More Than Just a Memory...........
You have often heard of me talk about my honorary grandparents, Warren and Erma Johnson; and how much they mean to me and still mean to me. Sometimes I can still feel his arms around me when I'm scared, or her hands brushing my hair from my face, wiping my tears away after the doctor has "hurt" me after a procedure or when I'm crying. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss them. Some days are worse than others.... like today.
Today, my parents and I went to a celebratory of life gathering for Warren and Erma's youngest son, James Kirk, who passed away on 7/27 due to complicated health issues. Apart from Warren, I adored Kirk more than ever. He was my favorite of all their children; and that's not because he "knew" Mickey Mouse. Kirk loved people and loved life. When he met you, you would instantly bond with him. He felt your pain when you were hurting and always put other's needs before his own. He was so selfless; he was so much like his Dad. We are so blessed to be part of this family's lives. Warren and Erma and the family included us in a lot of things in their lives. I remember one particular Christmas, everyone was in the house on Dogwood Circle, not too long after they moved to Waynesboro. Kirk had bought my sister and I Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for Christmas. I was probably less than 5 yrs old; He kept insisting it was from Santa; and I kept insisting there was no such character. He knew he couldn't fool me. Another thing that I remember was when I had a major surgery, I came home to a package in the mail from Kirk. It was a large (12 inch long, about 8 in diameter) Shamu from Sea World. He knew I loved watching marine life, even as a child. He even put in a gift for my sister...a little dolphin (whom she named Flipper)
In 1994, our family had our first visit to Orlando, Fla where we got to visit Kirk as well as visit Disneyworld. It was such a treat for us as Kirk was able to get us some passes to get us into the park. After that, the communications was by letters, phone, or emails. Once, Erma called us and told us that Kirk had mailed something for us; it was a MICKY T-shirt. Then, as always, life goes on, we loose touch, but that didn't mean I never stopped thinking of him. When I heard of Erma's passing last June and went to the viewing, I saw all their siblings again......and I saw Kirk and I reconnected with not just him but with a few others too. When we left the funeral parlor I gave him a hug.
I went to Disneyworld with my best friend last November with the plans to meet up with Kirk and have dinner with him; unfortunately, he was sick and had to cancel. The last time I talked to him on the phone was then...."Feel better, Kirk, I love you too....and I miss you" I still kept up with him through email; but actual phone conversation was last year, Dec 1, 2012.
So, tonight, the celebration of his life made me remember so many things about Kirk and what I love and will continue to love about him. He once told me on the phone when I was in Fla last year "if I could be half the man my father was, I'd be a better person." I told him "You were raised by great parents, and you have more compassion and love in your heart than you know." Tonight, I'm really missing Kirk a lot. I'm really missing granddaddy Warren. I'm really missing grandma Erma. There's a void left there in my heart. But they are more than just a memory to me, they will forever live in my heart.
Today, my parents and I went to a celebratory of life gathering for Warren and Erma's youngest son, James Kirk, who passed away on 7/27 due to complicated health issues. Apart from Warren, I adored Kirk more than ever. He was my favorite of all their children; and that's not because he "knew" Mickey Mouse. Kirk loved people and loved life. When he met you, you would instantly bond with him. He felt your pain when you were hurting and always put other's needs before his own. He was so selfless; he was so much like his Dad. We are so blessed to be part of this family's lives. Warren and Erma and the family included us in a lot of things in their lives. I remember one particular Christmas, everyone was in the house on Dogwood Circle, not too long after they moved to Waynesboro. Kirk had bought my sister and I Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for Christmas. I was probably less than 5 yrs old; He kept insisting it was from Santa; and I kept insisting there was no such character. He knew he couldn't fool me. Another thing that I remember was when I had a major surgery, I came home to a package in the mail from Kirk. It was a large (12 inch long, about 8 in diameter) Shamu from Sea World. He knew I loved watching marine life, even as a child. He even put in a gift for my sister...a little dolphin (whom she named Flipper)
In 1994, our family had our first visit to Orlando, Fla where we got to visit Kirk as well as visit Disneyworld. It was such a treat for us as Kirk was able to get us some passes to get us into the park. After that, the communications was by letters, phone, or emails. Once, Erma called us and told us that Kirk had mailed something for us; it was a MICKY T-shirt. Then, as always, life goes on, we loose touch, but that didn't mean I never stopped thinking of him. When I heard of Erma's passing last June and went to the viewing, I saw all their siblings again......and I saw Kirk and I reconnected with not just him but with a few others too. When we left the funeral parlor I gave him a hug.
I went to Disneyworld with my best friend last November with the plans to meet up with Kirk and have dinner with him; unfortunately, he was sick and had to cancel. The last time I talked to him on the phone was then...."Feel better, Kirk, I love you too....and I miss you" I still kept up with him through email; but actual phone conversation was last year, Dec 1, 2012.
So, tonight, the celebration of his life made me remember so many things about Kirk and what I love and will continue to love about him. He once told me on the phone when I was in Fla last year "if I could be half the man my father was, I'd be a better person." I told him "You were raised by great parents, and you have more compassion and love in your heart than you know." Tonight, I'm really missing Kirk a lot. I'm really missing granddaddy Warren. I'm really missing grandma Erma. There's a void left there in my heart. But they are more than just a memory to me, they will forever live in my heart.
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