Life goes on
story by Breanna Gaddie
He sits alone in a spacious, 4-bedroom home where little has been moved in two years. He sips iced tea while reading his monthly investment report as his bi-weekly housekeeper mops the kitchen floor.
Al Hough, 79, is legally blind and depends a lot on others since Janet, his wife of 50 years, passed away while they were on vacation Mexico.
“It was the most traumatic part of my life,” he said. “It was just terrible. It was like a nightmare. The week that Janet died, there were so many people in the house, and I was just oblivious.”
Since then, Al spends his time serving the community as a board member of the Murray-Calloway County Senior Citizens Center and volunteering once a week with Meals on Wheels. He enjoys talking with people wherever he goes — exchanging the latest gossip and telling tall tales.
Blindness forced Al, a retired English professor at Murray State University, to do things differently. He can’t garden, cook, clean or drive.
Al misses his wife, the traveling they did around the world and her delicious cinnamon rolls.
Now he tries to help others and stay busy “just to stay sane.”
Al Hough sits in the computer glow while working on his monthly investment report. He gets on his computer often and enjoys keeping track of his finances.
Fallen leaves on a window show the change of seasons.
Al Hough's large home is filled with memories of his late wife, Janet.
Trinkets that belonged to Al Hough's late wife, Janet, sit untouched two years after her death.
Dr. Al Hough, 79, has lived alone in his four-bedroom house since Janet, his wife of 50 years, died two years ago.
Al Hough eats breakfast at the Hungary Bear on Main Street with friends, Jo Farley, 74, left, and Connie Talent, 61.
Al Hough has been suffering from glaucoma for more than 20 years. He rubs his eyes sometimes to relieve the pain.
Al Hough plays piano in his home, which has been a lonely place since his wife Janet died. He enjoys playing hymns and other music that reminds him of her.