I was born and raised in Utah. My father worked at Tooele Army depot there. He was what he called, "chicken shit inspector." He insured products properly handled, stored etc. Products, ammo, missiles, things of that nature.
My mother was a stay at home Mom , but helped at 1/2 price store and got paid with food.
I was married with two daughters.
My father got a chance to retire early from the depot.
Him and Mom moved to Oklahoma and Kim and I moved into their home, and was buying it from them.
My brother Frank lived next door to Kim and I, with his wife and two children.
Kim had a older brother in the United States Air Force stationed in San Antonio, Texas.
Kim and I decided we would take a trip to Texas and visit his brother , then on to Oklahoma to see my Mom and Dad.
. We planned our trip. We had just bought a 1976 Silver, Volkswagen Bug. It was so cute.
Kim had another brother Mike. He was around 7 or 8 years old, we took him with us on this trip.
We left Utah around 3 in the morning in our new little bug with our daughters Chris age 3. Jenny only 3 months and Mike , Kim's little brother.
My brother Frank came over as we were leaving and hugged me and said," Good By." I said, " bye," and all that fun leaving stuff , on the road we go. I could not figure why Frank said," Good bye, " instead of see you later or just bye. It bothered me.....
We are off. This cute little bug has no power. We are driving through the mountains in Utah and the 18 wheelers are passing us. We just have no power to go.. Very slow.. Well all in all we get to San Antonio, Texas and have a great time there. Steve and Carol, Kim's Brother and wife are wonderful. As well as Carols children. They took us to a border town in Mexico, the Zoo. Took us to a bar on Lack land Air force base ,for a night out. We could drink on base if over 18., at that time.
Well after a wonderful time there, off to Henryetta , Oklahoma, to see my Mom and Dad. When we get there I ask Mom if she has heard from Frank. She said," no" and I told her how he had said, "Good bye" when we left and I just felt uneasy about it. Well the trip was wonderful. Mom and Dad were great and Kim's brother Mike was having a ball. He had never been much of anywhere and was enjoying this trip.
This bug was a pain though and we pretty much decided it was going back and we would get a more powerful car. Drive home was good and we went to take Mike home first. When we got there is was really
strange did not feel right
Nadine, Kim's Mother took me into bedroom and broke the news to me that my brother had been shot in the heart and was dead.... WHAT!!! I remember Screaming , nooooooooo. And crying and oh this was just not happening. I have blocked out so much and retained some things. I know my cousin June showed up and was so fearful, I would hear of his death on the radio.
Praise the Lord! This did not happen..
Now I know why the" Good bye." Praise THE LORD,
I am so Thankful for this Memory and Grgreat hug we shared.
Well my world was spinning out of control .
Police had went to Mom and Dads to give them the news, Their Son has been shot and killed..
They had a dodge van and got ready to drive to Utah. The van would not work.
It drove fine, but not now. .
My Mother was always afraid of flying .
Need to be in Utah now. We shall fly.
Mom always said, "it was a higher power that made it so they would have to fly."
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