On
February 14 1955 my Mother received the most special Valentines gift she could
have ever imagined, my brother Douglas. Or as we called him growing up, Dougie.
 |
| Douglas still surfing the waves in Del Mar |
However,
for the last six years Valentines Day has been a day of mixed emotions for all
of my family and Brice. I have two sisters and one brother; we lost our brother
in a tragic accident in 2009.
This year
on February 14, 2015 my brother would have been 59 years young. My mother
always thought that is was an odd twist of fate that her only son was born on
Valentines Day. Of course
Douglas
loved all the attention!
I am
writing about this today for all of you who have mixed emotions about a day
that is suppose to celebrate love. If you have lost someone, are happily single
or just waiting for your perfect “someone” and feel left out on Valentines Day you
might like to know that Valentines Day origins date back to the High Middle
Ages, “The Feast of
Saint Valentine” and a religious day of celebration for some. I like the feasting part and chocolates, also fun day for children and a day on the
calendar promoted by companies to boost their profits. The up side is that many
small businesses that need the infusion of cash get a little boost this time of
year and who
doesn’t love chocolates and gifts professing eternal love!
Having
said that, in this 24/7 world that we live in maybe some of us need a special
day to slow down, turn off the mobile phone, yes these devices do have an off
switch, and make your own special memories.
I was
really fortunate and spoke to my brother only days before he left us and I hold
that conversation close to my heart and it helps to soothe my soul. We both
shared a love for cooking, dancing, also DWTS and laughing any chance we had.
As I sit here in front of my laptop with the curser key blinking away at me, I know that I am still not ready to publish all the details of my brother’s death. Have no doubt that my journal is filled with tear stained pages, coherent and some not so coherent thoughts and feelings. In addition to pages filled with memories of life with my brother jotted down like a mad women, so afraid I would forget a memory, and I am still writing them down as they pop into my head.
I know,
not a really happy subject for Valentines Day, but the truth is that we all
have loved ones we miss so I will sign off with a fun memory.
Setting; DelMar, California, Del Mar Fair parking lot the summer of 1976, Douglas is
driving our van, I am co-driver and we are trying to find a quick way out of
the parking lot as the hoards of fair goers are exiting as well. Traffic is
backing up and we need to get home before our curfew and no big surprise we are
cutting it close.
The back
exit we wanted to use is blocked with a saw horse; Douglas stopped the van,
glanced over at me and says “Ok time to pull a Lucy and Ethel”. I am thinking
oh no what does he have in mind. I quickly found out when he instructed me to
jump out, move the saw horse and he would drive the van through.
We looked
around, everyone was heading in the other direction, and it did not appear that
anyone or the local sheriff was paying attention to us so I did as requested by Douglas.
After all
this wasn’t a major traffic violation, just a couple of saw horses blocking our
way home right? Douglas and I made it home laughing all the way within minutes
of our curfew with our driving privileges in tack. More sun, surf and good times
awaited...
I believe now
more than ever before that every day we should make sure that those we love
have no doubt about our love for them. As for today I am spending Valentines
Day with our Princess Brenda, her hubby Nate our Grandbabies Avery and Beckett,
best Valentines Ever!
Happy V
Day everyone and hold all those great memories close to your heart!
Go eat
some candy, hug a friend, laugh out loud and enjoy every day…
Hugs, Kary
What are your thoughts about Valentines’ Day?
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