Post by Juana Cookie on Jul 9, 2006 11:21:01 GMT -5
Last December, my brother-in-law, Rick, escaped the prison of his body, and went to fly with the angels. I wrote this, the day after his death.
Right from the beginning, Rick was different. It was not unusual for him to pick up the phone, and call me, at any hour, day or night. A lot of times we would talk for a half-hour or more, and then, casually, he'd ask "would you like to speak to your sister?" Up until that moment, Brandy would have NO IDEA of who he was talking to. In the later years, after he was diagnosed with cancer, he would call, often when she wasn't home, just to talk to me about chemo, his fears, or if he needed a laugh. We shared those things that only those of us destined for long-term medical care, can understand. He was never "just" a brother-in-law. He was a brother. And a friend.
Brandy always said that Rick and I were each other's "playmates". We loved to tease each other, and swap insults. Rick had a demented sense of humor, and would go to no ends, to pull off the perfect prank. On my 40th birthday, he called every florist in my town, until he finally found one that would make the arrangement that he wanted delivered to me. A black vase, a black bow, florist sticks with 2-3 prunes on the end of each one (to look like a bud), arranged with dead foliage! Yes, that's right...he sent me a lovely bouquet of dried PRUNES! That was the day he "claimed" his nickname. When I called to "thank" him, and he answered the phone, I said "You're an evil, little troll, aren't you?" He proudly signed all correspondence as "Evil Little Troll", from that day on. I even had a t-shirt made up for him, that said "EVIL LITTLE TROLL" on it. I was going to give it to him, for Christmas.
When Brandy was pregnant with their only daughter, Joy-Lynn, he was the one that asked me if I minded, if they named her that (Joy-Lynn had been my "birth name", my adopted parents changed it to Josie-Lynn). And when Joy-Lynn was born, Rick was the one that called and told me that I had a namesake.
I could sit here, for hours, in front of this computer screen, and not even scratch the surface of the funny, warm person, that he was. Of how he cared for his family. How he loved his country, and proudly served as a member of the United States Army for 30 years. How he opened his heart and his home to everyone. Of the memories that he created and shared with those of us who loved him. Of the emptiness we felt from the moment his soul exited this plane of consciousness, and moved on to the next part of his journey.
I know that he is at peace now. That pain no longer consumes his existence. I try to let that temper the loss that I am feeling. Yesterday the numbness and the shock took the front seat. Today the memories are taking over.
Thank you, Rick, for making those memories. Thank you for your kindness, your friendship, for the 25 years that we were "family". I was blessed to have known you, and to have been part of your "inner circle". I will love you, and miss you forever. Until we meet again, on the other side, safe journey, dear friend!
Right from the beginning, Rick was different. It was not unusual for him to pick up the phone, and call me, at any hour, day or night. A lot of times we would talk for a half-hour or more, and then, casually, he'd ask "would you like to speak to your sister?" Up until that moment, Brandy would have NO IDEA of who he was talking to. In the later years, after he was diagnosed with cancer, he would call, often when she wasn't home, just to talk to me about chemo, his fears, or if he needed a laugh. We shared those things that only those of us destined for long-term medical care, can understand. He was never "just" a brother-in-law. He was a brother. And a friend.
Brandy always said that Rick and I were each other's "playmates". We loved to tease each other, and swap insults. Rick had a demented sense of humor, and would go to no ends, to pull off the perfect prank. On my 40th birthday, he called every florist in my town, until he finally found one that would make the arrangement that he wanted delivered to me. A black vase, a black bow, florist sticks with 2-3 prunes on the end of each one (to look like a bud), arranged with dead foliage! Yes, that's right...he sent me a lovely bouquet of dried PRUNES! That was the day he "claimed" his nickname. When I called to "thank" him, and he answered the phone, I said "You're an evil, little troll, aren't you?" He proudly signed all correspondence as "Evil Little Troll", from that day on. I even had a t-shirt made up for him, that said "EVIL LITTLE TROLL" on it. I was going to give it to him, for Christmas.
When Brandy was pregnant with their only daughter, Joy-Lynn, he was the one that asked me if I minded, if they named her that (Joy-Lynn had been my "birth name", my adopted parents changed it to Josie-Lynn). And when Joy-Lynn was born, Rick was the one that called and told me that I had a namesake.
I could sit here, for hours, in front of this computer screen, and not even scratch the surface of the funny, warm person, that he was. Of how he cared for his family. How he loved his country, and proudly served as a member of the United States Army for 30 years. How he opened his heart and his home to everyone. Of the memories that he created and shared with those of us who loved him. Of the emptiness we felt from the moment his soul exited this plane of consciousness, and moved on to the next part of his journey.
I know that he is at peace now. That pain no longer consumes his existence. I try to let that temper the loss that I am feeling. Yesterday the numbness and the shock took the front seat. Today the memories are taking over.
Thank you, Rick, for making those memories. Thank you for your kindness, your friendship, for the 25 years that we were "family". I was blessed to have known you, and to have been part of your "inner circle". I will love you, and miss you forever. Until we meet again, on the other side, safe journey, dear friend!