Thursday, March 09, 2006

Bittersweet

Here's a Hip-hip-Hooray! My mother is en route to visit us! "Memmem is coming", says my little guy. This has always been a difficult week for my family since we lost my youngest brother in an automobile accident three years ago this week. We trust that he's with the Lord, yet we miss him here with us.
Tim was 24 years old and the only occupant of the vehicle, his infamous yellow mustang. He was single and still living at home with my parents. In fact, he was putting the finishing touches on the room he renovated incorporating my old bedroom into his. He knocked down my bedroom wall, closed up my doorway and proceeded to paint the whole thing six coats of red. He then filled it up with the lushest carpet I have ever walked on, three pieces of black leather furniture, one queen-sized bed and a huge home entertainment system. It was his lounge pad. Now my husband and I get to enjoy it when we are home visiting my parents.
He knew that he was going be an uncle, two times over actually as both my sister-in-law and I were due later in the spring. I often wish he could be here to see the boys. He would have laughed himself silly over their antics. We chose to remember him by giving our son the middle name of Timothy. Now his picture hangs inside my armoire and my son is learning who his uncle was.

7 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:29 PM

    Hey Heather,

    Thanks for the write-up on Tim. I hope the week goes well despite the sad memories associated with it.

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  2. Thanks Joel.
    The week is going to end well, I predict, with it being my birthday on Friday and all. :)
    It's not too late to wire money to me!

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  3. Friday, eh? Happy Birthday to you then!

    Praying for you during this week of poignant memories.

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  4. Happy Birthday to you today! Thank you for telling us about your brother.

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  5. Thanks to all for the birhday greetings and for your concern over our loss.

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  6. Anonymous9:48 AM

    Thinking of you, Heather. I've really enjoyed reading the write-ups and seeing the pictures of Tim.

    Love,
    Julie

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  7. Lindsey3:37 PM

    Heather,

    I stop by Tim’s resting place in Neffs occasionally. When I’m having a particularly difficult day I find myself heading in his direction as if almost by magnetic force. I’ll sit, say hello, tell him that I miss him and wonder what he would be doing today. Smiling that magic smile, I’m sure. I put his name in a google search just now, I’m not entirely sure why but I was thinking about him and wondering if a photo of him would show in the results, your blog (and a photo of his smiling face!) was in the results and led me to this lovely article of your brother. I knew him for several years (I am the younger sister of Ben’s ex-wife, Courtney) and some of my favorite memories of my teenage years are with your brother. Playing laser tag, going to diners late at night (Because what else do kids do at that age!) and the time he took me and all my friends to Musikfest because we weren’t yet old enough to drive. Do you know how many teenagers fit in the back of that yellow Mustang? I do!

    I’ll always remember the last time I saw Tim, his yellow Mustang fading into the horizon down the road…if I knew then, what I know now I would have never let him leave. He was a one-of-a-kind man and I’m thankful every day that I was able to call him my friend.

    All the best to you and your family during the holiday season. I’m sure it never gets any easier as the years go by.

    Lindsey Geores (Ratz)

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