In Memory of Carrie Richardson

Robert Fulghum:
"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge -- myth is more potent than history -- dreams are more powerful than facts -- hope always triumphs over experience -- laughter is the cure for grief -- love is stronger than death."

The memorial is tomorrow a two hour drive from here. I'm going, doesn't matter if there is ice, snow, wind, or rain I'm going.

Carrie Richardson has been at every important event in our family's lives. She was much younger than her husband Pastor Ralph Richardson who died several years ago. She like Pastor Richardson Carrie will never be forgotten. Her love and talent touched so many. Carrie was born 1-13-37 and died 12-29-07. She found out she had lung cancer the week before Thanksgiving. She never smoked. They gave her six months and she didn't quite make it that long.

Carrie had the voice of an angel. She recorded several albums. Sang the national anthem at Seahawks and Trailblazer games numerous times. Performed in local Operas. She was one of the few women to be named a Kentucy Colonel for charity work and for her beautiful voice. She just never quite giving to her son Clinton, her many friends, her community and to us.

Every important event to us involved her. She sang at my dad's memorial despite doctor's orders to rest her voice. Her husband married my brother and his wife while she sang at the wedding. Her husband married my cousin Dixie and her husband while she sang at the wedding. Her husband baptized my brother, my sister, my cousins, and myself.

Carrie and her husband were there when mom had to make a decision you would never wish on any mother. I was in a car accident while on the way home to run the family hardware store so that my parents could travel to Los Angeles to be with my sister who was having a troubled pregnancy. Mom herself was only a month out of the hospital with uterian cancer. The accident I had was serious. It was eighty miles from the family store and eighty miles from Pastor Richardson's church. My parents and the Richardsons traveled to the hospital where I was admitted. It was really touch and go. At 3:00 A.M. the doctor went to the motel where my parents and Pastor Richardson were staying. "Mrs. Dahn I'm sorry you can't go to Los Angeles we don't think your son will make it through the night." What a choice for a mom, staying with a dying son or travel a thousand miles to be with a daughter that was probably going to lose her baby. Mom decided it was best to be with me and that my Aunt that was living in L.A. would be with my sister. After briefly ceasing breathing I lived, my sister's baby was born lived two minutes and then died. Mom would have never survived the guilt she suffered from her choice without the support and love of the Richardson's.

I would have never recovered fully from the accident without the love and support of the Richardsons. It was an eight year recovery. Every day during that eight years I received a letter, a visit, a phone call, or a prayer. I would have never recovered from the medically induced drug addiction without their help. Because of the severe pain they were giving me major doses of morphine and codiene. After six months on the stuff I became frightened when I looked at the clock above my bed and the clock stoppped. It didn't really stop it just seemed like it did. I wanted to speed time up so it was time for me to take more drugs. Though at the time I was bedridden I was home because the doctors thought I would heal faster in a home enviornment instead of a hospital. I made a decision to quit taking all drugs. Talk about withdrawals. It took five days. Mom, Dad, The Richardsons taking turn holding my hand and wiping sweat off my forehead. On an average due to sweat they changed my bed ten to fifteen times a day. I made it. I wouldn't have without the love and support I received.

I'm really glad I had the foresight to do two things for Carrie before she died. Carrie was also a client of mine. Five years ago she was still working. I encouraged her to retire. She took my advise but in her loving way told me "that if I end up not be able to afford retirement you are going to have a roommate." I'm glad I encouraged retirement for her because it worked out and she was able to have more time with grandkids and friends. When I found out she had cancer I wrote her a letter telling her how important she was to our family. Something I usually don't do, something just told me it was a good idea. She called Thanksgiving and we had a nice chat. Our last one.

Just like Robert Fulgham I believe love is stronger than death. Love can travel through time and go places we can never go. I believe Carrie is on a journey to a new home and not traveling that journey alone because the love of her family and friends is traveling with her.