The Baby…The Boy…..The Man……The Angel
May 15th, 1965…..a baby is born….the third child and only son to a man and woman…..the man is a career criminal who is getting closer (although he doesn’t know it at the time) to being caught…tried and convicted of armed robbery of a loan company . Ironically, the heist he was finally convicted of only netted him $87 and some odd cents. (Small branch in a strip mall on a Friday night after funds had been deposited at the main branch) He will serve 7 yrs in Federal Prison for this… to be followed the next year after his release by a conviction of Theft and receiving Stolen property….after serving 7years for these crimes, he finally enters the big leagues and joins a huge racketeering ring that is involved in prostitution….stolen diamonds, gold and silver…pornography and the like. His job is to "collect on debts owed" and during one such job, he murders a family of 5 including a 4 yr old boy and sets the mansion they live in on fire to try and cover the evidence. He is caught…convicted and sentenced to life with no possibility of parole. He dies years later…alone in a cell of lung cancer…and is buried in a paupers grave because no one is left alive who cares enough spend the money to have him sent "home" for a funeral. The woman is a child of the 40’s and 50’s….her childhood was by no means perfect but she always aspired to more. Her dream was of the tall, dark and handsome husband who would provide for her and her children and to be a "perfect" wife and mother. She is duped by the man….she believes him to be a hard worker but in reality he never holds down a job the whole time they are married…he leaves the house each morning to go to work as a house painter…in reality he is involved in many petty robberies and the like and this is the money he brings home to his wife and children. After the father is caught the first time, she sells all she has and packs her children up and moves from Arlington, VA back home to her family in Smalltown, IN. Such is the life this baby is born into…..and grows into a boy….the boy is a sweet, shy child…he is sensitive and loves animals and nature….he listens at the playground to the children talk of fathers who take their sons fishing and hunting and play ball with them. He feels the lack of these things….his only male role models are an alcoholic grandfather that is dying of prostate cancer and an alcoholic uncle who comes home drunk every night…sings into a mirror with his chest puffed out with pride….apparently he is seeing a great singer….everyone else sees a drunken fool. As he grows he hears all the whispers about how he and his sisters will "never amount to anything" and have "no hope" of a normal life and the boy begins to prove them all right….he starts to drink as a young teen and to use copious amounts of drugs. He is arrested a few times for misdemeanors involving illegal consumption of alcohol and it appears that he is going to "fall in his father’s footsteps" like so many of the small town biddies have predicted that he would. But one night…..a heated encounter with his girlfriend occurs…..protection is ignored and the 2 become 3. This boy changes almost overnight and he cuts his waist long hair…gets his first and only job as a janitor.and marries the girl….he becomes a Man. He becomes a great father…giving his 3 little girls all the love and attention he never had. Taking them fishing…going to ballgames and mushroom hunting. The man is a hard worker and works his way up to a supervisor position that pays well. He never borrows money….is never late for a bill and and never misses a days work. His credit rating is so good that when he applies for a loan 10 years after they are married to build a home he gets it with no collateral and no co-signers! Throughout the years it becomes apparent that his wife has a severe alcohol problem. He tries to get her to stop in many ways…paying for counseling and rehab but she is unwilling or unable to stop. The man loves his children and doesn’t want them to come from a broken home so he stays and grins and bears it. One day, after many months of headaches, he is given the diagnosis of brain tumor…..it takes about 6 months for all the testing and surgeries before he is given a clean bill of health. He changes at that point…he talks to his sister and tells her that he made a promise to himself and God that if he survived he would make whatever changes he needed to be truly happy. He offers his wife one last attempt at sobriety….which she refuses so he begins the process of a painful and bitter divorce. Two years later the final settlement is done….he has kept the house….and full custody of the children. He begins dating again and finds a wonderful woman who he loves deeply and who loves his girls and they love her !! Things look good for them…..they go to the judge and get married and head out for a Smokey Mountain honeymoon……the man never makes it back…….he goes quickly in his sleep….next to his new bride from an aortic aneurism……the man is now an angel. This angel now walks with Jesus and is seeing his mom again. He has perfect health and all the time in the world to fish and hunt mushrooms and be happy every day….I’m sad because I miss my baby brother….but so happy that he is in a place where I hope to be someday too. He may not have been a success in the traditional sense….but he was a success at being a man, father, husband and brother……and considering where he started out and what he had to look up to I think he did very well.
We little knew that day that God was going to call your name. In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone. For part of us went with you, the day God called you home.
You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide. And though we cannot see you, you are always by our side.
Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same. But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.
By: Ron Tranmer
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE!!!
RIP baby brother….I love and miss you.
p; For part of us went with you, the day God called you home.
You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide. And though we cannot see you, you are always by our side.
Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same. But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.
By: Ron Tranmer
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE!!!
RIP baby brother….I love and miss you.