. It molded and shaped me in countless ways. I attended K-4 through 12th grade there. His selfless devotion to many worthy endeavors is a characteristic I would like emulate in my own life. As Chairman of the Annual Fund, he was preparing the way for the future. As my own father is doing now, he invested in something that he would not benefit from, but so many others would. To me, that is the embodiment of Selfless Devotion.
I am so sorry for your loss. Please know that the spirit that Mr. Marion embodied lives on in all that he touched and in the hearts of all who are recipients of the award.
Fondly,
Katherine Arnold Wolf, Class of 2000
I cannot write to you about my Grandmother or Dad without saying something about my Mom. She is doing a wonderful job caring for us here. James loves his Mimi so much! As you can imagine, this season of moving in to the house has been extremely difficult for me, and Mom (and Dad and my sisters) have made it easier for me.
Love to you all this post-Valentine’s week! (I will write another posting about my Valentine’s Day and my wonderful Valentine.)
Love,
Katherine
1 Peter 5:10
Sooooo sweet! You are clearly so connected to your family. It’s wonderful to see that.
Brilliant letter. I’m sure they were blessed to get it.
Hello Katherine and Jay: I really enjoyed your letter written to Mr. Marion. It sounds like you do indeed have an incredible family. Talking to your grandmother was such a pleasure for me and I think she is really amazing. She has such a cute sense of humor and you are right, she is a typical “Southern Lady”. In talking to her, she reminds me so much of my maternal grandmother. I am glad she had a great Valentine’s Day. You are a very thoughtful and loving granddaughter. I look forward to hearing all about your Valentine’s Day and your special “Valentine”. You and Jay have such a true love story.
Have a great weekend.
Carolyn Harry
Cool letter. Brilliant idea for your grandmother.