Do You Remember?
This blog is neither and update nor a short story, it is about memories that I have of my family, my friends, my life... the image above is a symbol of the path to those memories - Memory Lane...
A few of the greatest memories I have of my sister, is when we were in trouble! Sent to our rooms, which happened to be right next to each other.. we had been fighting only moments before but now we lay half way out of our bedrooms, playing cards! It was the best memory of my sister that I cherish above all others! Simply because, she was still in high school, I was in middle school, she talked about her graduation - what she wanted to do...
She wanted to walk down the isle in clown shoes and clown hair and nose, then do something silly and get her diploma. We laughed about it so hard we woke up our dad. He yelled at us, told us to go to bed, because it was after midnight, but we didn't really care... after he went back to bed, I snuck into her room and we played ERS card game all night long - worst part was having to go to school the next day without any sleep!
Another great memory of my family I have, is when we visited my Grandpa and Grandma Kalita. Grandpa was a wood carver, he made all sorts of cool things - including but not limited too, cabinets, chairs, trinkets, toys... - that year, we were really young, my cousin was only 3 at the time. Anyway, Grandpa allowed me and my sister to make our own wooden carvings.. of course he helped with the cutting and other important tasks. But that memory will never go away... I still have the carving put away...
Great memory of my life is when my dad said I could have puppy! My first puppy was named Buddy, but he was sick and had distemper - an incurable disease. He was put to sleep shortly after I got him. My second puppy came from a JackRussell farm out in the middle of nowhere! I didn't choose him, he chose me. His name... Rascal Perky... He was the absolute best dog in the world! I was 12/13 years old when I got him, he was so smart! I taught him all I could. From hoola hoops to opening the sliding glass back door, to walking without a leash and not running off... Rascal was the greatest! Then when I was 13 years old, Rascal saved my life. I had stopped breathing due to my tonsels being enlarged and cutting off my airways. He woke me up and did everything to make sure I was breathing. That happened twice. Twice that dog saved my life... twice over I owed him everything...
I will never forget when our other dog Lady mated with Rascal. Their first litter had seven pups! One little runt of the litter, who quickly won the heart of my mother, was kept and named Brahka. Shortly after they had pups, me and my sister had a marriage ceremony for Rascal and Lady out on the back porch in the back yard... We painted Lady's claws with nail polish, even gave her a red sash and a veil. Rascal we put a little black bowtie and a cute little cape.... The ceremony lasted about ten minutes, then we cleaned them up and let them play...
Before Rascal left my family, he mated with Brahka twice, she bore two wonderful litters, which were completely healthy pups...
Another great memory is when I got Gracie Ann, my rat terrier. She was so adorable, but she was ill and ready to give up on life - she was the runt of her litter. I nursed her to health, every morning I fed her, every night I made sure she was well taken care of, I loved on her every time I could... she was a great dog...
A funny memory is when our Doberman, Cherokee, was sleeping on the couch one night. We had ordered pizza and usually the delivery guys ring the doorbell, which Cherokee was used too hearing. But that night... the delivery guy came to the door, Cherokee, asleep on the couch nearest the door, the guy banged on the door instead of ringing the doorbell - and she jumped from her sleep straight into her attack position in half a second - it happened so fast you couldn't blink or you'd miss the actions... However, she never barked... she really never needed too. The growl that came from her was enough to scare anyone! She growled so deeply, that when dad opened the solid thick wooden front door (which had a deadbolt in it), the delivery guy was already backed up into the bushes! I'd never seen anyone turn so white in my life! It was so funny, Dad had to call Cherokee to heel, but she never took her eyes off the guy!
Well, needless to say, the word spread that anyone who delivered to our house RING THE DOORBELL! Never had a problem like that again... but I'll never forget it!
Funny memory again; I had made plans for me and my friends to go to the mall and hang out on the weekend... well - we only had two cars. about 20 people... The fact that my mother and I crammed 20 people into two cars, was hilarious... about six were in my mom's trunk (she's got a Subaru Outback), six were in my back seat, three were laying in laps in my car, four were in mom's backseat, one was sitting in her front seat. My front seat had everyone's belongings... it was quite a ride to and from the mall that day... but when we started walking around the mall, we were a HUGE group, so we had six cops following us around ALL the time! HAHAHAAAAAA!!! they still didn't catch us stealing at the time. Of course this is several years ago... I didn't steal, but my friends did.... I was just guilty by association.
Anyway, we decided to split up the group, so the six cops split up too! Hahahaaa it was so funny when one of our friends got kicked out for going up the down escalator!
But that day was quite fun and we had a ball!
Memory of Prom night will always remain with me. It was the first time I'd AGREED to wear a dress, my dad blessed me with a prom dress that was incredibly gorgeous! I still have it. I went with my friend - as friends - Amadeo. He will always be my friend. A good one too. He was there when I needed a shoulder and he even made me laugh when I was down. The night went great, there was drinking, partying, dancing, arts, pictures... it was truly wonderful to be with my friends and enjoy the moment.
The family I lost:
1997 - Grandpa Kalita; he passed into the arms of Christ in his sleep - he got his things in order the day before, but when God called his name, he left his world and entered eternity with the Living God.
1999 - Lady and Cherokee; Lady was killed by Cherokee - both dogs were nearly the same age. Lady was around 10 yrs and Cherokee about 9 yrs. After Cherokee killed Lady, she had to put down due to the taste of blood she now held.
2003-2008 - Grandma and Grandpa Kolb - my dad's adopted parents passed away (I do not recall the exact years) My Grandpa Kolb passed away when he fell in his home on some stairs. Grandma Kolb passed away because she gave up living after he passed and she lived 3 years but passed away due to a broken heart.
2010 - Grandma Flo; no relation - but she was like a grandmother to me, she was special and loved with a kind heart. She will be missed... But one day I hope God will allow me to see her again...
2013 - Brahka Freeman; the best companion my mother could have in a dog... she was the spitting image of her mother, Lady... but she had the temperment of her father Rascal. She was a smart and loving dog, always enjoying life, even when life dealt her a cruel blow in the end. For 13 years, she lived a healthy and happy life in the family, now she is with her Master Creator - God.
So many people in my life have come and gone, but memories of them have not faded yet - God forbid that I ever forget them. So many people have touched my life, helped my life blossom, even helped my faith grow. I know everyone's lost someone they loved in their lifetime, but my hope for you is that you wont let the memories of those loved ones fade into nothing.
So, even though it's hard to relive those memories, go ahead and relive them - let the tears heal the heartache, but never forget the love and cherish the time you did have with those you've lost...
I still miss my Grandpa Joe, he was such a great man... I have so few memories of him, but none of them will ever fade. Because of my Grandpa Joe, I kept believing in hope. Because of my Grandpa Joe, I will always know that God will never forsake me.
My Grandpa taught me more than anyone could ever know, although it has taken this long to sink fully into my heart and soul, I will never let it fade away. I will always...
...Remember
