Humans of Cleveland — Lee Clarion

When we passed J.D. Chapman on the Greenway this past Friday, we almost didn't stop to talk to him. An elderly gentleman strolling in the park by himself, he seemed content to be alone and we didn't want to interrupt his afternoon. Luckily, however, we did.

"My wife died on May the thirteenth'she was 90 years old. They planted this tree [for her] and we're going to bring the grandkids and great grandkids down every year and take their picture with it. She traded her 90 year old worn out body for a brand new one that'll last forever. Now that's a good trade, isn't it? I'm going to make that trade pretty soon, and then I'll get to see her again."

"How did you meet her?"

"When I was just a little boy, in grammar school. We dated for about six years and then got married when I was 20, when I came back from Iwo Jima. I fought in Iwo Jima during World War II and came home for ten days of leave'then we went to Dalton, Georgia and got married, and then I had of course to go back to the service. We were married for almost 70 years when she died."

"How long were you in Iwo Jima for?"

"I was there for the entire operation, which was only about three weeks. But I was there for both of the battles that happened there."

"What was it like?"

"Not much fun. A lot of people died. I was in the Navy, and we saw a lot of marines and soldiers dead in the water, and we would bring the guys who were wounded or dying onto my ship. It was pretty rough, but we lived through it. The Lord has been good to us. I told my wife that when I went to the Navy I learned how to swear like a sailor, drink like a fish, smoke like a chimney, and gamble like a fool."

"You know, this is actually the first time I've been down here since they planted the tree [for her]...I wasn't sure if it was planted yet but I wanted to come to see how it looked. Isn't it nice?"

"It's beautiful."

"She was a precious lady. Just beautiful and wonderful, and she got saved when she was twelve and lived it for 78 years. And she never spoke ill of anybody. Never smoked, never drank'just a wonderful Christian lady. I know where she is. I don't have to worry about that."

"Do you have have a favorite memory of her?"

"Well I can't say a favorite one but ... well, I guess, let me just tell you what the Lord did after she died. About two weeks after she died I was home by myself, and I don't ever take a nap in the afternoon but that day I laid down and went to sleep, and I had a dream. I dreamed that we were traveling and she was behind me, and I'm looking out the window of the hotel and the kids are with us, and I heard [her] say behind me 'I can't find my glasses'. She was getting Alzheimer's, so every time she would take her glasses of she would lose them, and she says again 'I've lost my glasses', so I turn around and there she stood, the most beautiful woman in the whole world. I mean just absolutely gorgeous, just shining. And I reached out to take her in my arms and she just disappeared. Then I woke up and I didn't know whether to cry or shout or what to do, so I just did it all at once and got it over with. I don't shed a lot of tears now because I know where she is, and the Lord's taking care of her and he's taking care of me, and I don't need to cry and weep [anymore]."