Category: Family

This may be the first time the three boys and their mother ever went out to dinner… at least the first time they picked up the bill!

At “The Farm” in Athens after planting some bushes.

Thank you for getting together and taking me out to dinner for Mother’s Day. Also, thank you, Jeb, for the plants and both you and Ted for planting them. They are still alive today. I watered them this morning. Thank you for the cut flowers, Jeb, and for the cool flashlight and battery charger, Ted. I’m very blessed!!!!

Also, thank Grant and Jami, Fiona and Michael for the flowers and card. As everybody knows, I love flowers and my house if very cheerful.

i have thought so much of stuff that happened when danny and bob and i were young. danny was almost too old for me, being 7 years older, but none of us ever got a room (bedroom)of our own, as we had to share with others, incl grandmother, each other , daddy, mother, whoever. i know at least one cold winter—and they were cold in those days d/t not having modern heating, insulation, etc., danny, bob, and i shared a double bed when i was about 4. meaning they were 7 and 11. we used to “bid” to be in the middle. since the middle person would be warmest. bob and i would usually giggle and talk, and danny would fuss and tell us to go to sleep. boy, what a long time ago!!!

A sad but glorious weekend. Dan was playing golf with 2 of his sons Good Friday and started feeling bad on the 9th hole. He told them he had better go on home. Jeb called me to tell me he was bringing Dad home. They were pretty far away because Grant lives in Athens and they were playing at a course between Snellville & Athens. As they traveled, Dan said he had better go to the emergency room. Jeb called me and told me to meet him at Northside with Dan’s nitroglycerin. By the time I arrived, Dan was there and Jeb was in the “Quiet Room”. He actually died on 285 at the exit of Peachtree Dunwoody where the hospital is. No heartbeat or breathing. Poor Jeb. He was trying to keep him alive until he could make it to the hospital. What a shock.

Thank goodness all of my children and grandchildren and Patsy came and really, along with all of the tears was a lot of joy as we celebrated Dan’s life. Gosh he was so loved. We all went to Mass Sunday morning – Easter – and the funeral was Monday. I’ve never been to a more beautiful, joyful funeral. My church choir sang the songs we selected and the music was absolutely the most beautiful and just perfect. They even did the Meditation song as “Danny Boy”. Our wonderful friend and previous pastor, Fr. Paul Fogarty presided along with our current pastor, Fr. Patrick Kingery. Two other priests just showed up and vested and served. They were good friends in years gone by and one had married Jeb and Kathy 21 years ago. What a wonderful surprise and tribute.

Three of our grandchildren (Kelly, Claire and Andrew) served as Altar Servers, 5 grands (Nicole, Danny, Eric, David and Fiona) brought down the gifts, Ted did the first reading, Grant the second reading. Jeb did a witness talk – funny and tender, and Bob (Carol’s husband) did the 2nd witness talk and was just great. He knows how to make people laugh as he told some of the crazy stories about Grandaddy. Michael was too young to participate, but was such a good boy all during the service. He seemed to understand that he needed to be good and he definitely is sad that grandaddy died.

Jeb put together a great slide show with all of the pictures of Dan with family, he was always cutting up with the kids and grands. We had tables of memorabilia – pictures and all sorts of stuff. I can’t guess how many people came – but at least 500. Dan’s siblings were all there – Margie, Jack, Kay and her daughter Kathleen, Bob and his kids, Anthony and his wife Ashley, Bill, John and Tyler., Eleanor and Chris, Edward’s children, Milette and Victor and their children Charlie, Elliot and Meg. Of course, my right arm, Patsy, was here the whole time, and her girls Laurie with John, and Debbie, Betty Claire, Elizabeth and Robby represented Betty.

The Women’s Club served a luncheon in the Parish Hall for everyone who wanted to come and the food was delicious. They had tablecloths and it looked so pretty. I was so proud.

I’ve never hugged so many people and felt so loved. We have had so much food brought by – fed so many people here at the house. Patsy, Carol, Kathy, Jami, Susan, Nicole and Patsy’s girls, Laurie and Debbie, kept the food rolling in and out. Our family is so close and each one just did the right thing. Yesterday afternoon until 10 last night we had an “Irish Wake”. We started with bloody mary’s and each person here toasted Dan and told a story about things they remembered. It was great. My family is so loud and fun and we just laughed and loved each other all day. Dan, I know, is proud that we were able to celebrate with so much joy.

Now life goes on, but I know Dan will do wonders for all of us in Heaven. I’m sure he arranged yesterday that Grant got a contract on one of his houses for asking price. Let’s all write down the things he’s doing for us from Heaven. It’s nice to have a direct line.

I love you, honey, and all of the rest do, to.

DANIEL JOSEPH CASHIN, 74, of Tucker, GA, died on March 21, 2008. He was born on October 25, 1933 in Augusta, GA the son of the late Edward Joseph Cashin and Margaret O’Leary Cashin. Survivors include his wife, Julie Grant Cashin and their four children and nine grandchildren. These include, Jeb and Kathy Cashin of Snellville, Georgia, and their four children Nicole, Danny, Kelly, and Mary Claire; Carol and Bob Ettensohn of Lakeland, FL, and their three children, Eric, David, and Andrew; Ted Cashin of Avondale Estates, GA; and Grant and Jami Cashin of Athens, GA, and their two children Fiona and Michael. Preceding him in death is his elder brother Edward. Surviving are his brothers and sisters Margie Fogarty of Savannah, GA, and Kay Nohe, Bob Cashin, and Eleanor Johann, all of Augusta, Georgia.

He was a devout Catholic and for the past 21 years a member of the Holy Cross Parish in Tucker where he served as a Stephen Minister, a Eucharistic Minister to the Homebound, an Adoration Guardian and a leader in RCIA. He was also a member of the Finance Council. Previously he was an active member of Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Dan graduated from the University of Georgia in 1955. He gave his college ring to his granddaughter, Nicole, when she graduated from UGA 50 years later in 2005. This famous ring was lost for over 25 years until mysteriously found on a lake beach in Oklahoma. From 1955 to 1957, he served in the U.S. Navy as a Lt. JG on the aircraft carrier USS Bennington.

He began his professional career as a CPA with Ernst & Ernst, eventually becoming the Chief Financial Officer of Vintage Enterprises. He semi-retired starting his own accounting consultancy after earning his Executive MBA from Georgia State in 1990. He served Father Ho Lung and the Missionaries of the Poor including working directly with the poor in the slums of Jamaica. He also volunteered with Good Shepherd Services and the Crisis Pregnancy Center. He fully retired in 1999, devoting more time to his volunteer efforts, family, church, and golf game.

He died suddenly on a beautiful Good Friday shortly after a round of golf, beating his sons Grant and Jeb. The funeral Mass will be celebrated by Msgr. Paul Fogarty and Father Patrick Kingery at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Chamblee-Tucker Road, Monday, March 24, at 11 a.m. Visitation with the family will be Sunday from 5 – 6 p.m. followed by a Rosary led by Deacon Cece Reimer at Lowndes & McClane Funeral Home in Tucker, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to St. Martin de Porres Food Ministry at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Lowndes & McLane Funeral Home, 770.491.3021.

Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 3/23/2008.

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After the parade, the C—–s headed over for a party at the “tent” on Reynolds Street. Dad had not eaten lunch, but had 3 tiny cucumber sandwiches with a beer – no water! As he started the 2nd beer, he got dizzy and he got in a golf cart provided by the security to sit down. He leaned over and Patricia Scroggins (an emergency room nurse and the daughter of Jane Eubanks) was holding his feet so he could stretch out more. Then, according to Kay and Bob, he fainted. He was only out for a minute, but it was scarry enough that Bob called 911 and got an ambulance (Glad Cross Ambulance Service) and off he went to the emergency room at University Hospital. They arrived about 5:00 p.m. Kay was riding in the front seat of the ambulance and Shannon McClleon, an EMT, rode in the back with him and kept him entertained. It turned out that she is a good friend of Kelly & John C—–. (This is Augusta for you). Dad said that those security people are just sitting around hoping for an emergency or that someone will die or something to add to the excitement.

A cardiologist by the name of Dr. Utze (sounds like ooots) wanted Dad to have a stress test and some other tests so she wanted him to stay over night. I was not in Augusta because I was scheduled to usher at the Symphony Friday night. Nobody called to tell me that my dear husband was in the emergency room! [Note: Mom did not have her cell phone because Dad had it. –Ed.] They all blamed it on Dad who they said told them not to call me until they knew the status of whether he was going to spend the night.

When I got home from the Symphony about 10:45, I was surprised he was not home, yet. I listened to the messages on the answering machine and he had called about 9 p.m. to tell me where he was. I called Kay but she did not answer, then I called Carol, and decided I would just try to call him on the cell phone. He answered. Kay had just left the hospital, having never left his side since all of this began. She called me back when she got home and filled me in on all of the details.

The next morning, Dad was waiting for the stress test and had no idea what time he would have it. Mary Ann called and said son Ed would be glad to pick me up and take me to Augusta because he was coming down to get her, anyhow. Jeb and Ted had both offered to take me down, but this saved them the trouble. So, I packed suitcases for both Dad and me in case we needed to stay over night again.

I got there about 1:45 and Kay and Eleanor were both there in the room, but Dad was down having tests. He returned to the room about 2:30. Soon, Bob and Karine came in. Then, the nurse came back and collected him again to take him for more tests. The Saturday Cardiologist, Dr. Peter J. Bigham, came in and said he did not know how long he would have to stay in the hospital. Apparently, the doctor wanted to compare his vital signs on Saturday with the ambulance records of Friday, but they were lost in the computer world somewhere and could not be retrieved until Monday.

Bless Kay’s heart, she had been there all day and finally left about 4:00 p.m. Right after that, the doctor came back and told us that his heart seemed strong, no signs of a heart attack other damage, but that it was a puzzle he would like to solve as to why he fainted. He thought it would be best to discharge him from the hospital and let him get back to Atlanta to his doctors who have his history. That was a relief. We both wanted to go home. By the time they got him ready to check out, we had a call from Kathleen saying that we had better watch the weather station because there were tornados along I-20. We looked and sure enuf! So, Mary Ann invited us to come to her house to spend the night.

We checked out of the hospital at 5:30 and went to Mary Ann’s. Had cocktails with her and Ed (who had a coke). Ed and Mary Ann left to go out to dinner, and while they were gone, the weather seemed to have cleared up, so we decided to go on home. Left there at 8:00 p.m. and got home at 10:10. Glad to be back in our nest!

I can’t begin to say how much friends and family mean at times like this. I just want to jot down all of the visitors to the hospital and telephone calls from people who were concerned about Dad.

Visitors – Kay, Bob, Kathleen, John, Kelly, Jake, Eleanor, Karine, Ed, Mary Ann.

Telephone calls – Carol (many times), Grant (first caller to Dad in his room on Saturday morning), Margie, Jeb, Dot Armstrong, Billy Fair, Ferris Doyle, Claire Schweers, Jane Eubanks, Patricia Scroggins, Buddy Frank Thompson (used to be Buddy, but now he wants to be called Frank since he’s been so sick).

Kay was such a wonderful caretaker. She said she went to bed at 8:00 p.m. Saturday night because she felt like a cell phone that had no bars left.

Another funny thing was when Ed was talking about his Julia Pearl C—– that Mary & he are expecting in July. He said when Mary went to the doctor, the doctor pressed on Mary’s stomach, and Julia danced on Mary’s bladder. They could see this happening by some other miraculous technical invention.

Special thanks to others who extended help before Dad got in the ambulance: Patricia Scroggins, Judd Hickey (a dentist and a Markwalter in-law), a young doctor passing by whose name we don’t know, and all of the EMT’s who helped.

Another special thanks to Kathleen who took the old Honda Accord and had it washed!!! So nice to drive home in a clean car.

Jane and Bill arrived Monday, 2/4/08, to spend a few days with us. We had a fun time with them and the weather was just gorgeous. We didn’t need sweaters and could wear shorts most of the time. Monday night we just visited and caught up and I fixed chicken corn chowder and corn bread and kumquat pie.

Tuesday, we went to Plant City to see the strawberries and to Parksdale. Parksdale is a big fruit and vegetable and plant stand where they also serve lunch and all sorts of strawberry desserts. It’s too early for the Strawberry Festival, but they still had plenty of big, beautiful strawberries. Carol went with us. We came back to the condo and had lunch, then went to Lake Mirror and Florida Southern to see the 36 beautiful bronze statues by J. Seward Johnson. They are life size and you almost have to touch them to see that they are not real.

Ash Wednesday, we started out by going to Mass at 7:30 a.m., then Dan and Bill played golf, while Jane and I went to Bok Tower. At Bok, we had a guided walking tour of the gardens, listened to the beautiful carillon concert, visited the gift shop where I bought a “Crown of Thorns” plant, and had lunch at the Carillon Cafe.

Thursday, we went to Tarpon Springs. We did not go the best way or come home the best way, but had a great time while we were there. It is a Greek town with lots of tourist shops and boats on the docks. We had lunch at Mykonos restaurant and it was delish! Lastly, we took the city trolley on a tour around the whole town. The driver was like a tour guide. We wished we had done the trolley tour first because we would have visited some of the sites he pointed out that are open to the public. We recommend a day at Tarpon Springs. Carol and Bob invited us over for dinner on the way home, and we stopped there for cocktails and dinner. They enjoyed seeing Bob (haven’t seen him since their wedding) and the boys. We even all got to meet Krista while we were there (Eric’s girlfriend).

They left Friday morning. It rained. First time all week.

Sometimes the harder we try, the harder we are hit with disappointments. I had high hopes coming to Florida for 2 months this year, and decided to offer a beginner’s calligraphy class for 6 weeks. It was suppose to be at the Kelly Recreation Center here in Lakeland. Well, the class did not make I am sorry to say. I’m mainly sorry because I love the art and want to share my knowledge of it, but also I worked many hours to prepare and brought tons of supplies and ordered a box full for student’s to use. It was suppose to start today. That was the first disappointment.

The second disappointment was that I contacted the Lakeland Library way back in September or October and offered to do a free demonstration in honor of National Handwriting Day (January 23rd – John Hancock’s birthday). When I met with the person in charge of programs after I arrived here, I was very impressed with her ideas and organizational skills. She wanted me to write a press release, bring any of my work to display at the library, design a flyer for her to duplicate and spread around, and prepare a talk about the history of lettering. I, of course, complied with her requests and that accounted for several hours and trips. Carol had 3 of my pieces framed in her house, so she let me take those to the library.

Bottom line – when I went yesterday to do the demonstration, I discovered that she had never displayed my work, never duplicated the flyer, never notified the newspaper, and after I arrived, she had somebody make a sign to put at the front door. The room for the demonstration was separate of the library. It took me about 30 minutes to set up. She invited those in the library (over the intercom) about 15 minutes before it was to start. Well, only four people came. I had prepared 50 bookmarks to letter for children and used very few. None of the four were children.

I’m not inviting anyone to my pity party. I have so much to be thankful for. Dad went with me and is so supportive of all of my “crazy” ideas. We went out to dinner afterwards and he still thinks I am the most wonderful person in the world. How nice is that? AND, I am going to get to usher (with Patsy the Baptist) at the Gaither Concert in Tampa tomorrow night. Yea!

Carol came down and we left here about 8:35 to go to Tallahassee. It’s 300 miles. We went to Gail’s house and changed clothes and then went to the cemetery. The service was at 3 p.m. and we got there about 2:35. Surprisingly to me, there were programs – with the Our Father on the left side and “In Loving Memory of Marie Lucille Howard Tener, date of birth, date of death, time and place of service, then Presiding Julie Cashin”. Well I didn’t know I was the presider, but it worked out o.k. I had my talk all ready and it was to last about 7 minutes. Dad had a scripture reading and reflection ready and his lasted about 3 or 4 minutes, and I found out after I got there that Diane (Marie’s niece) was going to read a poem at the end. Dad was also one of 6 pall bearers. Carol sat with Bob’s brother’s daughter and her husband from Ocala.

So, being the presider, I decided that I needed to welcome everybody and to introduce Dad. Gail wasn’t up to saying anything or coming to the podium so I knew it would have to be me. Gail also was not going over the grave for the interment, so the funeral director decided since Gail wasn’t going, nobody should have to go. So they didn’t.

The pall bearers came in and sat on the side, then I welcomed everyone and explained who I was (since it was printed in the program), and introduced Dad. He did a really nice job with the scripture reading, spoke clearly and slowly and then added some humor to his reflection which began when Bob and Marie moved next door while we were at church and when we came home Bob was getting water out of our faucet because they had not turned on their water, yet (whoever “they” were). He said Bob was very calm and just doing what he had to do, but Marie was mad as a wet hen. But, he went on to say that was what bonded Marie and me because I sympathized with her. He said that Marie was thoughtful, generous, and caring and she couldn’t understand why “they” weren’t the same way.

After Dad finished, I went back to the podium (thank goodness there was a microphone) and mostly read my speech, but ad libbed a bit. Carol and Dad said I did a good job and Gail said that it was more than perfect, so I am pleased. I should have introduced Diane, but I didn’t. I sat down and Diane came up and read her poem about the love of gardening and it was a very beautiful poem as a tribute to Marie. That didn’t last long, though. Then the funeral director came up to the front and asked the pall bearers to help with the coffin (which was in the front with a beautiful spray of flowers on it). Two of the funeral hall workers actually rolled the coffin out the doors and the pall bearers lifted it into the hearse. Then the director invited everyone to a reception in another room. So the whole service was about 20 minutes long! The funeral director said he would like to hire us to do services because some of them last so long.

There was plenty of food at the reception. That was good since Dad, Carol and I had not eaten lunch. There were ham and biscuits, fruit, vegetable and cheese trays, nuts and chips and chex mix, a ton of desserts, iced tea and coffee.

We left about 4:00 to head back to Lakeland. We stopped twice for gas (because the first place was so expensive so Dad just put $20 worth in), then at Cracker Barrel in Lake Wales to eat. Got back here to the condo at 9:30 p.m. It was a long day, but I’m so glad we went. I’m also thankful that Carol went with us. It’s always nice to visit with each of our children and this gave us plenty of visiting time together. Plus she drove almost all the way home and some of the way up there. She was a great support!

I read a poem at the beginning of my talk and one at the end. The first one was about Friendship and the last one was about the beauty that is left behind (that hangs in our hall bathroom at home). You know, when you put some thought and yourself into something, the one who benefits is YOU. I felt very close to Marie and enjoyed all of my memories while preparing the talk.

Continue reading In Loving Memory of Marie Lucille Howard Tener

Jeb hosted Father’s Day for the Cashin guys on Sunday. Danny was there (until he went to work as manager at the pool), and Jami, Grant, Fiona and Michael, Ted and Susan, and Grandaddy and Gramalie. We had a nice dinner. Jeb cooked hamburgers and chicken on his new grill. Fiona, Michael and Gramalie played in Jeb’s new hammock (new Father’s Day present).

The 4 “children” gave Dan a wonderful new lawn mower for Father’s Day. Thanks to Grant for picking it out and bringing it to the party.

After dinner, Jami, Julie, Fiona and Michael went to the pool. While gone, Kathy, Claire and Kelly returned home from Helen, GA where they visited with Kathy’s dad.

Thanks, Jeb, for hosting!

David graduated from Resurrection 8th grade last night at a really beautiful Mass and celebration of the graduates. The young adults were so grown up and poised and the service well orchestrated. David looked very handsome in his cap and gown. Both sets of grandparents were in attendance. Andrew also went, but Eric was working so he had to miss it.

The seventh grade parents put on a wonderful reception following the ceremony with enough food for an army. We did not stay long, though, because Carol and Bob had all of us back to their house for Bob’s famous chicken fahittas. We played many games of pool, but the best one was when Pat and I beat Patsy and Bob, Sr. Neither Pat nor I know how to play pool, so we were quite pleased, and of course, it was a quirk. However, I sunk the 8 ball. How about that?

David entertained us on his electric guitar and he is getting quite good at it. He’s taking lessons from Brice once a week and works hard in between. He’s going to be a rock star, for sure. Look out, Nicole!

Picture will be has been posted by the web site manager because after all of his instructions, I still don’t know how to do it!