A Stylish Journey

Vera Idella McMullan Nov. 6, 1920 - June 8, 2011

On the morning of June 8, God thankfully allowed Vera to clock out and head on home to heaven.  One second she was breathing, the next second...she wasn't.  So quiet, so gentle.  I was there soon afterward, as I only live about two miles away.  She was still warm, and still seemed alive, but she was thankfully finished up with earth and already departing.  The family gathered one by one - coming from jobs, schools, meetings, and the other whatnot of life.  

As they arrived, they went immediately to her side and kissed her forehead and smoothed her hair.  She had to have known that even in death, she still had that particular stylish look - that Vera Style - in her black nightie, edged in lace.  

When the Funeral Home arrived to take her away, they had to wait and wait as everyone wanted to touch her and talk to her one more time.  So they finally said, "Just call us when you are ready to let her go", and they left.  The Hospice Nurses finally were allowed to go in and wash her and straighten everything, and still the visits went on.  Finally, almost three hours after she had died, her children let her go.

Immediately, her daughter and granddaughter Tiffany went to her expansive closet and began choosing her outfit.  Less than a minute later, Tiffany swept a purple A-Line Dress with a Cropped Jacket off the rack, and pronounced, "This is the one; this is it!".  It had a Ruched Collar in the same fabric as the dress  - so stylish, so Vera.  It was easy for Deborah, her daughter, to select from the dozens of shoes...cocktail heels that were clear plastic, spangled with tiny rinestones.  Jewelry was selected next, and they were off to the Funeral Home.

Well.  If you could just have seen her last night at the viewing.  She looked fabulous, simply fabulous.  The folks there at Brunswick Funeral Services had styled her hair and makeup from a photo I had emailed to them, and they were spot on.  Her skin was peachy and glowing, the bruises all gone.  Her hair was perfect, styled exactly like she would have done it.  As people passed by the casket, their constant comment was, "What a beautiful woman!".  At 90 years of age, after such a struggle to die, still stylin'.

Vera and her husband Harold.

Vera On Her Trip to Heaven

My Mother-In-Law is over 90 years old, a World War II veteran, and is battling through the death sequence of her life.  Last week, we thought she had about 24-36 hours to live.  That was on Thursday.  Today is Monday, and she is still here.

Hospice gave us a booklet and we all read it last Thursday...says that hallucinations (check), thrashing around with the arms (check), talking non-stop to people who aren't in the room and possibly deceased (check), eyes 3/4 closed and not focusing (check), no intake of food, little intake of fluids, and long long periods of sleep (check) are harbingers of imminent death. So I called my Husband and son to come back from Atlanta on Thursday, and they came skidding in around 9:30 PM.  And she is still, unbelievably, painfully, communicating with us.

Her arms and legs are bones wrapped in thin skin, so fragile that she can't be touched there without a little scream from her chest.  Her lips are so chapped from the lack of fluids that the skin is peeling off, no matter how much oil and salve we lovingly swipe on them.  Tonight, her mail delivery lady (US Postal Service Employee) arrived at the doorstep with her guitar and amplifier and begged to sing to her.  So we fed the postal worker a glass of wine, gathered the family, and moved to Vera's bedroom.  And the postal worker tuned her guitar and began singing.  Like an angel she sang.  Like an angel.  All in the room were sobbing at the end at the pure sweetness - all the way down to the 10 year old great-grandson.  We weren't sad, we were just so overwhelmed by the tsunami of love, and the reception of love by Grandma Mac.  She was obviously listening, and settled down like a feather within seconds after the sweet music began.

I keep thinking, what have I missed here??  Why is God keeping her here with us so long, when she needs to just go fly in the stars?  Only thing I can think of is that it is just Vera.  She always ran her own road, and ignored the obvious solutions.  She is doing it her own way, and maybe hoping for another day of fishing, shopping, cooking, and loving her family.  Just Vera Idella.  Just her.

Crossing the Bridge & Flying Away

After crossing the bridge to Ocean Isle last Sunday, I have tried diligently to stay one step ahead of the contractors, but haven't always been successful.  They move like greased lightening, working on the clock, but always aware of the time spent on the job.  What a wonderful crew!  WB Properties in Calabash, NC is doing the work - here is a link to their website:  http://www.wbpropertiesofnc.com/

 We are so lucky to have them living next door to us!

Here's what our open plan living area in our beach cottage looked like before they arrived on Wednesday:

Check out the Parson's Chairs by B&R Upholstery, and the refinished (last year) floors by WB Properties.

And, here is what it looks like now:

Orderly Chaos.  Husband isn't happy, but there is a plan here.  Don't worry, they will refinish the floors again after everything is done.

You can see that everything is a mess, but moving on to something newer, fresher, and better.  Here is a shot of my old pantry space, which will be the new refrigerator space:

This was my pantry until two weeks ago!

 This used to be where my sushi rice, seaweed, sesame seeds, and nori hung out.  I can't wait for it to be my new refrigerator space, and for my new contiguous counter space to be installed in the old 'fridge space by the stove.


This isn't easy, but a necessary job to keep our 28-year-old island home in a livable condition.  What with hurricanes and winter storms, there is a lot of damage to unseen areas...not to mention that after 28 years, WE NEED NEW STUFF!  And yes, the Lime Green walls are going away.

Meantime, I shipped out several Mitzi Cornelius bags from the Shallotte UPS shipping center, and am basking in the glow of satisfied clients.  Emails, phone calls, and mountains of Thanks have absolutely been the highlight of this difficult week.  Thanks so much to all of you new bag owners! 


So, now, I want to talk about Flying Away.  Since around 2007, one of my original "Ladies of Tideline", Jan Caudill, has been battling a recurrence of cancer with all the gusto a woman can muster.  She helped us set the original store in the Spring of 2005, and gave us the huge smiles that you just need at any moment of the day.  Soft spoken, but with the most mischievous twinkle,  she donned crazy hats and flamboyant  scarves and pins with the most amazing, comfortable sense of style I've ever seen.  When she agreed with you, she would ponder the point and then give this breathy "Yeaaah", like it came from her toes.  And you didn't get that unless she agreed.  She traded cars with abandon - after choosing one and driving it for a few days, if she didn't like it she would take it back, and somehow, drive off with a new one.  Immensely spiritual,  she always responded to comments about God with a chuckle or intense look into your eyes, letting you know without words that she walked hand-in-hand with Him.  She knew Him.

And yesterday, around 4:30 in the afternoon, she left this earth to walk the Heavens forever.  Godspeed, Miss Jan.  We love you.  We will miss your presence, and your flair for life.  You will make a stir amongst the Angels with your hats, pins, and scarves and zippy cars, but they will be the better for it.  Godspeed.