Welcome to Mr. Watkins’ CaringBridge website. We are using this medium to keep family and friends updated in one place. Mr. Watkins appreciates your support and words of hope and encouragement. If you have his phone number he would love to hear from you! Your emails, calls, and visits have meant so much that he would love to contact each of you personally to thank you. He did dictate the following for us to share with you. He cares so deeply for all of us!
Years ago, when I was a child, I would often hear my mother say, “my land,” when she was excited, hacked, or overwhelmed by something. Little did I know that, years later, my “land” would be surrounded by an ocean of such encouraging greetings and show of support for what is likely the most traumatic thing that has happened to me except for WWII.
I regret that I am unable to write each of you individually. If I recover, I will try to write each one of you when I regain my energy.
The many cards, emails, and visits I have received have helped pull me through some really, really depressing moments.
I have been thrilled and excited by the visits from alums whose classes were having class reunions in April. To renew friendships, to see faces I have not seen for so long and yet recognized – those children of mine, has meant so much to me. Their appreciation and, perhaps even affection, and maybe even a comprehension of what I was trying to do besides touch the subject matter of chemistry, has meant so much to me.
I could not believe that even some of the Korean students from the class of ’98 were back here for alumni weekend and I got to talk with about 6 or 7 of them. They were another wonderful bunch of people. I have been overjoyed to learn of what has happened to these wonderful children; their occupations and their families. I have even received photos which have been very much appreciated and bring great joy to me.
And I surely want to thank wonderful Janet and all her sweet synchronized swimmers. I have missed all of you, I have missed the exercise, and I have missed my doughnuts at Walmart after exercising.
I thank and appreciate everyone who has added to the richness and meaningfulness of my life - relatives, students, friends from church, gym, and school - all who became, and are, my family.
I am sorry that this will not be better worded but it is quite difficult trying to do this while lying in a hospital bed attached to numerous monitors. But my heart, regardless of its congestive heart failure, still says thank you, thank you, thank you. You have been my life. I hope that I have repaid you in some way for all you have given me. I have surely gained so much from all of you.
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