by Lex Smid, Anne's husband for 53 years and three months

The second part of Anne's letter to our daughters which she dictated to me 40 hours before she died in my arms April the 2nd 2008. The evening before we celebrated Debbie's birthday.

so I was going to talk about Janice – being the first one – and so on
and put you all in a a very nice light – because I love you all – but
there are no differences and I could never figure that out
but now I can – because
you were all made by god - and god loves you all - and
therefore I love you all
I think that is the secret – you know – and it's nice

I hope you will do the same thing to your children
I don't know really what else to say
I'm a little bit in awe – that I come to think this way – because
I remember – I wanted you kids to do better
and that might have looked like a scolding – but it wasn't - it was

I – wanted - you – the – best you could be – because that's right – you know
but by saying that made - it didn't come out as nice as it should
its so stupid
now I don't think I am going to say any more about this
I can't talk very well
why did I wait to the very end to talk about this
I don't know

maybe that's what god wants you to do
he wants you to talk about it – see – if you think about it
you don't go very far - you know
I'm sure my father thought about it himself
he never said much
it would've been nice if he would – when he was ------------- I don't know
maybe some people find some other ways – maybe they want some more
there is no more – you know – there is no more

for the last two years I have looked in every corner I could think of
but there is no more - but there is Jesus – and Jesus took our sins away
so we could live - that's an ultimate sacrifice
and that's about all people can get - there is no more

the world is so big – so big -we can't even think far enough – long enough
so what are we to do

I have this ALS – miserable – illness
now there is this man in England – he also has this disease
and they say he wants to find where god is
well – I thought maybe I should think like that too
but I still will do better – because I don't know where it's going to be

in heaven – on the earth – or in the water – but one thing I know
that Jesus died for our sins – the ultimate – thing to do
if you give your life away – for somebody else – that is the greatest thing to do

I can't think about anything else – except
I love you all - very much

I would want to talk about it more but – I don't talk very - good
I want to wish – you do well in life – and so... “ click

“...I remember walking as a little girl through the town with my grandmother when we passed a vegetable and fruit cart and she let me choose of the fruit on that cart whatever I liked and I chose a tomato.

I liked the the beautiful texture of the skin, the red color, an the little green stem.

My grandmother discouraged me by holding out an other fruit which she thought might taste better but I still preferred the tomato and ate it.

And since then I always liked tomatoes.”

Anne Smid – Smit 1935 - 2008

Anne's great-grandson Lenin likes tomatoes, son of Katie Williams and Peter Bushell