Alice Cluff
So I shared these moments i had with Uncle Van in my card I made for Terry, but I'll put them here also especially bc my handwriting is barely legible.
1) I remember one time I was visiting home and happened to run into Van at a grocery store in Woodland. It was when Becky was very sick. He was telling me about her suffering and he had tears in his eyes saying how he wished he could make it better for his little girl. It was a tender moment i was honored to share with him in public and to feel just how much he loves his kids.
2) I was at the house here in Utah at a gathering sometime when he made a joke but also shared wisdom. Other family was there but I don't remember who. It went something like this. "If you tell a secret, you only have 2 things to worry about. If the other person tells or of they keep it to themself. If they keep it then it's nothing to worry about, but if they tell then you only have 2 things to worry about, if they tell or if they keep it to themselves. If they keep it then you have nothing to worry about, but if they tell then you just have 2 things to worry about. " this stuck with me bc I didn't know he was funny.
3) also at the house here somehow I was alone with him in the kitchen while visiting once. He asked how my job was and if I liked it. I said I did and he said to the effect that if you have a job you enjoy, then that's special and something to value bc he didn't especially love his job and not to take that for granted. I felt grateful for my job then and that I really didn't have much to complain about.
I got to know him in these small moments and gained an appreciation for just how great and impressive a man he is.
I can tell he is a great dad bc he raised great kids. I'm sorry for your loss and I pray for your comfort.
With love, Alice
