Sunday, July 15, 2007
Livingston Revisited
This week-end we made another trip to Livingston. We were on our way to Houston for a wedding, and so took the opportunity to stop and visit with the Bigby family for a while. We had made plans with Brigham (the father) to stop by his place and visit with him at his "deer camp" not far from Chester. This was the last place Josh had been before the wreck that took his life. At that time, it was mostly an unfinished place. The house sits on stilts on top of a hill in the country, far from any other houses, on a dirt road. Brigham said it is supposed to be the highest point in the county. From the house, you can look for miles in any direction and see mostly trees.
As we got near to the turn-off to the lake house, Victoria asked if we could go by the Livingston house before we went to Chester. She just wanted to see the house one last time, to walk on the deck and look out over the lake. When we turned into the drive-way, we could see several vehicles parked there. Chow-Chow, Pam's dog, came out to meet us. Brig, the oldest son, was close behind. He and Harrison, a cousin, and a few friends were there. They were cleaning up around the yard and in the house. Mama Cat was there, with a couple of new kittens. It seemed as though any minute Pam should come out to say hello.
We visited with Brig, and Victoria went to look for Harrison. Brig said that Liz was shopping for a new car. His dad had made him trade in his sports car for something larger, so he had a new pick-up - a LARGE pick-up. And Liz was getting a Hummer. Their dad said he didn't care what gasoline costs, he wants them in something that will offer as much protection as possible. I'm sure that having lost two family members to vehicle fatalities will do that to you.
Harrison and his cousin came up. He is a spitting image of Josh - just smaller and younger. In a couple of minutes Victoria came back outside. She had missed them in the house. She was laughing. She had come through the kitchen, and she said at first she thought someone was mopping the floor because she saw suds on the floor. Then she looked again and noticed the suds were coming from the dishwasher. The boys had apparently put dishwashing liquid in it, instead of dishwasher detergent. They tried to blame the girls who were there helping! Typical boys.
After visiting a few minutes with the boys, we left and went on over to see Brigham. He has made a lot of progress on his house his calls the deer camp. He has all the walls closed in, and has the living area & kitchen completed. He is doing all the interior walls in wood panels and it looks great. The kitchen & living area is all one big open space. It is huge and you can sit anywhere and look outside. There are three bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. He told us he plans to extend the house beyond the deck on one end and add a gameroom. The ground level will have another bedroom and garage and workshop. He wants it to be a place where Harrison's friends can come and hang out.
He plans to move Harrison there before school starts and Liz will stay with him for now. Brigham works for Exxon and his job takes him out of the country for 21 days at a time. He said Liz is just drifting right now. She and Josh were so close, and she was just beginning to find herself again after Josh died, when her Mom was killed. It is so hard to loose someone you are close to. Harder when it is a brother. Impossible when you are 21 and it is your mother. I hurt so much for her. And Harrison. Brig seems to be handling it well. His dad said that Brig is one of those persons who takes things in stride - just taking it to be God's will and moving on. But still, he was close to Josh and his mom, so you know there is a hole there.
We sat and talked with Brigham for a few hours. We saw several deer come up to his deer feeder. He fed us sandwiches for dinner. He's living there alone right now, I think. Harrison and Brig may stay some. Brig is home until the end of the month, and then he will be back on a drilling rig off the coast of Brazil. That is when the realty sets in for Liz and Harrison. When they are the only two left.
How hard that is going to be. Oh, how hard.
God, hold these two precious ones in your Hand and give them an extra measure of your strength and comfort. Let them feel your arms around them and lift them when they feel weary. Let them know your love and your peace and healing. In Jesus name, Amen.
As we left, we stopped by the cemetery. Pam was laid to rest beside Josh. She missed him so much in life. Now united in death. At peace. Waiting for the rest of her family to join them.
As we got near to the turn-off to the lake house, Victoria asked if we could go by the Livingston house before we went to Chester. She just wanted to see the house one last time, to walk on the deck and look out over the lake. When we turned into the drive-way, we could see several vehicles parked there. Chow-Chow, Pam's dog, came out to meet us. Brig, the oldest son, was close behind. He and Harrison, a cousin, and a few friends were there. They were cleaning up around the yard and in the house. Mama Cat was there, with a couple of new kittens. It seemed as though any minute Pam should come out to say hello.
We visited with Brig, and Victoria went to look for Harrison. Brig said that Liz was shopping for a new car. His dad had made him trade in his sports car for something larger, so he had a new pick-up - a LARGE pick-up. And Liz was getting a Hummer. Their dad said he didn't care what gasoline costs, he wants them in something that will offer as much protection as possible. I'm sure that having lost two family members to vehicle fatalities will do that to you.
Harrison and his cousin came up. He is a spitting image of Josh - just smaller and younger. In a couple of minutes Victoria came back outside. She had missed them in the house. She was laughing. She had come through the kitchen, and she said at first she thought someone was mopping the floor because she saw suds on the floor. Then she looked again and noticed the suds were coming from the dishwasher. The boys had apparently put dishwashing liquid in it, instead of dishwasher detergent. They tried to blame the girls who were there helping! Typical boys.
After visiting a few minutes with the boys, we left and went on over to see Brigham. He has made a lot of progress on his house his calls the deer camp. He has all the walls closed in, and has the living area & kitchen completed. He is doing all the interior walls in wood panels and it looks great. The kitchen & living area is all one big open space. It is huge and you can sit anywhere and look outside. There are three bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. He told us he plans to extend the house beyond the deck on one end and add a gameroom. The ground level will have another bedroom and garage and workshop. He wants it to be a place where Harrison's friends can come and hang out.
He plans to move Harrison there before school starts and Liz will stay with him for now. Brigham works for Exxon and his job takes him out of the country for 21 days at a time. He said Liz is just drifting right now. She and Josh were so close, and she was just beginning to find herself again after Josh died, when her Mom was killed. It is so hard to loose someone you are close to. Harder when it is a brother. Impossible when you are 21 and it is your mother. I hurt so much for her. And Harrison. Brig seems to be handling it well. His dad said that Brig is one of those persons who takes things in stride - just taking it to be God's will and moving on. But still, he was close to Josh and his mom, so you know there is a hole there.
We sat and talked with Brigham for a few hours. We saw several deer come up to his deer feeder. He fed us sandwiches for dinner. He's living there alone right now, I think. Harrison and Brig may stay some. Brig is home until the end of the month, and then he will be back on a drilling rig off the coast of Brazil. That is when the realty sets in for Liz and Harrison. When they are the only two left.
How hard that is going to be. Oh, how hard.
God, hold these two precious ones in your Hand and give them an extra measure of your strength and comfort. Let them feel your arms around them and lift them when they feel weary. Let them know your love and your peace and healing. In Jesus name, Amen.
As we left, we stopped by the cemetery. Pam was laid to rest beside Josh. She missed him so much in life. Now united in death. At peace. Waiting for the rest of her family to join them.
# posted by pawatson @ 1:14 PM 
