A beloved teacher sleeps, for now
Edson H. Edmunds • 1925 - 2007
Last night, I was completely shocked to come across a photo of this grave site online. Sadly, it didn't take long for me to find a corresponding obituary.
Four years before I made my dedication, Mr. Edmunds was my 7th grade English teacher, on whom I had a long, abiding crush. (OK... I was head over heels for him!) Grammar, spelling, and vocabulary took on new meaning. My feelings for him stoked my love for language, for writing, for English and French. He was the first to tell me I had any writing talent.
So there you have it. Now you know why I so often feel compelled to write (not so) short stories under my photos!
The nature of my affection for my dearest teacher has changed over time as I matured emotionally and spiritually, of course, but it has never diminished.
Oh, I knew Mr. Edmunds was getting on in years. He was several years older than my own father. Besides, none of us from the class of '76 are getting any younger. But his telephone number is still listed online in the White Pages. As a matter of fact, I had just been thinking of getting in touch with him. I wanted to tell him about being a grandma, and I really wanted him to see the photos of Bryn-Bryn here on Flickr.
As soon as this photo of his headstone confronted me, I was struck by grief. For now I cry freely, but I count myself fortunate for having known him ("Better to have loved and lost..."). I am also deeply grateful that several years after having been one of Mr. Edmunds' pupils, I began to study what the Bible says about those who are "sleeping in death" (1 Thessalonians 4:13; Ecclesiastes 9:5,11). Without that knowledge, I would be devastated.
I trust in Jehovah for the hope of seeing Mr. Edmunds and his lovely wife Marion again in His promised earthly Paradise through Jesus Christ. 'At that time, God will wipe out every tear from our eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.' The reasons for such acute heartache will be eliminated forever. (Revelation 21:3,4)
"I have hope toward God,... that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." — Acts 24:15
"Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life." — John 5:28,29
About the photo: I put together this tribute in memoriam using two images, one from the Amityville Record obituary and the other from the Find a Grave website. I composed the photo using free software by Rhapsoft called LiveQuartz.
A beloved teacher sleeps, for now
Edson H. Edmunds • 1925 - 2007
Last night, I was completely shocked to come across a photo of this grave site online. Sadly, it didn't take long for me to find a corresponding obituary.
Four years before I made my dedication, Mr. Edmunds was my 7th grade English teacher, on whom I had a long, abiding crush. (OK... I was head over heels for him!) Grammar, spelling, and vocabulary took on new meaning. My feelings for him stoked my love for language, for writing, for English and French. He was the first to tell me I had any writing talent.
So there you have it. Now you know why I so often feel compelled to write (not so) short stories under my photos!
The nature of my affection for my dearest teacher has changed over time as I matured emotionally and spiritually, of course, but it has never diminished.
Oh, I knew Mr. Edmunds was getting on in years. He was several years older than my own father. Besides, none of us from the class of '76 are getting any younger. But his telephone number is still listed online in the White Pages. As a matter of fact, I had just been thinking of getting in touch with him. I wanted to tell him about being a grandma, and I really wanted him to see the photos of Bryn-Bryn here on Flickr.
As soon as this photo of his headstone confronted me, I was struck by grief. For now I cry freely, but I count myself fortunate for having known him ("Better to have loved and lost..."). I am also deeply grateful that several years after having been one of Mr. Edmunds' pupils, I began to study what the Bible says about those who are "sleeping in death" (1 Thessalonians 4:13; Ecclesiastes 9:5,11). Without that knowledge, I would be devastated.
I trust in Jehovah for the hope of seeing Mr. Edmunds and his lovely wife Marion again in His promised earthly Paradise through Jesus Christ. 'At that time, God will wipe out every tear from our eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.' The reasons for such acute heartache will be eliminated forever. (Revelation 21:3,4)
"I have hope toward God,... that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." — Acts 24:15
"Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life." — John 5:28,29
About the photo: I put together this tribute in memoriam using two images, one from the Amityville Record obituary and the other from the Find a Grave website. I composed the photo using free software by Rhapsoft called LiveQuartz.