I had a WONDERFUL childhood...picture the old Leave-It-To-Beaver kinda stuff (without the apron and I was a girl and the Beav was a boy, obviously). But the overall premise was the same...the all-American family of 4...I had an older brother named Mike. My mom stayed home with us while my dad headed out the door to work before dawn every morning swinging his lunchbox at his side. We ate dinner as a family and Mike played baseball where we all went and watched every game. I had pigtails and a bit of an attitude. Mike was happy-go-lucky and, even then, quick with a really cheesy joke. We played for hours outside together because we lived out in the country and mostly only had each other to to play with.
***THIS IS EXACTLY HOW #3 LOOKS AT #2...SHE WORSHIPS HIM...
Mike died 9 years ago of Cystic Fibrosis at the ripe old age of 27. Funny thing about him having that disease...CF is a pretty all-consuming life-altering illness...there are treatments, pills and various other daily rituals that someone afflicted with the disease does that others do not. But, the funny thing is that it DIDN'T consume us...At least that is not MY memory. My childhood memories consisted of vacations (we took one EVERY year even if it was a long weekend somewhere because we really didn't have the money to spend on anything elaborate). It's just what my parents did...and I am so grateful. My childhood memories consist of Sunday drives...VERY LONG Sunday drives in a car that we called the "Blue Goose"...inevitably we would get lost on one of my dad's "shortcuts" and when we finally reached civilization again my parents would buy us ice cream. My childhood memories consist of going to my uncle's cabin for wood cutting weekend...where else can you get a big group of people together to do hard work and still create amazingly fun memories taking walks, playing cards and fishing. My memories consist of growing up in a happy home on 14 acres of wooded land where we would go hiking and sledding. We would bike and pick berries off of bushes and eat them right away without washing them first (gasp). My memories are of my brother who I worshipped most of the time and drove crazy all of the time. But, he handled it pretty well...he either kicked my butt or just gave in to my relentless begging and allowed me to trail along. Mike and I were 5 years apart in age and quite different in personality (he was happy and I was a brat), but we were very close. I miss him a lot.
Why am I writing this right now, at 10:58 on a Thursday night, you may be asking? Well, I am currently in my hometown for a viewing tomorrow. The viewing is for a childhood friend, Shane. Shane was the son of one of my mom's best friends (they are still best friends) and one of my brother's cronies growing up. Shane was the solidly built round-faced boy who ALWAYS included me. He never, ever made me feel left out like some (most)of the other boys did. In truth, he was probably my first "crush" (if you can call it that at 8 years old). I have a scar on my forehead from a time when he and his sister and Mike and I were climbing a "mountain" (in truth it was probably a 6 foot ledge, but we thought we were impressive). I was the last one to go...right after Shane...a rock slipped out from under his foot and cut my head. Shane felt terrible because it was his foot that loosened the rock above. He was just a super-nice kid.
I haven't seen him in years...well, I ran into him now and again when we were both home, but not had a real TALK beyond the everyday pleasantries. But, nevertheless, I am mourning his death. My heart goes out to his mother who became a widow just 4 short years ago. I feel for his friends because they lost a great one. And I feel for his sister Renee...my friend from many, many years ago who is going through a time that I remember all too well. I hope at some point I can reach out to her and help, but for now I will go to the service and pay my respects...And keep the fond memories of my childhood...of Shane and Mike and Renee...close to my heart.
No comments:
Post a Comment