Eulogy for Anna

Happy Holidays Gentle Readers,

No doubt all of my loyal friends, neighbors, and family members are aware that Mrs. Anna Elisabeth Lewis, my mother, passed away in early October. 

The Goldsboro News-Argus recently ran an obituary recently.  We chose not to have a funeral in Phoenix as she was new to Phoenix and mostly bed ridden the entire time.  She only knew family members while in Phoenix.  We were waiting for a date from Arlington National Cemetery, the cemetary where her husband and my father Frank Lewis is buried,  a process that actually took 2 ½ months. 

Even though the graveside service was lovely and very fitting, the priest made things somewhat personal but really didn’t catch the essence of this stern but loving German woman.  No real eulogy was spoken graveside so I’ve embellished the obituary originally pubished in the Goldsboror newspaper to create a eulogy for mom.  Today is my mom and dad's wedding anniversary, they would have been mmarried 60 years, so posting this eulodgy is fitting. Really, trying to capture not just facts but who mom was at least in my eyes. 

Anna Elisabeth Lewis, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother passed away peacefully on Monday, October 7, 2019 at her home in Phoenix, Arizona. 

December 16th, the day was cold and rainy, the December service at Arlington National Cemetery wasn’t exactly graveside, rather just very near where my father is interred.  The priest said a few kind words and managed a few prayers.  Mom’s wish was to be buried in Arlington, she was always very proud of my father’s service in the Air Force and I’m sure felt it is a great honor to join him in the National Cemetery. 

Anna Elisabeth was born in Hochheim, Germany on January 17, 1931.  She married young and had a daughter in 1952.  The marriage did not last, and Anna did what very few women of the time did, she divorced her abusive husband, her daughter and her moved back with her mother. 

Soon after, while working as a server in the Mainz Airforce Base NCO club, she met Master Sergeant Francis (Frank) J. Lewis and the two were married on December 23, 1959.  Almost immediately following the wedding, Francis was stationed stateside and this new family moved to Charleston, South Carolina.  The family expanded to include another daughter, and two sons. 

Living in the United States during these early years with four children was not easy for Anna.  Frank was often away with the military and the task of raising the children fell primarily to Anna.  She spoke very little English and navigating American society wasn’t easy.  Our family stories includes multiple mix ups regarding switching ammonia with vinegar on one almost fatal occasion and a bevy of other comical mishaps.  The family stories include a hint of the poverty this young family endured, tales of sacrifice and tough decisions. 

These experiences forced a self-reliance and a tenacity on Anna.  She was tough and stern, but always loving.  These are characteristics also thrust upon her children from a young age. 

After several different duty stations, Francis retired from the military in 1973 and moved Anna and the four children to Ventura, California. 

Anna was an avid bowler and spent much of her time shuttling kids to and from soccer and softball games.  During this time, Anna was also a big LA Dodger’s fan and enjoyed going to Dodger’s Stadium to watch the games.  These hobbies were always secondary to raising a family and working part time to ensure that the mortgage was paid every month. 

After over thirty years in this city by the sea, Frank retired again, this time from the US Post Office, and they moved to Goldsboro, North Carolina.  Frank passed away in 2007, but Anna remained in Goldsboro until the spring of 2019. By this time Anna was living with her youngest son Billy, when all decided to move to Phoenix Arizona.  Soon after this move, Anna passed away peacefully at the home of Billy and Rick. 

Anna is preceded in death by her husband Francis Lewis, her daughter Diana Lewis, and her granddaughter Karissa Lewis. 

Anna is survived by her son William Lewis and his husband Rick Cassidy, son Walter Lewis and his husband Rusty Harris-Bishop, daughter Issy Dion and her husband Francis Dion, five grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. Anna is also survived by her sister Rodeginda Maerten and husband Guenter Maerten, still residing in Anna’s hometown of Hochheim, Germany. 

My personal relationship with mom wasn’'t always an easy one.  She was not the type of mom that easily showed affection.  Did she love each of us?  Of course, but the expression of that love was not always readily evident. 

She showed love by making sure we were strong, independent, self-reliant children.  She also made sure we all could accomplish domestic tasks incredibly well and instilled a strong work ethic and professional integrity. 

This woman survived horrible atrocities growing up during World War II in a small town in Germany.  She didn’t speak of it often, but she did tell of needing to move their high school graduation because the church where it was traditionally held was bombed.  She also tells of her mother, my Oma, telling her that if the Russians came through the town to blow out the pilot light in the stove and stick her head in the oven, as it was better to endure death than raping and killing by the Russians. 

Scarcity and fear was a way of life for Anna for many of her formative years.  These types of incidents had a strong impact on Anna.  It’s no wonder that she was stubborn, often uncompromising, and very hard on her family.   If you lived through an apocalypse once, it’s bound to color how you view the world.  

But still, she often showed her love in many different ways.  She showed her love by bragging about our accomplishments to others.  I particularly remember a time I was a student at University and she got a letter from CSU Chico saying I was on the Dean’s list.  At first not understanding what a Dean’s list was, she assumed I was in trouble.  The only contact with a dean she had was when one of my siblings got in trouble in high school.  When she found out it was because I had great grades and was doing well, she carried the letter and showed everyone.

Mom also cried every time we had to fly back to our homes, or drive back to our families.  Good bye’s were emotional affairs, especially for a woman that showed very little emotion. 

Anna really loved Christmas.  It is truly fitting that Anna would be interred so close to not only Christmas but also very close to her wedding anniversary (Dec. 23).     Before passing away, Anna often said that she was ready to see her husband Frank.  In her passing, we know they are together once again.  Anna was truly the matriarch of the Lewis family and will be missed by the entire family.  So, in honor of Anna, have some Entemenann's Danish pastry, a strong cup of coffee, and play Ava Maria or Edelweiss, her two favortie songs.

Arlington - with thousands upon thousands of Christmas wreathes...a rainy day but a nice service. 

Post funeral lunch at Cafe Mozart for some righteous German food. 

Dressed with an Edelweiss pin in honor of mom.  

All gussied up.  

Hunky, Funky, and Spunky Spring

Gentle Readers, Spring has advanced and retreated like a tsunami, leaving me exhausted and gasping for air.  Here we are just beyond the longest day of the year, and I am reflecting on the last few months of spring enjoying a few memories and marveling at how fast time is passing.

Hunky Jesus - We've spent another irreverent Easter at the Hunky Jesus contest.  The Sisters have moved the festivities back to Delores Park...the day was resplendent with beautiful blue skies and a gentle breeze keeping temperatures mild and the mood light.  Nothing marks he beginning of spring like marching around a bunch of scantily clad Hunky Jesuses and equally risque Foxy Mary's across a crowded stage of drag queens.

Bill selling Crown's of Thorns for the Ducal Court.  

Always a pleasure to see celebrities after a performance...Dusty Porn is a positive force of love and compassion!

One of the many performances for the day, Devil with the Blue Dress!  

Dusty and Rusty. 

A random Easter Bunny, it's fun to make new scantily clad friends. 

Erwin and a subtle tasteful bonnet. 

Guest judge Bruce Vilanch joined the festivities.  

A pack of finalist Jesuses to end the day.  I believe, "Historically Accurate" Jesus won the contest.  

Funky Phoenix - Well gentle readers, my brother and family packed up their household treasures and moved to Phoenix this spring.  I spent a few days of spring break in Phoenix visiting one air conditioned building after another...always so hot.  Phoenix is a series of strip malls and housing complexes, most of this town is brand new but one can find some natural beauty amongst the fast food restaurants and nursing homes.

A short but warm hike.  

Botanical Gardens, an expensive entry fee but incredible plants and wildlife to be seen. 

Yes, that is a baby bird nesting in a cactus.  Now, that's just kinda cool.  

Butterflies galore in the butterfly house. 

Is there someplace that Chihuly has not littered with glass sculptures.  We get it, it's beautiful, it's fragile, they're in every major tourist destination! 

Overwhelmed by so many beautiful things in the desert. 

So many desert flowers in bloom!  

My Nephew David and his girlfriend Summer were also in Phoenix for a visit.  He has turned out to be a pretty terrific young man! 

Spunky Bikers - Although I could not do the AIDS Lifecycle Ride this year, Rusty participated in this awesome challenge. On the final weekend of the ride I drove to Ventura and then to the finish line in LA to welcome and congratulate the riders.

Andre (the Giant)!  One of the many wonderful riders and Rusty's tent mate this year.  Packed and ready to go!

Rusty riding out from South San Francisco with all 2300 bikers! 

This shit is bananas! 

It's all down hill from here! 

Red dress day cheer team!  

Ready?  OK...! 

Biking bears...

Look who made it to Ventura! 

Nothing like the feeling of crossing that finish line! 

Hundreds of people cheer on the bikers at the finish line chute.  What a warm welcome.  

Look who else is at the finish line.  Gotta love that warrior woman Ari!

Schwety boys after a long week.  

 Gentle Readers,  I hope you enjoyed this foray into my Hunky, Funky and Spunky spring. Time is spiraling out of control and sometimes you just gotta stop and smell the desert cactus flowers (even if there are a few thorns)!  Summer is here and next up is our trip to New Zealand and Australia - won't that be fun. 

Space Needle Terror

The elevator seemed to take forever as it cruised above the foggy sidewalks of Seattle.  Suddenly, this confined quickly ascending glass room rose above the fog giving us a brief glimpse of the beautiful surroundings before docking at the observation platform of the Space Needle.  The elevator exacerbated a growing case of vertigo and made my legs shaky as we stepped onto the observation deck. 

A fake forced smile...I just couldn't bring myself to lean against the glass.

The view from the top...not too shabby..

Eye to eye with Mount Ranier. 

Rusty and I enjoying the beautiful sunshine above the clouds, as Yosiell takes the picture.  

I was clinging to the wall the whole time we walked around the open air viewing deck but managed to approach the glass several times to take a few pictures and remind myself that thousands of people every week survive this attraction. 

A quick trip down to the second floor of this precariously balancing space ship.  It took a good twenty minutes of walking next to the glass floor before rationalizing that no one has fallen through this man made torture and taking a leap of faith onto the slowly rotating glass. 

 

Standing on the slowly rotating glass floor...WTF...who devised this torture.  

After a good 45 minutes of facing my fear of heights (in a totally safe environment), it was time to head back down to the blessed ground below. My fear of heights once again were proven unfounded.  No one says that fears are rational.  So marks one of the many adventures we had during our week long stay in Seattle.  Despite the rainy and overcast weather, we enjoyed much that this city by the bay has to offer. 

Immediately following my time in the iconic torturous Seattle landmark, we went to the Museum of Pop.  Some amazing shows were happening in the museum.  Marvel had an incredible display of super heroes that was really well done.  After going through the exhibit, the point hit home as to what a true loss earlier this year at Stan Lee’s passing. 

Apparently a very valuable comic in the Marvel Universe...who knew? 

We breezed into the Indie Games exhibit featuring really great electronic games from Indie creators.  It was hard not to channel our inner gamer friends as we tried our hand at some games. (It’s amazing how many people associated with the electronic and board gaming industry we know considering I myself am not even remotely a gamer.) 
 

Channeling my inner Yon Hardisty, Matt Fantastic and Andrew Schneider...all in the gaming industry in one way or another, and all righteous people with strong integrity...I like my friends!  

This ain't your grandpas Pac Man!

Next we ventured into the exhibition entitled Scared to Death.  This is the kind of terror that I don’t mind.  A great exhibit featuring primarily movie memorabilia. It was fun to see costumes and video clips of some awesome scary movies.  One of my favorites was the stake that buffy the vampire slayer used in the movie (not exactly a terrifying movie, but it fits in the genre, and who doesn't love horror and camp). 

Yosiell definitely in his element...it's as if this whole bleepin' museum was made specifically for him!!!! 

Ugly screaming face!   

Creepy bodies hanging from chains...love this weird maze of death! 

Even the vampires in Seattle wear flannel a' la grunge style!

Rusty in an episode of who wore the coffin best...????

From there into the fantasy exhibit…(again I kept asking was this museum made for Yosiell…or what?).  The exhibit was exceptionally well done and really broke down everything from literature to Dungeons and Dragons role playing, not to mention the way cool displays (even a full sized sleeping dragon). 

Our final exhibit was the Science Fiction exhibit.  An odd assortment of memorabilia to be sure but worthy of a look.   

We spent New Year’s Eve in Seattle having dinner and a Cabaret/Drag show at Le Faux Julia’s.  The drinks are sweet, the dinner was adequate, and the show was spectacular.  My favorite was a lovely young male dancer doing a reverse  strip tease, very clever.  We met a lovely couple from the South who had recently moved to Seattle.  

They say the way you spend your New Year’s Eve is a harbinger for the next year.  Well I spent it with my two most favorite people, meeting new friends, and enjoying a wonderful show.  The new Year should be filled with delicious drinks (French 75’s, the least sweet thing on the Julia’s menu), beautiful drag queens and strip tease artists, and a few hugs and kisses from loved ones and new friends. 

Excited to be rid of 2018...let the festivities begin! 

The delightful Brandon and the beautiful, talented, and charming Natalie...wonderful to randomly meet such kindred southern spirits.  

Our hostesses for the evening.  The Cis Gen Woman on the left did an incredible strip tease during the course of the evening. 

Other adventures in Seattle included a rainy hike I did alone around Snoqualmie Falls, Beautiful but a bit touristy and not very secluded- some of Twin Peaks was filmed here, I believe Laura Palmer’s body was found at the falls, for those old timers that remember the show.  

Exhilarating...lots of over spray! 

Overcast and chilly but still an exciting falls to be sure.  

A quick hike to the base of the falls and a slightly different view.  

Waste from the old hydroelectric power station...turned into passable sculpture.  

The lodge...a Twin Peaks filming location.  

After getting thoroughly drenched, I went to Tiger Mountain for a few more hours of hiking.  Two trails diverged in these green woods, and I had to choose between the Difficult Trail and the Very Difficult Trail.  I spent a good minute having an internal monologue debating which trail to take when an elderly Chinese woman decided for me by breezing by without batting an eye and taking the Very Difficult Trail.  (We all know what trail my ego forced me to take so let’s not pretend I’m anything other than as transparent as an open book). 

On a Mount tiger trail...

An idyllic nature scene...

A random mountain scene from the town of Snoqualmie!   

Same mountain, different view.  

Certainly can't overlook the train museum in Snoqualmie.  Small and quaint.

Other great adventures included a quick trip to the Seattle Art Museum (an eclectic collection to be sure). 

Aboriginal Dreamtime Painting from a female artist...

Another Dreamtime painting!  

An African mask that should inspire some nightmares.  

I love the symmetry of this African mask.  

A few “Must Do’s” should you ever find yourself in Seattle…

Honest Biscuits – a place to get biscuits with country ham or fried Chicken.  Art, our good friend from our Raleigh Days, owns honest Biscuits and beside good biscuits, he serves up an authentic pimento cheese with a damn good view.

Pie Bar – They serve pie and pie like drinks…ummm, ‘nuff said.

Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop – Every manner of curiosity, some old, some new, but all fun stuff.

Push Pull - Gallery/Zine shop.  Great outsider art and lots of edgy Zines!

Georgetown Records and Fantagraphics - A record store and graphic novel emporium! 

Hula-Hula - A tiki bar with nightly Karaoke!  Soooooooo weird and cool!

Fogue Gallery – a gallery/artist collective featuring artists over fifty years old.  Some amazing stuff!  (Although we have more art than we know what to do with, we bought two pieces from an artist in this gallery).  

Archie McFee’s – of course.  Although Archie McFee’s has a pretty good on-line catalogue, it is so much better to see the weird and unusual wares all in one place.  Spend a few minutes of your time while you’re there, and browse the free rubber chicken museum.  I learned so much about this corny comedic trope. 

Rusty admiring the Rainbow Rubber Chicken decoration that at one time adorned the Archie MacFee Gay Pride float.  

Rusty in the VIP section of the Rubber Chicken Museum.  

Yosiell fondling the world's largest Rubber Chicken!  

Rusty contemplating choking the chicken...OK gentle readers, you knew I had to add a "Choking the Chicken" reference somewhere in this string of photos.  

It's as if this cut out was made for me! 

Flip, Flip, Ding, Ding – A pinball bar in Georgetown.  Pinball and electronic games with a side of nostalgia.  

One definite don’t do…Pike’s Market…rustic floor board to ceiling people.  Really not worth it just to see fish mongers flinging fish.   

And finally some random photos of our trip...

The Fremont troll! Lots of people climbing all over this Atlas Obscura favorite.  

An old gas plant next to an old landfill?  Let's build a park!   

Random creepiness highlighting the bleak and barren winter landscape...or just a crow in a tree.  

Walking around the Ballard Locks in the bone chilling rain and cold. 

Well, gentle reader I hope your New Year’s Eve was a harbinger of a great 2019.  I haven’t really made any resolutions…and really don’t intend to…instead, this is a good time to reflect on the many changes (and my personal choices) of the past year, a somewhat difficult year to be sure.  After a long session of smudging the entire house with white sage, I intend to focus on the positive.  Life seemed excessively complicated in 2018, so my word for 2019 is going to be “Simplify”.   So gentle reader, may your 2019 be filled with kindness, compassion and love.  

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