March 29, 2022
Holly Deyo
standeyo.com


As a kid, had no siblings. Always wanted an older brother. You realize that when you're already 'hatched' that's not going to happen. I had wonderful parents. My dad taught me a lot of sports, which prior, I was pretty unskilled. He also taught me practicality and blackjack, walking on stilts, baseball, football. He also gave me my first hammer, nails and scrap wood to 'build' things. My mom, an artist, taught me to enjoy life, cook and look at the bright side. Her parents had a mercantile back in the day. She taught me to always have provisions at home. Be prepared for whatever. It was the best of both worlds.

As you can imagine, I was loved on a lot being an only kid, but not a brat. There were assigned chores. You pulled your weight. Often on Saturdays when neighborhood kids were playing, I had to pull weeds or paint the house. NO slackers in this household.

Then things change with age and your parents are now your best friends. They stayed together for life until Dad passed in 1984. They married in June 1942. He shipped out within days and didn't see each other literally for 4 years, NOT once, during WW2. I still have their love letters, but can't bring myself to read them.

Americans largely today don't understand that type of commitment. Ah, marriages don't work out. Stand up another partner.

So back to this love thing. As a kid, every night my mom and dad said, "I love you" and gave hugs and kisses. That is in my DNA to share feelings. Don't hold back. You never know when that last communication is your last.

When my dad and mom passed in '84 and '94 respectively, it was unbelievably painful because we were a small, close family. The good thing is that we never failed to say, "I love you." Didn't go to bed mad no matter what had transpired throughout the day.

This is the same with my friends, especially RayJ, who lives a couple of houses away. Their family has lost 5 people in less than a year. We spent Saturday at their home in a 'celebration of life' gathering for her mother-in-law. Betty was 90. Celebrations of life are much more pleasant than funerals. We've been to so many lately, we're getting to know all of their extended fam and friends.

When Stan and I were leaving, RayJ gave me a hug and a kiss. The kiss thing used to bug me, but I get that it's just her. So tonight, when you go to bed, tell all the people who mean the most to you, married or not, lovers and friends, neighbors or not, family or other, tell them how much they mean to you. Say "I love you". No regrets.