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I Love You Twice
By Frank Northup
I must also share a tale if I may.
The last time I saw Dad in a normal coherent fashion was at Dee's house a year ago last September. We shared a few laughs, stories, walks, and drinks. Those days are now precious. But
the last time we spent time alone was the year before that, here in Katy.
He, Mom and I went to Galveston and had breakfast at a small cafe by the beach. We then walked along the sand just beachcombing to the silent roar of the ocean, As we all are wont to do. Dad found a large rope that had fallen from a passing ship. It had washed to shore and lay half buried in the sand. Dad struggled for an hour or so stretching it out to its full
length of fifty feet or so. It was about three inches in diameter, mind you, and quite heavy. He insisted that we take it home to Katy. You couldn't just leave this perfectly good rope laying on the beach. It was very difficult, but I finally convinced him that I could not load this big, old rope into my car, and for what purpose, anyway?
We then went to an Army Surplus store which was not just a US Army Surplus Store, but an all of the Armies of the world surplus store. They had everything imaginable from any nation imaginable. Dad finally bought either an Isreali or an East German felt hat, I don't remember which (he had looked at both). A day or two later we went to Academy and found a fishing hat that he also had to have.
Another day we went to Brazos Bend State Park and walked around where the alligators roam. We found an old cistern built from rock and brick by slaves about 150 years ago. The slaves quarters were nearby, and they used the cistern to catch rain for chilled drinking water and to keep their food cool and fresh. The Oaks were massive with Spanish moss hanging down to the ground from the limbs high above. Dad found a branch from a tree that was laying on the ground. He took it home with us and whittled on it on my patio over the next few days. When he had made it into a nice cane, he said he just needed a knob to hang onto on the end. I went and cut a couple of inches off the handle of one of my shovels, and glued it to his cane.
He had that cane and was wearing his Army Surplus hat during the accident that ultimately claimed his life. And once again I cry.
I love you twice -
Frank
Vyron Northup; In Memorium, Continue?? One Year Later
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