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They throw 'land cruise' party for woman too ill to go to sea
By Jewell Cardwell
Beacon Journal columnist
Published on Monday, Jun 09, 2008
Don't just go to church. BE the Church!
That's not just something Tony Myles, pastor of the Connection Church in Medina, is fond of saying.
Myles and his congregation are constantly looking for ways to walk the talk.
On Sunday afternoon, they invited others to walk the talk with them.
They did.
Scores of families poured out of their air-conditioned homes in Medina's Westgrove Court cul-de-sac neighborhood into the tropical heat to meet and greet. And to honor a very special couple who lives among them.
Judy and Clint Auman were the reason for the big doings, which had been in top-secret planning for weeks.
In the end, everyone — young and old alike, some members of Myles' Connection Church and some not — bunched together to embrace the much-loved Aumans and the journey they now find themselves on.
First you must hear the back story from Myles and his wife, Katie, to know what a truly awesome deed this was.
''Hey, neighbor! Many of you know Clint and Judy Auman (who live at the end our street), as well as the situation she's in these days with pancreatic and liver cancer,'' the open invitation read.
''Clint's mom passed away in December from [cancer], and he and Judy took great care of her all the way until she physically couldn't go on. They often mused about how they'd 'go on a cruise' when the care taking was over. Unfortunately, Judy got sick and that just didn't happen.
''The reason I'm writing to you is that I believe this is unacceptable. And so rather than them feel that they can't go on a cruise, let's bring a cruise to them as a surprise!''
That's exactly what Myles and the others did.
Even the little children who knew about the plans kept a quiet mouth.
The result was an unbelievable international cruise-ship — albeit landlocked —atmosphere that could rival the Love Boat on any day of the week.
The neighbors converted their driveways into ports — Italy, Mexico, Iceland, Jamaica and others — with corresponding appetizers and entertainment.
And there were games galore: shuffleboard, of course, but also basketball, corn hole, board games, face painting, Wii video games and an outdoor movie.
There also were a smoothie station and a captain's table.
Mike Edwards, a member of the Connection staff, was the DJ, sporting a knit skull cap and Bob Marley dreadlocks.
''This is just wishful thinking,'' Edwards said. ''I wanted my own hairline back.''
Edwards and others left no stone unturned when it came to the Aumans, who were removed from the scene a couple hours earlier while neighbors hurried to get everything shipshape.
Upon their re-entry, they were greeted by scores of adults and children — all decked out in tropical wear with leis around their necks — and cheers and hugs.
''Aloha, Judy!'' one woman called out.
''She's just such a special lady,'' said JoAnn Fenwick, who, like the Aumans, is a member of the Connection Church.
''She's knows how sick she is. And she's accepting it so well. She's handed it all over to God. . . . She's really one of a kind.''
Judy, 59, described herself ''in shock'' by what was unfolding for her and her husband.
''I just never knew we were loved so much,'' she said, her voice trailing off.
Judy and Clint, who met in 1999 on the Internet in a widows and widowers chat line, said there was instant chemistry. She was living in Columbus at the time.
The Aumans have been very happily married now for almost six years.
But life has been far from smooth sailing for the couple.
''His mother moved in with us on Sept. 16 after being diagnosed with cancer of the colon and lungs. She died Dec. 16,'' Judy said.
''Four weeks later, Clint's first wife — the mother of his daughter — died.
''One week later, Clint had a heart attack and surgeons put in two stents.
''Four weeks after that, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic and liver cancer,'' she said.
She's lost 54 pounds and has trouble eating. Even so, Judy Auman is as positive a person as you would ever meet.
She's become an inspiration to all who know her.
Local restaurants rallied to donate food to the cause. And American Greetings provided lots of paper products, including a large background board painted by in-house artists.
''I'm just stunned,'' Clint Auman kept saying. ''Thank you! I love you all.''
As if all the work and love that went into planning this land cruise for the Aumans wasn't enough, their church and neighbors presented them with yet another gift: a trip on Cleveland's Nautica Queen cruise-dining ship, including limousine ride there and back.
As children frolicked and older neighbors got to know each other better, it seemed so perfect that DJ Edwards was playing one of Judy Auman's favorite songs — I Wanna Know What Love Is by Foreigner.
I wanna know what love is
I want you to know me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
And show her they did.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
Get the full article here.
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