FAMILY TIES
This morning I was going through some personal soul-searching and began thinking of my family, namely my siblings. I believe it is important to share our good feelings and appreciations while the other party is alive and mentally alert enough to receive the blessing.I thought of my sister, Carolyn, who has been a rock for her huge family and for me over the years. I thought of how she seems to be able to have a kind word and a helping hand for three generations of offspring plus siblings, in-laws, and friends and associates, never letting the hurt from those who disappoint her turn to anger and bitterness; how she always has time to listen and show genuine concern.
Then I thought of my elder brother, Edwin, and remembered the time he came to preach the funeral of our uncle, Herbert. Herbert had been the real father substitute for Ed, mentoring him as a young preacher, and being his counselor over the years. I thought of how difficult it must have been for Ed to be called to preach Herbert's funeral, and how he did it with such grace, showing strength and compassion to Herbert's wife, Elice, and the rest of the family.
I remember how Mary took up the burden of raising me on return from her honeymoon at the tender young age of 18. She may see it different, but I was 9 at the time and I think we kind of grew up together. I will always be grateful that she was willing to give up a part of her life with her new husband to provide a home for her little brother.
In spite of all our ups and downs and crazy missteps and differences along the way, we have remained a cohesive and loving family. All of you are important to my life, as was my brother, Don, who has passed to the next realm and awaits our arrival so he can show us all the stuff he has collected.
May you all have a wonderful rest of your lives, and may we never lose the tie that binds us together in Heavenly love.
dtb
posted by David Broadus at
2:14:00 PM
9 Comments:
David, Thank you for taking the time to let us know how you feel about us. We should all do more sharing while we can.
I think we are a close and loving family. And yes I think we both grew up together.
You added a lot to our lives while you were with us and as children go you an easier one to raise. I can't take a lot of credit for it because our folks had a lot to do with it in your early training. Herbert and Elise did a lot and I just tried to apply what I thought mother and daddy would have done. Of course it was from my viewpoint of how they did things. Of course we can't forget Bertha's part in all our lives. She tried her best to do what mother would have wanted her to do. She especially tried to keep us together.
Ed, you have been our solid rock all these years. I know that has not always been easy but I want you to know that I have always looked up to you.
Susie, you are the kind of sister that everyone would want. There for a few years growing up I wasn't so sure we would grow close but then we grew up and found out we could be friends. There are times when it would be better if you didn't follow in my footsteps. As you have often said whatever happens to me it happens to you a couple of years later. I will try to straighten up my life so you will have better things to follow up on from now on.
For Don, pesky as he could be at times I miss him a lot. We were growing closer with him nearby in Austin and I felt lost with him gone. So many things happen and I think of him and how he would have liked or disliked it.
Yes, we do have a great family and we can thank our parents for teaching us how to love.
Love you all.
Mary
For some reason, my earlier comment did not show up--maybe I never made it. Anyway, that was a very kind and sweet post, David, and it brought tears to my eyes.
I may write more later, but I don't trust myself at midnight.
Love you all.
Susie
Just for the record--that is an OLD picture. It was taken at Topeka at one of Herbert and Elice's anniversaries--was it the 50th, which would have been in 1986? I believe so. So add 22 years worth of morph to all these folks and you can see what we all look like now.
I would rather be remembered the way we looked then.
Susie, you emailed a reply to me saying what you said here. The picture was taken at Herbert and Elice's 50th wedding anniversary in Topeka.
That was the trip where I picked up Thoral, drove to Marshall and got you and Don, and we went merrily on our way with Thoral and Don fighting over who got the most time in the front seat.
We stopped to see Ed and Frances on the way. Edgar was thrilled to see Thoral—acted like they were long lost buddies. The things we were never told could fill a book.
As Niles said to Frasier: "We're an odd little family, aren't we?"
Thanks, David, Mary, and Susie, for these touching comments. I'm glad for the closeness we all feel and share now that we are aging, and for the last 35 years or so we have been able to see one another a lot more often than during the years before that when most of us were marrying and bringing children into the world. Email and cheap phone calls are also a big help these days.
Thanks, David, for posting a picture that is more than 20 years old. I'm glad it wasn't the one taken a couple of years ago at Jefferson.
Your comments, Mary and David, were very touching, and the ones about me are more than I deserve. I can say "Amen" to what each of you said about the other siblings.
I like the way all of you have hung in there during the ups and downs in your lives. Somehow someone in our family instilled a lot of optimism in each of us. Maybe not as much as Don had (didn't Jean say he was the most optimistic person she ever knew?), but still a very healthy dose.
There is a lot more that could and probably could be said, but the main thing is that we all love and appreciate one another, probably now more than ever.
Ed
It would have to be an old picture. Mary and I are at least 100 pounds lighter.
I could post the Jefferson picture below it to show what 20 years has done, but Ed says he is happy I did not and I don't like the way I look either, so let's remember how it was.
I am the straggler here in this last round of posts, so I will add my two cents worth.
What I appreciate:
David, for your generosity and caring, and occasional nudges in philosophical and spiritual areas, and for openly sharing your attitudes and beliefs. In the material area, you have shared much of your abundance with us and with members of my "huge family". It is huge.
Mary: You have a caring and optimistic spirit, also. I appreciate the hospitality all those times I or we stayed at Dove Creek Inn. You have also listened, even when you probably would rather not have. I admire your tenacity in living by your beliefs, and for perseverance in difficult situations.
Ed: As David said, you have been the steady influence. I thank you for sharing your convictions, and even more, for being able to see that you have lived by those. I thank you for the example and the guidance over my lifetime, especially in the early years, but you are also a wonderful example of integrity as we all age. I also appreciate your willingness to help, wherever you are. I have thanked you this before, hopefully several times, but the gift of piano lessons has enriched my life greatly.
I miss Don, also. We had planned to work on the stuff in the store when he came back from his trip to Oregon with Kelly, and I always enjoyed that, because he was a great worker and pleasant company. Alas, that was not to be, and on that note I will quit--also because the lighning is making me think I should turn this computer off.
Such lovely tributes. Thanks for sharing them with an 'only child'. Considering the devastating tragedies you went though in childhood, I'm constantly amazed, as I get to know you all better, what rich,fulfilling lives you've all built for yourselves. Truly remarkable and heartwarming. Love, Betty
I hope that when Samantha, Paul and I are matured we can share sentiments such as these to one another! It made me cry!
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