Edith "Susan" H. Bowles

I send best wishes for the memorial service; I know it will be beautiful.

 

Some of my best memories of Gram would include all the wonderful National Geographic magazines she had at the home in San Francisco, which she let me go through and read for several fascinated hours. She sent a subscription as a gift.

 

When she and Heather came to visit us in North Carolina, she bought me all the L.M. Montgomery books she could find and signed each with “August 1990, Love Gram.”

 

That same trip, I had fallen asleep on the beach under an umbrella and woke up to Gram arguing with another woman who had yelled at her not to feed the seagulls. The lady was really rude, and Gram yelled back that she could damn well feed the gulls if she wanted to. The other lady said they would get crap all over them, and Gram said, “Where are you FROM, New York City?” She said “YES, so what?” And Gram said, “I knew it cause you are so rude!” The rest of the people on the beach were in shock over this huge fight between two loud Yankee women on a Southern beach.

 

I also remember a time when many of us were over at her house in Napa, and Meemee (if that is how you spell her name) was trying to run after her and fell in the pool. Gram accused my Dad of tossing the dog in the pool, and he said he had not done it (we were all saying he had not, which was true; he was on the other side of the pool sitting on the bench). Gram kept insisting that he had, and I said, “No really Gram, he didn’t. I saw it.” And she said, “If you really believe that, Karen, I feel sorry for you!”

 

I remember her wearing a straw holder for a flower bush on her head as a makeshift hat. It was torn on the side and peaked up as the funniest would-be hat I have ever seen.

 

Once when I had visited, then headed off on my way home to Grass Valley, she gave me some freshly cut roses from her garden. When I unwrapped them at home, there was the most beautiful and perfectly formed baby snail I had ever seen. I put him in a fish bowl and gave him water and fresh leaves. He lived for more than a year in that little bowl, and got to be huge. I was glad he had escaped the clutches of Snail-B-Gone in Gram’s garden.

 

I remember that she used to often say that I was “just like her father,” but I could never get her to explain that. I also marveled that she had been away from Maine most of her life, but had the thickest Yankee accent still.

 

I am thankful for the scarves she sent, and the blankets she had knitted. I think of owls when I think of her. I told my mom that I know she is traveling far and wide on the other side, and enjoying her new adventures. I am glad that she and English Jeannie (who I loved too) are together. Hopefully they have a better time there than their trip to Yosemite!

 

I was watching this video around the time she passed on, and I think it is a lovely metaphor for the journey I wish her well on. Gorgeous images from NASA that show the splendor of the solar system, Earth, and what it looks like to gaze at the stars once freed from the gravitational pull of our beautiful world. Fare thee well, Gram.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgCggULv8KU

 

 

Love and best wishes from all of us.

(I will include a self-portrait taken over the summer, since I know whe have not seen each other in awhile. I hope it does not come out too large).

 

My fondest memory of Sue will always be how she greeted you when she saw you.... a big smile on her face, a kiss and a hug.  She'll be remembered for all the great things she did for others but, I know she always greeted everyone the same way.  Even strangers, but they didn't stay that way for long, because she made friends everywhere she went.  I know she'll be there waiting for all her friends and family.... a smile, a kiss and a warm friendly hug.  We miss you and we love you Sue.

Dear Ms. Bowles:
I was just listening to a song Bernadette copied for me,..."Dancing in the Streets..." (and we did!) This brought back so many more memories, since many have been going through since hearing of your passing.
I thank you for two things:
1. For providing me a place I knew I could come and be cared for, fed and loved.

2. Most importantly, for your daughter, Bernadette, my best friend, my sister, my rock. Ms. Bowles, words would overflow this web site of all the memories, my life would be quite void without them, without the love, friendship I was introduced over 45 years ago. For this, I will forever be grateful. Rest in Gods arms, His peace, comnfort and healing to all. Love, Bonnie-Jean

I'd like everyone to know one more special thing we were able to share with my mother.  The second night I was taking care of her,I slept in bed with her because she could no longer stand on her own without help I jumped up at around 12:30 A.M. due to a racket outside the bedroom window. My mother asked me what was wrong? I told her I didn't know. After I'd walked around the back of the house I realized what I was hearing.  Two owls hooting back and forth in my yard. We've never had owls here before. I went back inside and told my mother we had owls, she said there here for me. I said if they don't shut up I'm going to shoot them, she said you will not, I said I'm kidding mom let's get some sleep. The morning my mother passed to God my sister and I went to the backyard to hear the owls. We heard them in the distance and haven't heard them again. My neighbor next door had even commented on them and had her husband listen to them at night. She as myself and others believe it was a sign from God or maybe her family calling to her. I think it may have been the ANGELS waiting to bring her to God. What do you think?

My sister, daughter, and myself had the great pleasure of bringing my mother home to my house to spend the last two weeks of her life.  It was hard not to cry when we realized each 24 hour day was less time we'd have to spend with her as her time drew near.  If anyone has ever had this experience you know how lucky you are. We laughed, we cried, through it all she never complained. We'll remember so many things we shared during this time, singing christmas carols on Friday night with her great-grandchildren Mia,and Manuel, holding our hands to our ears as she sang off tune watching her very good freinds visit as she'd say good bye. Reaching out to all of us to give us hugs even though she was in pain. Happy to see LizBeth, Haddrianna,Arlene,Jeannie,Dora Jane and so many others. Our phone never stopped ringing,thank you to everyone for your concern and memories. Last evening we received a call from Tomami in Japan to tell me how much she loved my mother. these things have helped us some. Again thank you all. One more thing i'd like to add. My mothers best friend english Jeannie died the same day.  Mom and Jeannie we know your looking out for all of us. WE LOVE and MISS YOU BOTH.