A Cougar No More

Liam howling with happiness

Entrance to the Columbarium at Arlington

My mother somehow wangled a way for her and my father to be inurned in Arlington National Cemetery Columbarium after their deaths.  If you agree to be cremated and have served honorably in the military, you too may reside here forever.  Spouse gets in also.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/columb.htm
That would be THE Arlington cemetery with the eternal fame and lots of famous folks, rich history and millions of visitors. Arlington, VA. is like Queens is to Manhattan.  Across the river, but walkable from DC.

So Charlie went first in 1997. Ruth followed this past spring.  Right before our summer visit in August 2010, we received a notice from Arlington that Ruth's name had been included on the marble plaque on the niche which housed their cremated  remains.   It had not occurred to me that it had not yet been done, but It seemed like perfect timing.

Well, you might remember that there was a mistake on the plaque. It was a big one.   And I knew something was up when a black butterfly began stalking me on my way to pay my respects.  Psychics say that black butterflies are signs from our loved ones.   They show up for them. Yes, an incorrect date. Ruth appeared to have been a cradle robber. Her date of birth engraved as 1913, should be 1923.   Charlie's is 1921.

Incorrect date 1913 on plaque on their niche-

So there it was for all to see,   Ruth married a younger man-8 years-fits the definition of the Cougar age gap. cougar info- http://womensissues.about.com/od/startingover/f/FAQCougar.htm

But not true.   I  imagined I heard my father laughing.  Back in the day, a lot of women married younger men and lied about it. Was not yet okay, like it is today.  The truth usually came out when the wife applied for Social Security benefits.  By then the hubby had figured it out and was happy to get money earlier than originally expected.

Ruth was born on New Year's Day 1923.  She did not like that as she alleged that no one was glad to have to say Happy New Year and Happy Birthday.  Sharing a birthday with a holiday is not so easy.  The last time we spoke for real was on her birthday last year on 1/1/10.  Our subsequent conversations were a little off as she was struggling to hide some mini strokes.

I think she would have liked the numbers in her birthday this year-1/1/11.

Good news.  My niece visited the Arlington Columbarium on New Year's Day-1/1/11, armed with my instructions to check for the corrected date. She photographed their marble niche plaque.   Oh Happy Day!    Guess What!  It has been corrected

Corrected plaque-pic taken on 1/1/11-Ruth's birthday

Happy Birthday, Mom-A cougar no more.

Ruth and Liam on her last NY visit- Dec 2008

Woof, Woof