November 22nd.
November 22nd.
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| Wayne Wesley Webb Kostoryz Elementary |
One year later, at about this time in the morning, I could hear my mother's cries...finding my father with no heartbeat in the dining room of our home...the home they had bought after almost 30 years of his Navy career...retirement to a beach town, stables for our horses in the rear, no more moving around. I remember most calling Margie McBride to tell her to come quick, something was wrong with my Daddy. And then I remember the day of the funeral, my little brother in his baby bed in the big bedroom, me on my mom and dad's bed...and Wayne was playing and laughing. My aunt Lora Mae (Dad's sister) came in to tell him to be quiet. No laughing. And my mom came in and told her..."This is their home, leave them alone...they are just little children." And then she picked him up and sat on the bed with us and told us she loved us and then we tickled Wayne until he was screaming with laughter. And then she just held us close. I remember sitting by her when she was handed the flag, folded with such care and precision, by the military guard by my dad's casket that day. All those days are such a blur, I wish I was one of those people who can remember every detail of their lives...my memories come to me in the early mornings, I wake up and find them on the bed waiting for me. On and off.
The day my brother turned 10 years old...I was sitting in Mr Harbin's English class at Carroll High School, about the 3rd desk back from the front, first row by the door, when the PA system came on to tell us that President John Fitzgerald Kennedy had been assassinated in Dallas. We all just kinda gasped as one...and then my thought was "NOT today! It's Wayne's birthday!"....I remember watching Caroline Kennedy and her brother, and thinking that I knew exactly how she felt, even tho our lives were very different, we both lost our hero at a young age, and we both had little brothers to help raise.
Looking back I can see how these horrific anniversaries, on the day he should always celebrate, has affected my little brother over the years...we're no longer close, but I watched him as we grew up and know how hard it was for him and for my mother to get through that day each year. But she did it..he had his birthday parties, not always on the exact day, but always celebrated. God bless her.
Happy Birthday, Wayne Wesley! I'm so glad you were born! And that I had someone to share those days with...the happy ones , the sad ones...May all the rest of your days be happy!
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