Saturday, January 15, 2011

My dad...

my dad was in the Air Force...
joined up at 18...
he couldn't find a job and times were hard...
so the Air Force promised him a hope in the future...
and he enlisted with the dream of staying in a full 20 years or more...
but at least 20, enough to retire from there...
but while he was stationed in Rantoul, Il...
he met my mom on a blind date...
they got married and moved into an apartment off base...
dad was a flight instructor...
he taught the new guys how to fly...
which is cool...
a lot of in class lectures and testing...
and then simulator training...
he loved what he did...
in the meantime...
mom got pregnant with my sister...
and when Kathy was born...
she had down syndrome and a hole in her heart...
in 1955 they didn't operate on that...
they just wrapped her up in as many blankets as they could find to weigh her out...
she had to weigh 5 lbs before she could be discharged...
so mom and dad could take her home for as long as she lived...
she should have died right away...
but she lived 13 months...
mom and dad had a suction machine, had to do CPR on her and so much more to keep her as long as they did...
dad even crashed the gate on base one night because a new guy who didn't know their car didn't get it up in time when they had to rush her to the base hospital...
when it came time for dad to sign up again...
Korea was about to start...
and Kathy needed them both at home around the clock...
so he let go of his dream of a career in uniform...
and right before he was discharged...
he was sent to Delaware...
the last stop before being shipped to Korea...
while he was there, mom and my grandparents moved to Ohio...
when Kathy got sick that last time...
dad went to the chaplin, who helped him get a leave, and he hitched all the way back to Ohio...
and that's where she died, and 7 years later, I was born and then my brother...
they tried and tried for another baby with no luck in 6 years...
and they thought they would never have any more children...
so I was a shock...
so I wasn't raised as an Air Force brat...
just a plain ordinary brat...
and that's all there is to that...

Rebecca's on her way to show me her pink hair!

7 comments:

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

How touching. I know they were thrilled to get you. My mom had 2 miscarriages before she had my brother after 10 yrs trying and then me later. Just like you they were so blessed to finally get a child.

LV said...

What a terrible good and also tragic life for your family. You may have been the last for a reason.

nancy said...

Oh, that is so sad. Who knew.. My dad was in the Navy. He was an electrician for the plane. This is why he wears hearing aids. DOn't buy Miracle Ears. They're ripped off... I told him to go to my specialist he would've gotten a better deal. He keep going back about every other month to get them fix. I got my hearing aids 6 yrs ago and I don't have no problem.
Hope things go well with you. We did got a lot of snow.
Nancy

Tara said...

Your parents sound like very special people. You must be so proud to have a Dad who served in the military and I think the Air Force is cool too!

Thank you for coming by to say hello and have yourself a wonderful weekend!

Vintagesouthernlife said...

I know your parents felt blessed to have you, your brother and your very special sister.Isn't it great to know that one day you will get to meet her?
Have a good Sunday,
Annette

NanaDiana said...

Can you imagine the heartache your Mom and Dad went through knowing there was nothing they could do to prolong your sister's life?

You must have been the highlight of their whole life when you were born, healthy and strong. I'm sure your Mom worried while she was pregnant hoping everything would turn out all right.

We never really know another person's heartaches do we when we meet them in passing? I always try to err on the side of kindness when I meet someone who seems angry or upset or just plain mean...because you never know the grief that may have touched their life.

Hugs- I am so blessed to have met you here, Tete...Love from your WARPED AND Wacky friend- Diana PINK HAIR? OH MY!

Donnie said...

Memories can be sweet but also painful too. Have a good day.