Cousin Bernie

My cousin Bernie died a couple of days ago.  It brings up some funny memories of the movie in which "Bernie" had died and was hauled around by friends, as though he was alive.  I think Bernie would have laughed at that – because Bernie laughed at many things.  When he laughed, he laughed all over his body.  He loved to laugh. His laughter was contagious.

I have known Bernie – or Bud , as he was called – since he was born – and that was probably more than 80 years ago.  Bud was not one to stick strictly to the facts sometimes.  (That trait was given to him by his father – most of us agree – who spent his entire adult life as a sailor; serving all during WW II in the heat of battle sailing around the world aboard a ship).  But it matters not which genes this trait might have come from – we all agreed that Bernie liked to expand the truth just a bit in order to make a good story even better. He loved a good a good story.  Nothing wrong with that – we all do that, a bit, don’t we?  I do.

But Bud had a serious side.  He was deeply religious.  I know not which brand to which he subscribed, but which ever it was, he believed in it faithfully and completely.  He wrote religious books for children and religious books for adults. He conducted an on line bible study for many years and had quite a following, I am told.

In the face of a not so happy life some years ago, he happily shared his positive  beliefs with others.  His first wife and a child had died young.  His sister died young. But he moved on and married Donna and had a son, both of whom he adored.  But his faith carried him on in his life until a couple of days ago.

Those who know me know that I am not a religious person. I have my own thoughts and beliefs which did not match Bernie’s.  We talked about this some years ago and agreed to leave that to ourselves.  But I did not criticize him nor he me.  Here are my thoughts about one’s beliefs.  What ever one may believe about religion is what they mandate will take place.  Bernard Albertson devoutly believed he needed to teach others about his beliefs and did so.  He believed he would go to heaven after death – And so it matters not what I think -- he will.  Have a safe and swift journey to heaven, cousin Bernie….  from the heart of Olaf Hart