Update

October 13, 2015

I last updated you in May and by June it seemed obvious that Bill was really making a comeback.

He was wearing what he called people clothes after 5 months in convalescing clothes.
He was walking around our acre of ground 2 to 5 times daily without a walker.
He was walking with weights to help rebuild muscle.
He was eating and so enjoying the food I fixed for him.
He was gaining a little weight. Still thin (jeans for a size 30 waist), but looking better all the time.
Took on the project of straightening our garage and did a great job.
And although he didn’t really feel that he was able, he forced himself to do 4 small paintings sitting outside near the back steps and looking at our fence border.

In mid-August he had a set back. Not realizing it, he pushed himself a bit too hard for two days in a row and after that he started a gradual decline.

Lost the weight he had gained. More severe pain returned. Stopped eating.

By the end of September he needed my care 24/7. I’m so grateful for the strength I received to care for him and be at his side. Bill died October 3 at 6:48 PM.

We don’t have a say in how or when we die, as we all must. But we do have a say in how we live our life.

I knew when I married Bill that he was a good man. That knowledge was confirmed more with each passing year. And yet, in the 51st year of our marriage, I came to see him as a great man.

Even when Bill had his set back, he didn’t see it as permanent. He always talked and looked towards total recovery, even 30 minutes before he died.

He kept his thoughts positive in spite of the severe pain he endured. He never allowed me to be negative or depressed about what we were going through.

He kept a notebook of daily events and the miracles that seemed to take place on a daily basis (for which we were/are most grateful).

He thought much about others. He wrote (in that notebook) asking for blessings on almost everyone he knew or had known.

What He Decided Years Ago

No funeral. No obituary. No doom and gloom. Only close friends have been told.

At some future date, maybe even a year, we will have an exhibit event celebrating Bill’s life.

Taking Bill’s Approach

It is a time of great sorrow for me, but I continue to take Bill’s approach and count the many blessings that have been showered down on me. One of them is the great outpouring of concern and well wishes from loyal friends and readers of TMG.

Like Bill, I can’t do anything about death, but I can do something about my life. I have an agenda even as I grieve. I am already going about the tasks that need to be done regarding Bill’s life’s work which was preserving our area’s way of life in art form.

In addition I want to reach out to help and encourage you even more and write things that will be of value to you in your life and garden.

Bill and TMG

Bill loved TMG readers just about as much as I do. He loved hearing (via your emails and comments) about your gardens and how you were using various principles (brought to your attention by TMG) to make them even better.

He told me less than a month ago, “You can’t stop writing anymore than I could stop painting, because it’s part of who you are.”

My heart’s desire is to continue TMG. And if I’m blessed with the finances to pay the expenses involved each year, I will.

Final Thoughts

Thank you for all your emails and support during this most difficult of years. It made a difference for Bill and for me.

I ask that you celebrate your life today. I know that’s what Bill would want.

It’s a bit blurry, but I couldn’t think of better way to end this than to show both rings that were a symbol of our union for what would have been 51 years on November 6th.

Addendum:

Jack (see his comment) suggested that I add a link to Bill’s site. Here it is:

http://billmartz.com. You can also see and hear Bill in the 2 minute video on the home page.

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