'I Vow To Thee My Country'

Hi Guys,

     I wasn't sure about writing happy and jolly 'stuff'after seeing Shane on the day he died, his wife very graciously allowed me to come say goodbye in person, I held his hand and he squeezed my fingers when I told him how much we all loved him and how he would be sorely missed. I even managed to make him laugh. (I can't say how but it was funny!) Then later that day Jane let me know he had gone.  I wasn't going to write this post, in fact I had something entirely different in mind  for today but as soon as I sat, well... you know how it is.
     His  funeral was amazing  and I suddenly thought he would want the world to know we were all there, that most of us were dressed in VERY bright colours and 60% of the mourners were dressed in pink, Shanes favourite colour. Personally I wore a bright Orange Jacket, a white boob tube and a pair of high waisted very wide legged brown, orange, yellow and green trousers.
     Family and friends from outside work attended and so many older friends from Heathrow's old Terminal 2, as well as many of his new friends from Terminal 5, I hope the attendance did both he and his wife Jane proud.
     The hurst arrived attended by a couple of Harley Davidson bikes, a roar of goodbye from the engine revs could have been heard for miles and seeing big ruff tough bikers in tears was a very touching indeed, it shows how much Shane was loved. The coffin itself was covered in a Union flag and all his medals were displayed on the top. We even sang 'I vow to thee my Country' as his goodbye hymn. We listened to tales from his military service history, learnt about his affinity with horses and his love of family, of Mrs Wabbit, and could see her love for him! I think he would have been moved to see us all there for them both.
     After the ceremony, we all traipsed down to the pub where we laughed and joked, some of us cried a little too, all reminiscing,  anecdotes about the old 'silver fox' were on everyone's lips on every corner of the field.
     So this is my last post about Shane and my last Goodbye to a very special man who touched many lives and many many hearts.
     Today his eldest boy has his 'passing out' parade and I'm sure Shane will be there watching to ensure his son starts his military duties in style.  So Good Luck Jack, I'm sure you'll make everyone proud!  

love Dede xxxxxxxxxx

A Letter for Shane, my Friend.

Hello there,

A friend of mine has Cancer with a capital C, he was diagnosed  last year and after a rigorous course of chemotherapy his entire stomach was removed and a new one built.  (Which in itself is amazing!)  After tests he was told everything was OK, his cancer was gone.  Now, less than six months later its back.  He knows he has only months to live and whilst myself and his other friends feel helpless and scared for him and angry at the wrongness of such a charming, kind and funny man having this thrust upon both he and his lovely family, he himself, is still coming into work, living each day to the full and promising himself a 'wing walking' experience next month when he goes on a final holiday with his beautiful wife!

Typical Shane!

Last week we had coffee together, "I'm sorry Dede," he said, "but I may not get to finish your book and I want to know how it ends, I'm enjoying it so far, you write well!"  I nearly burst into tears right in front of him, his bravery and stoicism in the face of his prognosis, humble me.  He is loved by not just his family but also by his many friends, all of whom look up to him with both admiration and respect, this clever, knowledgeable man whose humour is renowned, trained not only me but I imagine a quarter of the officers at London Heathrow.

Shane, my prayer for you is that a miracle will happen, that your months will become years and you get to spend more time with your lovely family, doing exactly the things you want to do.  Maybe even taking Jayne on the back of your Harley Davidson roaring along the entire length of Route 66!  

I want you to know you put me to shame my friend, I am ashamed for worrying about the stupid stuff, you know what I mean, family, relationships and things like my smile, I don't smile as often as I could because I don't particularly like my vampire teeth.  I don't like the wrinkles that mean I'm getting older, I complain about my 'baby belly' the stretched skin most mums have around their middle that's hard to lose and I moan because I'm 'vertically challenged' as you say, 5'2", well 5'1 and a bit!  And although I love my job I'd rather win the lottery and stay home to write full time...

Today though and because of you I will smile, I promise from today and everyday forward I will count my blessings, today I will give grateful thanks to 'whomever' is out there that you are still my friend, that I am alive and that I can feel the wind in my hair and the sun on my face, even if it has to travel further to reach me. 

You trained me way back then Shane, you are training me still... 

Always,

Dede X