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Richard Stanley
In Memory of
Richard A.
Stanley
1950 - 2017
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Mom and Rich

Without Rich it would have been impossible for me to care for mom and our brother Jim.  This is just one of the stories I could tell.

I am just sitting here thinking of my brother Rich and remembered a story that for me sums up all that he meant to mom, me and the family.
It was in October and most of the tourists had left for the season and my Aunt Betty decided to visit mom and the Down East region during the "quiet" time. So my cousin Trish packed up Aunt Betty and began their excursion with a visit to mom. It was a sunny day and the weather was perfect and mom and her sister never stopped their conversation the whole day until it was time for the boat. It was a day that becomes emblazoned on your memory. Well later that night mom woke me up and told me she desperately wanted to see her sister again as she wanted more time with her. Now I knew they were headed Down East to Campobello Island and then on to Eastport that night. But I had no idea of just where they would be staying or how many places would be open. As it was about five am in the morning it was to early to begin the search for motels and bed and breakfasts in that area. So about seven am I began a search. Rich and Joe had already gone out fishing and had no idea what was happening back at home. Finally, I found out just about where they were staying and then proceeded to find accommodations for mom and me. Now at this time mom was frail and I needed a very specific place that included no stairs to negotiate and one that was easily accessible for her. As luck and the grace of God would have it, I was able to get exactly what I needed for accommodations. The only thing left was I needed cash and a credit card. Now Rich had gone fishing already and had no idea of what mom and I were up to back home. What to do????? I had no choice, I had to call him on the two way radio and the conversation went something like this. "Base to Dawn Marie. Base to Dawn Marie, come in Dawn Marie,over." Rich in his usual exasperated voice came back. What is going on, is mom okay??? Yes, Rich, but she is all upset, she wants to see her sister and I found out where she is staying in Eastport and have made arrangements to bring her down there and left a message for Aunt Betty we would be coming; but 'I don't have cash on me for gas and to get mom something to eat once we hit the mainland and I need a credit card for the motel room. over. Now Rich is on the other end using expletives and if he could have throttled me he would have. Finally he comes back and tells me to get his wallet in his bedroom and take out the cash and the credit card I would need. I then proceeded to ask if there was a limit on the card as mom would want to buy her sister a meal and maybe stop at a shop for a gift. In his own was doing everything but cursing he comes back to spend whatever mom wants; but just save the receipts. So, with everything ready mom and I smiling all the way went off to begin our adventure having no idea that back on the boat Rich was receiving messages over the CB from all the guys. His buddies were out there giving him a ration. "Rich, I have to go off island and don't have cash and a credit card, Richie what am I going to do?:???? And on they went. I remember once we got back home, Joe was telling me Rich was just about ready to strangle me for not giving him a head's up before he went out fishing and he went hysterical telling me about the guys getting on the CB calling for "Richie". Yes, he made that trip possible and I cannot think of a time that mom had more fun and was at more peace than that trip. We stopped at Raye's Mustard shop the next morning after breakfast and she and Aunt Betty had a ball in there. Mom was busy filling a basket for her sister to take home when she looked at me as if it ask if she was going over board and I quietly said to her that Rich said to get whatever she wanted and not to worry about the money. Whereby mom with her impish smile looked at me, nodded and proceeded to continue filling her basket of gifts for her sister. She was like a kid In a candy shop, picking out this and that for her sister to bring home. Later that year in December, mom passed and that was her last adventure off island. As I told Rich later, that visit mom wanted so desperately to see her sister was a gift. Yes, I knew at the time she woke me up, that this was important and had a premonition she wanted more time with her sister for what was her last visit. There is a sense that comes over you that you know when a request is more than just a frivolous desire. This was one of those times and I to this day believe that Rich knew as well. Yes, Rich made it happen and possible for mom to have her last dream. wish and desire come true and for that I was so grateful.

 

Posted by Gail Stanley
Monday April 10, 2017 at 8:03 pm
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