Tribute

Orville S. Nelson
1930-2008

As many of you know my father died at Stanford Hospital in February 2008. His memorial service was held in Salinas, California on March 1, 2008. I put together this little slideshow as a tribute to him and played it at his service. This slideshow is mainly for my immediate and extented family. But also, for those of you who didn't know him it will give you a little glimpse of the man who was so special to us. And who was so often described as a kind and sweet man.

Peace

My father was rushed from the Menlo Park VA facility to Stanford hospital. He had an infection in his lungs from which he would not recover. He held on long enough that my brother and two sisters were able to make it to his bedside. We were lucky that we had time to thank my father for everything he had done for us, how well he had provided for us and how much we loved him.

I can only remember once or twice that I saw my dad without his wedding band, but they had to take it off when he went into the emergency room.

According to a Japanese tradition, we turned my dad so his head pointed north and we placed a small white towel over his face. For some reason I did not take a photograph of this, I just could not lift the camera. I'm sorry now that I did not. He was at peace and beautiful after such a long and agonizing battle.

Cold

My dad is always cold now. When I take him out for a spin around the grounds at the Menlo Park facility, I have to bundle him up. First the t-shirt, then the sweater, coat, hat, then finally two blankets. He sleeps often and as I'm wheeling him around in his wheel chair I can't see if he's fallen asleep so I just keep talking. For those that know me this is pretty surprising as I'm not much of a talker. Well, take a lesson from my father, if you'll just be quiet, you'll hear the most amazing things.

Snap shots

Here we are in pictures...

Candide and Gizmo

Voltaire writes in Candide, "...dans le meilleur des mondes possibles...il faut cultiver notre jardin"

Gilberto Perez is from Ecuador. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his family. He tends to other people's gardens as he tends to his own.

And then there's Gizmo who has a glass-eye and lives in the ghost-town of Cerrillos.

Clarity

New Mexico

Here are a few more from New Mexico.