Posted by Sylvia_FL on 8/9/11 6:52am
Msg #393123

Sympathy Cards sent for Ann

Ann received a bunch of sympathy cards, forwarded onto her by Linda.
She wants you all to know how much the outpouring of love and support
is appreciated.
She was concerned about sending thank you's to everyone. I told her no-one expected a thank you, and I would convey her thanks to you all here on NotRot.

Ann is getting through one day at a time. Her mother is with her (her mother is in her 80's) and is helping her get through this. She is going to be fine.

Linda, Ann appreciates you having the cards sent through you - she didn't want her address given out. I promised her that we would not give her address out.
Ann, like Paul was, is a very private person. I do check on her daily - but she actually calls me 4 or 5 times a day. (Little unimportant things, I think she just needs to talk, which is fine with me).

I told her she can feel wrapped in a mantle of love by all of us on NotRot, we all feel Paul's loss.

Reply by MW/VA on 8/9/11 7:13am
Msg #393125

Thanks for sharing that, Sylvia. I hope she was comforted by our thoughts & prayers.
It is especially important that her privacy was protected through this whole process, thanks to you, Brenda & Linda. I think you all handled this perfectly! :-)

Reply by ikando on 8/9/11 7:30am
Msg #393126

I second that, and kudos to you all for your efforts and kindness.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 8/9/11 7:46am
Msg #393127

If situation were reversed Paul would be doing the same for me I am sure.

When Bruce and I went on our annual cruise, Paul always managed my SS for me.
when I was in hospital, and Bruce wasn't able to visit me. Paul drove almost 3 hours to visit me, could only stay a few minutes before having to drive back home, but he wanted to make sure I had a visitor. That is the kind of person Paul was.
When we had to evacuate in 2004 because of the second hurricane Paul called, told us to get out and head for his house where it was safe. We (and the 4 dogs) stayed with him and Ann until it was safe to return home.
There is nothing that Paul wouldn't do for Bruce and me, and nothing we wouldn't do for Ann and Paul.
Paul was one in a million, and I miss him every day.

Reply by NJDiva on 8/9/11 2:04pm
Msg #393143

That made me cry Sylvia... n/m

Reply by NJDiva on 8/9/11 2:04pm
Msg #393144

Actually I hit the dam post too soon again...ugh n/m

Reply by NJDiva on 8/9/11 2:52pm
Msg #393147

It seems to me like one of our...

Earth Angels was called home way too soon. But I truly believe that when our work is done here (according to what a higher being than anyone on this earth determines, not by what we think it should be) we are called back to serve in a greater capacity. What that capacity may be is beyond what I could ever comprehend, but it's my thoughts and feelings.

I lost my sister and mother in the matter of three years when I was a kid and know without a shadow of a doubt that they are with me, guiding and supporting me and keeping me safe.

I believe the same with Paul. As you mentioned, he was a truly amazing person. He was always so gracious. I don't recall him getting defensive and reacting to things like some of us here can do...myself included (I guess I should say, speaking for myself.) He was not arrogant or self righteous. He shared his wisdom, experience and knowledge freely and without being condescending or rude.

Just a few weeks before he passed, I noticed that he had responded to a post. I got really excited because I had missed not seeing him on the board for a while. I sent him a message and welcomed him back and told him I had missed hearing his experience. I asked where he had been. His response was...

"Hi Cheryl,

Yep, me is "Paul". Thank you for your concern. I've been away for personal reasons that couldn't be put off.

Paul"

I had called him Pat one time and when I sent the above message, I made sure that his name was Paul...lol

The final correspondence I had with him, was around July 1. He had PM'd me about a question I had posted regarding Apostilles. He gave me some guidance on it and ended with:

"if you ever need help with them feel free to send them my way. I have limited my work to strictly apostille and document legalization processing."

I was happy to have had a resource for them because there wasn't anything I could have helped them with.

Obviously my heart was broken when I heard of his passing. It certainly was unexpected. He's left an imprint on my heart and soul for sure!!!

I hope I can be half the human he was.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/9/11 8:09am
Msg #393130

My pleasure Sylvia...

I have two more cards here that came after the fact - I'll wait til end of week in case any more come in and then forward the rest on to her. So let her know there'll be one more small batch coming in sometime next week.

Reply by MW/VA on 8/9/11 8:15pm
Msg #393192

IMO Paul would be very proud that we're thinking of Ann &

trying to help her in some small way for all the help he gave all of us--large & small. As they say, what goes round, comes round. He always gave of his expertise & knowledge, and didn't look for praise or compensation. We all learned to be better people because of him. I remember especially that he never got involved in the petty or arguments of any kind. That spoke volumes about his character to me, even though I only knew him through the internet. I'm sure he's enjoying his eternal rest now. :-)

Reply by Notarysigner on 8/10/11 10:04am
Msg #393226

Re: IMO Paul would be very proud that we're thinking of Ann &

Ditto!

Additionally ALL the advice he gave me OFF-Forum was always true. Yet he still listened to others and agreed with them if he was wrong (which wasn't often at all). I remember how happy I was when he "approved" my request so I could get past his email security system.