To the people in and around Forks

When I read about the students in Sequim High School who chose a young man with Down syndrome to be their Homecoming king, what a blessing I felt, that they would honor him.

Then my thoughts turned quickly to YOU. How so many of you have blessed our daughter Cathy from school days, (if I tried to name people I would forget names) to places of employment, Thriftway for 23 years, to the people who went there to find Cathy to get a hug — the retirement party — her 60th birthday party.

I thank the young people who came to Forks in the 1960s and 1970s (hippies), when she started to fail physically the nurses, nurses aids at Forks Long Term Care. So many who cared and showed love and gave extra time. Don’t forget our family: son, daughters grandchildren, great-grandchildren. Wow, what a blessing.

My thoughts turn to our Cathy and the words of I Corinthians Chapter 13-referred to as the “Love Chapter’ “We who do all the great things — It amounts to nothing if we do not love.”  Cathy has that down pat! Then John 13: 34-35 Christ’s commandment to love one another: “As I have loved you.” YOU — to our Cathy have shown that, Thank you, God Bless You.

I wish I had better, more expressive words, but thank you all for what you have done and what you do.

With Much Love,

Merle and Arnita Watson

Beaver

 

Editors Note:

Cathy will turn 65 on Thanksgiving Day and she is residing at FCH Long Term Care. Merle shared with me that Cathy was born seven weeks early. Merle and Arnita had never heard of Down syndrome. Their doctor told them that Cathy would never walk or talk and that they should institutionalize her as soon as possible before they became “emotionally attached.”  As a recipient of many of Cathy’s hugs, I think of what we would have missed if Cathy had never come in to our lives.