Family Time

Across the centuries – On the last November of the previous century, Milette visited my home in Virginia for four enjoyable days. Crossing into the new milennium, the first November of 2000 found us together again, this time on her coast.

Marvin and I were in California that month to attend the Gamewardens of Vietnam Bi-Annual Reunion and Dedication of the U.S. Navy/U.S. Coast Guard Vietnam Unit Memorial Monument at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado. We were guests in the San Juan Capistrano home of Marvin’s lifelong friend Charles, a fellow Gamewarden (the U.S. Navy River Patrol Force unit in which they served together in Vietnam). As such, our schedule was hitched to events in Coronado and San Juan Capistrano.

Our silver wedding anniversary fell in the middle of the trip. Although we planned to celebrate upon our return home to Virginia, we observed it quietly while there, with a Mass at St. Peter & Paul Church in Alta Loma, followed by brunch hosted by my sister Mila at Mimi’s Restaurant. Milette drove in from Riverside, where she lived at the time, to join us for several meaningful hours.

Here are several pictures of our visit:

“Come and be blessed” – That’s what the church banner read (partially visible at right) above the front steps of St. Peter & Paul Church, where my sister and her family were parishioners. We did come and were blessed, for, after Mass, it seemed we could do nothing but radiate a fullness of grace in the warm sunshine. From left, above and at right, Evelyne, Mila and Milette take a break from conversation to beam for posterity.

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Milette fit comfortably in the bosom of my family. Talking about her life and occupation, getting to know my nephew AJ who would turn 13 that year, and our family friend Charles – Milette needed no special attention to feel at home. She contributed fully of herself and was a welcome presence at the gathering.

Hibiscus in our glasses – Below, at Mimi’s Restaurant, Milette (standing) left her seat for this photo op as the brunch party wrapped up. Celebratory toasts were raised to one another – the women with their “hibiscus” drinks (cranberry juice and champagne), and the men with their coffee. Seated from left to right are Evelyne, Charles, Marvin, AJ and Mila.

One more for the album – At right, in front of Mimi’s, the group stopped for another picture. From left are Marvin, Evelyne, AJ, Mila, Charles and Milette.

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Gift of time – Milette gave Marvin and me a lovely set of silver pasta servers. The gift card, in which she wrote a simple message of congratulations, was imprinted on its cover with 17 scriptural passages anchored by the quote, “I heard my Father say…." Several of my favorites were included:

“Nothing that is good will be withheld from you.”

“My thoughts toward you are precious. They outnumber the grains of sand.”

“With Me, all things are possible.”

And the best of all: “Your times are in My hands.”

Our Creator was with us that November day. The best gift Milette ever gave to me, to my family, was her gift of time.

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As mentioned in the introduction to this page, Milette and I crossed two centuries and marked meaningful time together with personal visits to our respective coasts. After her 1999 visit to Virginia/Washington, D.C., Milette sent us this photo collage, below left. It is filled with pictures of our visit that she carefully mounted to fit the windows of the painted wooden frame. Her hand-written note said it all: Our times were and are in His hands. I am blessed to have shared 14 years of the new millennium with a cherished friend.

by Evelyne R. McFeaters