As I sit at my computer, looking out the front window over the sweeping yard where Neil and I grew up, memories are flashing back today, Neil's birthday. Actually, now that I think about it we DID grow up outside.
That's probably why Neil remained devoted to the great outdoors and all that it offered him throughout his life.
Here are a few of the strongest images that are flashing in front of me today:
The dust flying up from behind his great green Schwinn... as he'd tear down the road. Rapid, responsive acceleration was always important to my big brother. That bicycle is propped up against a horse stall in the old barn to this day, probably in the exact place he left it the day he purchased his green '55 Chevy.
Ah, how he'd speed shift through that "three-on-the column" classic. If only that car could have talked. I know it held secrets of Halloween pranks that were cooked up -- year 'round -- in that car. Halloween was never just an October holiday to Neil. You know how some people keep a cheerful Christmas Spirit in their hearts all year long? Well, Neil held onto that Halloween Feeling through all four seasons!
Of all the thousands of hours we spent together in the great outdoors here on the farm, we probably spent the most down at Morgan Creek. I'll always remember the impressive raft he built on top of a huge tractor tire's inner tube. We dreamed of sailing all the way to New Orleans, but discovered the payload carried the tube too deep in the water to even make it over the rocky rapids just 100 yards from where we set sail. So, we were content to keep it in the old swimmin' hole... spinning and pushing and overturning and screaming and splashing. And making lifelong memories.
Then, there were the firecracker capers. We went to Florida the first time when Neil was 15 and I was 12. Of course, he loved the Atlantic Ocean -- Briney Breezes is where we usually stayed, Amazing how close that spot is to Ellen's home today. As much as he loved Florida, he couldn't wait til we passed through Tennessee on the way home, where he'd stock up on a year's worth of cherry bombs and various other explosive devices. I'm not sure Mother ever figured out why her vacuum sweeper attachments never fit quite right after a new crop of bottle rockets were launched from the great ElectroLux tubes. It's not that she actually SAW what he did with those vacuum parts, some of which never made it back into the closet.
It's dreary today and there's no snow on the frozen ground. Now, most people would just wait out the arrival of Spring in Indiana's frozen tundra. Not Neil! Days like this, he'd grab his clubs and head for Hartley Hills Country Club for a quick 9. One such day, I questioned his sanity as he dashed off in his Chevy. "Naw, it's perfect today. I'll get a great roll!"
I miss you, big brother. But, you're very much with me forever.
Love,
Mary Anne
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