John Apple

In Memory of Catherine Lee

                  by John P. Alexander

 Catherine Lee passed into eternity on June 15, 2003, at her Tennessee home. She died during the night due to heart complications associated with Lupus.

Catherine, her dad and mom, and her three sisters lived next-door to my family when I was a young child. We played in the sandbox together, rode horses together, built childhood forts together, and belonged to a secret neighborhood record club. I can remember one time when Catherine and I were both still pre-adolescents, we stayed-up all night reading comic books.

    Catherine and her family were to move away from our neighborhood; and I almost lost touch with the Lees during my adolescent years. When I was in my twenties, the Lee family came-back into my life in full force.

    When I was in the state hospital, Catherine and her sisters would visit me two or three times a week. She drove-up in an El Dorado convertible Cadillac one day; and the people in Cottage S talked about that for years after­ward.

In her letters to me, Catherine explained that she had Lupus. Her courage inspired me in my own battle with bipolar disorder.

Catherine and the rest of her family later moved to Northeast Tennessee; but she continued to write me letters and send me pictures of her children. Catherine's husband owned a candy store in Gatlinburg; and, every holiday season, I would receive a package from Catherine of gourmet candy for Christmas.

Catherine loved life. She was in her 50s; and, although she lived a full and meaningful life, I still believe that she died young. I wish she could've stayed with us at least another 20-30 years!

I know this: I was in prison, and Catherine (and all of the Lees) visited me.  (Matthew 25:31-40).

It is my prayer that all of the children of the old neighborhood will relive our happy childhood in eternity.

Until this prayer is granted, we all have to wake-up each morning and put one foot in front of the other, and summon the God-given strength to carry on.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Nativity of John the Baptist

June 24, 2003

Copyright © 2008 John P. Alexander, II and John Apple.  All rights reserved worldwide.