My favorite memories are my family's summers in Florida. We would visit my Aunt Frances & Uncle Everett in Fort Lauderdale, and my Grandparents in Lady Lake. Also in Lady Lake were my Aunt Ruth, Uncle Pete and cousins, Herby & Bud.

Being with Herby and Bud so much was like having two more brothers. And Herby was my "Knight in shining armor" ... my hero and my favorite person of all. He had an almost James Dean quality about him that made him irresistable.

I followed him everywhere -- to the point of sitting on the floor outside the bathroom door waiting for him to come out! To his credit, I don't remember him ever acting the least bit annoyed, even though this little seven year old "shadow" had to be a nuissance to a young man in his twenties!

I also loved playing with his English Springer Spaniel, Penny ... Herby's Lucky Penny. She was the sweetest dog, and so gentle.

The Family in Papaw & Mamaw's side yard in Lady Lake:
Aunt Frances, my brother Gary, Uncle Pete, Mamaw, (my Dad), Papaw, Herby, Aunt Ruth
Mom, my cousin Bishop, Aunt Kay, me & Linda

Herby was a sportsman, and loved to fish and hunt. He worked with his Dad (Uncle Pete), and when they weren't working, they were most likely out fishing. He and Papaw also spent a lot of time out on the area lakes and as a result, we had many wonderful fish dinners at Aunt Ruth's!

With his Dad (Uncle Pete)

Although we lost him so terribly young (in a driving accident at age twenty-six), I have many, many memories. One of my favorites is how he used to take me to the old Lady Lake school yard to push me on the swings. He'd tell me scary stories about how the playground was really "haunted" and that the well was full of blood instead of water. I now know that he was really just trying to scare me to keep me away from the playground and the well because there were snakes (rattlers and coral snakes) there, and he didn't want me wandering over there without him.

Herby was the first loss in our family. Up until that point, we had never experienced the loss of a sibling, a parent or even a grandparent. So for those of us who had spent every summer of our lives with Aunt Ruth's family, it was a devestating blow. I think that's the reason why our family has always been affection ... hugging each other every time we met or again when it's time to leave. Even those we see often. We're just so afraid of losing someone else we love so much.

And even though I was only seven years old when Herby was killed, I can still remember things he said to me, word for word. I still remember the phone call Papaw made to my Mom, telling her that Herby was gone, and that we should get to Aunt Ruth's as quickly as possible. But it's not so much about his death that I remember ... but rather his life and how much I loved him then and love him still. To this day, he remains a favorite cousin who lives in my heart forever.

Herby with his brother, Bud

Sitting on the hood of his car in his parents yard

   
Herby with me, and the two of us with my brother & sister (Gary & Linda)

my brother Gary, Mom (Lucille), me, Herby & Aunt Ruth