Larry Lance:
CLASS OF 1967
Glacier High SchoolClass of 1967
Seattle, WA
Tahoma High SchoolClass of 1967
Maple valley, WA
Tahoma Junior High SchoolClass of 1965
Maple valley, WA
Riverton Heights Elementary SchoolClass of 1961
Seattle, WA
Steel Lake Elementary SchoolClass of 1957
Federal way, WA
Larry's Story
Life
My Spouse
Via a Karate camp
My Job
I was trained in design of fine jewellery by the former Chief of Design for Tiffany and Co.
The man who trained me in jewellery appraisals was the former Sr. Gemologist for the Smithsonian.
What do I do today? Apart from taking care of my family, I create works for some of the fortune 500 famalies.
Today, May 1, 2008 is a bitter sweet day.
In my memory I hear the song "Sunrise, Sunset", and "Where are you going, my little one, my little one". It's hard to keep the tears from my eyes.
My son, Remington, is closing out his days in grade school and next year it's on to 7th grade.
The little boy I carried is now fast gowing up.
The small child I read to some 12,000 minutes per year in kindergarten, first, second, and third grade now streaches his young man's body out on his bed and reads by himself.
The boy I held hands with crossing the street now no longer needs me.
Once upon a time, every night, he would softly ask "Hands?" which ment he wanted to hold hands under the covers until he fell asleep. No longer.
We all grow up, I know. But I love my son so deeply, he is the only one left to love, and the only one left who loves me. I know I'm not letting him go, nor he me, but why does my heart break so?
One of my closest friends is a now retired funeral director. He is one of those people that if we are VERY lucky in life we come upon. Generous, kind, caring to everyone and especially to the families who have him care for their now passed on family member, and an amazingly insightful man.
You may or many not believe what I am about to tell you but it did happen. In 2000 my best friend passed away. About a week before he called me, asking to have my friend over to make final arrangements. I was also asked to be there. We spent about three hours laughing, crying and making sure all was in order. Days later Ger's soon to be widow called one morning telling me he was in a coma and she needed help. I drove to her house and Ger was there on his sleeping bag but completely unresponsive. We transported him to the hospital where the doctor informed his wife that he "was actively dyeing" and that the staff wasn't going to hurt him with any invasive medical procedure. Ger was gone within 24 hours.
About a year before Ger's beloved malamute had died and he was broken hearted. Ger found a breeder some 100 miles from his home and drove to see the new puppy. Entering the house Ger noticed an old Winchester on the wall. Asking about the rifle the owner replied that it had belonged to his father but was broken, the barrel jammed ...Expand for more
with wire,nuts, bolts and goodness knows what else. Ger, being a gunsmith of many years offered to fix the rifle. The owner asked 'How much?" Ger replied "$500". Ger asked "How much is the puppy?". The breeder replied "$500". And so a deal was struck. The problem was that as time went on Ger became too sick to repair the rifle. And then he passed away.
I"m not a gunsmith but I work wood as a hobby and am a jeweler by profession so with Ger's passing I offered to take over the Winchester project and see it to completion. Over the next three months I could only replace most of the 120 year old parts so the best I could do was make the rifle look good but it wouldn't be anything I'd fire. At last I finished the rifle and drove up to see Ger's widow. As I pulled into the driveway I suddenly saw Ger there in the kitchen behind the sliding glass door. He gave me a big smile, waved his arms over his head and disappeared.
At the time I had a very young son. About six years earlier my mentor, the former chief of design for Tiffany & Co. passed away from brain cancer. Ger also died of cancer and the brain was involved. Immediatly I became worried as I'd never seen a dead person before. I called my mortician friend. He listened to my story and asked "Are you seeing colors?" "No" I answered. "Are you hearing sounds?" he continued. No, again. "Are you smelling unusual odors?" he asked. Again, No. After a few moments of silence in a very quiet voice he said "We don't talk about this in the funeral business, but we get visitations all the time."
At the time I had a very young son. About six years earlier my mentor, the former chief of design for Tiffany & Co. passed away from brain cancer. Ger also died of cancer and the brain was involved. Immediatly I became worried as I'd never seen a dead person before. I called my mortician friend. He listened to my story and asked "Are you seeing colors?" "No" I answered. "Are you hearing sounds?" he continued. No, again. "Are you smelling unusual odors?" he asked. Again, No. After a few moments of silence in a very quiet voice he said "We don't talk about this in the funeral business, but we get visitations all the time."
Over the years my friend quietly told me more about his business and the events that are never mentioned to the public. This situation where two people have been so devoted to one another is not uncommon. Yes, I believe he did see her and did ask he to help him "up" and to hold him tightly. Love is like that. Love endures all things, even death.
"Grow old with me, the best is yet to come" Elizabeth Barrett Browning:
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