Dear blogger friends, many of you have become acquainted with my dear husband Otto through my many mentions of him on my blog. Through my tears I must tell you that he died last night from injuries sustained in a fall. I will tell about it at a later time - probably with indignation. He had stuck his head around the door a few minutes earlier, saying to me, "I'm off to do a few errands." And Otto, with his vitality, his sharp inventive intellect, his love and his humor, is lost to a world that is a better place because of his efforts and to a host of friends and family. He has been emeritus from the university for 17 years, but he never retired and worked until almost midnight the night before his fall -which had nothing to do with his age - on the world problems he considered the most urgent.
79 comments:
Phyllis, my heart is hurting for you and your family. All I can do is send my deepest sympathy and prayers. He was a wise and beautiful man. WARM HUGS
Oh, Granny, my heart goes out to you and your family. I am so sorry and I will keep you all in my prayers.
Oh my dear Phyllis. What a shock for you, so sudden. But a blessing for Otto, that is was quick.
May God give you strength over the coming time, to do what needs doing, and to support you, as you deal with the grief of loss.
We all must pass through the doorway to the next life. I pray for you.
Love Granny
I am very, very sorry. It was obvious how much you loved him.He will be missed by everyone.
I'm glad Otto didn't suffer a long drawn out, painful death. That is the only solace.
You will be in my thoughts and prayers over this difficult time. X
Oh Phyllis, my heart goes out to you. It was obvious from your blog entries how much you and Otto loved each other, and your long life together has been an inspiration. My thoughts are with you in this incredibly difficult time.
Dearest Phyllis, my heart is breaking, I am beyond sorry. I'm actually quite speechless, whispering 'no, no, no'.
Know that you are tucked in close, sending love, hugs... and through the tears wishing Otto the Very Best on his continuing journey.
Much love to you, Dearheart, and to your family.
XOXOXOX
i feel like I've known him through your vivid beautiful stories. An amazing man. My heart breaks for you. Sending my love and hugs and hoping you are surrounded by your wonderful family. xoxo
Dearest Phyllis,it is horrible to reed this,cant imagine the emptyness and sadness you feel right now,dear,I am so sorry.Whish you all the strenght and love and all the time in the world to heal.Hugs and love from me,you are in my thoughts.Aleksandra
I'm relatively new to your blog, but I'm no less heartbroken for you. Be good to yourself and remember that although our bodies fail us, love never goes away.
Wishing you peace and the blessings of friends and family at this time.
Oh that is such sad news. I've enjoyed reading about your wonderful lives together. You've been so blessed but it's hard at times like these.
I'll remember you both in my prayers. Take care of yourself until you meet up once again to continue your wonderful journeys together.
This is truly the deepest sadness ever! Such an amazing love story you had. Truly tragic that he left so immediately in such an unexpected way. My heart and prayers are with you in your grief. I'm hoping your creativity, writing, the love of family and friends sustains you through these darkest hours. Phyllis I am so very sorry for you and the family. Thinking of you with love!!
Big hugs from Canada
Sherrie
Oh no, I'm so sorry!
Warm and healing thoughts for you -
What a shock! My heartfelt sympathies to you in your great loss.
I'm so sorry. I know you, your family, and the many others whose lives Otto touched will miss him deeply.
I was rushed but I felt compelled to read your entry. And look what I find! My heart goes out to you. Through your blogs I have discovered what a wonderfully loving and fulfilled marriage you had! May your memories sustain you.
My dear friend! I am so, so sorry for the loss of your dearest friend. Unbelievable. Please know you will be in my prayers, my thoughts and deep in my heart. I really can't put my wishes into words to you but know you are loved, Phyllis.
p.s. I apologize for the delay in writing; I was out of town.
Take good care.
Phyllis,
You don't know me, but I feel as if I know you. You are in my heart at this most sad of times. I wish there was something profound I could say, but there is not.
Be kind to yourself and take care.
Kate
cholulared.blogspot.com
Oh my, words fail but I want to say I am so very sorry. I feel like I know you and your husband and my heart aches.
(((HUGS)))
Sue
Phyllis, my heart goes out to you and your family. I was so very sorry to read this. Please know that I send my prayers, my sympathy. I know how much he will be missed by his family, friends and you in particular! He did leave this world a better place from all that I have read about him.
My heart is breaking for you. I will be thinking of you and praying for you this week. And for many months that come. Love, Becky
Oh, my heart breaks for you! May you have strength and support to tide you over this sad event. Take care of yourself - Hugs and prayers for you and yours.
I'm sorry for your loss. I hope you continue to write.
I have already left a comment, but this was in a magazine I bought yesterday. It is a poem by WB Yeats...It was reproduced by a lady who's husband had marked it in a book of poems. She was reading it later, as she sought solace after his sudden death.
"When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars."
Love Granny
My deepest condolences to you and your family on the loss of your love one. May be rest in peace.
I'm so sorry. You both look like amazing people. I just stumbled onto your blog tonight.
I am so sorry to hear that. My condolances to you and yours!
We are so shocked and so sorry to hear the sad news. Please take care of yourself.
Dearest Granny,
Many many times I have wandered your blog reading your amazing stories. Sometimes I comment, but often, in reading, I get caught up in the euphoria of your so many wonderful worlds I simply forget!
But this is one time I can't just wander away. I simply wanted you to know that your unique way of offering glimpses into your travels, your special moments have reached far across the seas and touched hearts with hope and a wonder that the world indeed is a beautiful place.
Otto is still here because you are still here. And you both always will be for those who have so loved your blog!
Memories and the moments dancing within them live on eternally!
BIG HUGS!
Gemma (Australia)
This is such tragic news. My heart goes out to you and your family. You will be in my thoughts.
Dear Phyllis, this is a shock, and a tremendous loss. I am so sorry; my heart is with you and your family during this difficult time. With love and sympathy, anno
I'm so sorry! What a terrible shock for you and your family. You have my sympathy.
phyllis,, my heart aches for you and your family.. we are all here for you... thank you for sharing your wonderful otto with us we are all the better for having 'known' him.....
I can't stop thinking about you. And praying for you. And hoping you are ok!
Oh Phyllis, I am truly saddened at the loss of your dear husband,Otto, and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to you. It feels like I know you and him through reading your blog. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
My heart goes out to you, and I wish you comfort and peace. Through reading your blog and some of the stories about your husband, I can only say that the world is a better place because of his being here. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Hugs Phyllis I can not even put words together to try and say what I feel. From the world of technology it is encouraging to see your family love you so much and I now pray for you all during this sad time. You had many years together and I trust that the memories will form a source of comfort over the days to come.
Love
Denise
Oh, Phyllis ... I'm sending you many hugs and prayers and much love to sustain you through this awful time.
I can't imagine the pain you must be in. It seems to unfair, so wrong, to lose him like that.
All I can say is what others have said. To be active, happy and alert one minute and gone the next, that has to be a good way to go.
I'm so sorry. :(
Ohhhh no....so sorry to read this, so sorry. I come by every so often and peek in at your blog. Much love and comfort being prayed for, for you..
Dear Phyllis,just anoter greating with loads of good love for you,take care,hugs from Sandra
I was so saddened to read of your loss. I always enjoyed reading about you and Otto and your life together. My deepest sympathy to you and your family. I will keep all of you in my prayers. HUGS
Love,
Marguerite
dear granny - while i can't know the depth or breadth of your pain, i can know how hollow you may feel by virtue of the fact that i remain inconsolable yet as the result of my husband's death --- none of us can know another's pain, but we can recognize it by virtue of the fact that we too have felt our own --- i am SO! sorry to hear of the loss of your lifemate and i so admire that you have been able to share that with us, and i thank you --- sending hugs and prayers to you ---
This is my first visit to your lovely blog. I am so sorry for your loss.
I've not gotten to know you as this is my first visit to your blog. What a tribute to his memory that the world my come to know your husband through your works here. Many hugs and prayers. -Meg
Oh, Granny, I have a lump in my throat and a heavy heart and I didn't even know him except through your shining words. Every thing you wrote about him was polished and just glowed with your love!
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Oh Granny, I am so very sorry to hear of Otto's passing.
The world is a far better place because he lived in it. It is also a better place for all of us because you shared your life with Otto with all of us.
My prayers are with you and your family.
Dear Granny, I know you are receiving messages of condolence from all around the world right now. Please accept mine. I know from reading your blog just how special you two were together.
Love Linda May.
Granny, my heart goes out for you. When it is this sudden it is so difficult to bear the loss. But we must do that. I lost my dad 7 years ago in a fall. As it was unexpected, I hurt for a long time.
I pray for his soul and you and your family...
Dear Granny Smith, I'm truly sorry for your loss. He sounds like such a lovely man. Please take care of yourself. Sending you a little sunshine from Singapore!
Ohh, Phyllis. I am so sorry. My heart is breaking for your incredible loss. Even though I have only been reading your blog for a few short months, the deep love you and Otto had for one another was apparent.
I will be thinking of you. I will be thinking of my loved ones.
My first time here and though I don't know you yet, I want to stop for just a moment to sit with you in your grief...
I am very sorry to hear about your loss. I wish you all the strength to go through this hard time and you will be in my thoughts
Oh my, I am so sorry to hear of Otto's passing. I can not imagine what feelings you are going through! You have generously shared of a rich life the two of you shared. Hoping, wishing you support and love that helps you through this time.
My heart is with you,
Tammie
My first visit here. I am truly sorry for your loss.
My deepest condolence to you and family.
May his soul rest in peace.
God Bless.
Dear, dear Phyllis, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family too. I have loved getting to know Otto and you through your writing here. The love between you, and the wonderful respect and kindness of your relationship radiated through your writing, and warmed my heart many times. I wish you comfort and healing in this awful, awful loss. Blessings to you.
Granny, my heartfelt condolences go to you. If it's any consolation, he went without much pain. My dad went suddenly too, and that he left without suffering too much was my only consolation. Be strong in your grief..
I think of you and Otto more often than you know, and have you and Otto positioned in my mind as excellent examples of how to live satisfying lives, and how to take great joy in living.
Despite these many expressions of sympathy, I know you must feel very much left behind and alone.
The "never-again-ness" of death is so awful.
I am so so very sorry.
Granny Smith,
you are in my thoughts and prayers
LaLA
His love will always fill your heart, I send you a big hug!
All my sympathy for your loss...you have shared your life with such grace. You husband must have a remarkable may and we share your grief.
b
No matter what happens the memories live on. Thinking of you.
allow me to join all of those who offer their words... words that never quite say what is in our hearts.
i envy you each other's existence and love...
Granny, so sad to hear this news. Life, in the end, is so fragile. It sounds as though you and Otto had a wonderful like together. And that is for the rest of us to admire and envy as others have said. But it doesn't lessen your loss. Bless you.
Only love being sent to you now. I'm so sorry for this loss. I pray for peace for your heart, that I know is hurting.
ox
Granny,
I am so sad for you for your tragic loss. Please know that I, and the multitude of other fans you have in the blogosphere, are thinking of you in this time of need and sending you many prayers.
Vanessa
Dear Granny Smith, I've been seeing your name everywhere, and now today I read that you lost your husband. I am so deeply sorry, I send you hugs x
I am so sorry Granny--I'm holding you in my heart right now and hoping that you can feel some ease.
My heartfelt prayers for you and your family beautiful Granny. I'm so sorry for your deep loss. x
dana.
What a shock for you - please accept my deepest sympathy and support. I am so sorry. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
megg
i am so sorry to hear that Granny! please stay strong. my heart goes out to you and my stomach in knots! as everyone mentions, it was very obvious the deep love the two of you share and have. i'm sure not all is lost!
I'm so sorry. your deep love for him has come though all your posts. My thoughts are with you, may life be gentle with you as you travel through your grief.
Karen
Dear Phyllis--
I'm new to your blog--got here thru gautami's invitation. Wanted to share my sorrow for your loss of your life companion. Your love for each other is obvious here on your blog.
Know that you are loved and honored in ways you cannot understand--
How sad I was to learn of your loss. Your love for Otto and your wonderful life together has been an inspiration over these last months. I appreciate so much your writing of your family, your creativity in art and poems, your willingness to share and be supportive. Know that you are loved still (and needed) by many, many others. I hope your memories of Otto and your very good family comfort you now.
I haven't been keeping up with blogging much, but I had to check on the scribblings tonight and I found this. It's a whirlwind for you right now, I know, but I'm sorry for your loss. May God's comfort sustain you today...hour by hour.
I feel for you... God give you strength and peace...
Dearest Granny, I have no words to say how much I'm grieving with you right now... I know what it is to lose a dearly loved one, and my thoughts are with you.
So sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you and your family *hug*
I'm so sorry for your loss. You'll be in my thoughts through this sad time.
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