Marco Miller is our areas latest loss to the war. He was 36 and just became a father for the first time in August. He never got to hold his daughter. Only got to see a couple of pictures his girlfriend sent him.
Marco died from injuries caused by a roadside bomb. He was declared brain dead at a hospital in Germany. They did keep him going till his sister and two brothers arrived to be with him when they stopped life support.
He had been living in Florida. Marco owned a photograpy studio. His mother still lives here. Her husband died this past May. And now she has lost a son. Her kids are scattered all over the country. None of them here in Ohio. This morning on the news she sasid what keeps her going are her dogs. She has five of them.
I did not know Marco or his family. When I saw this on the news this morning my heart went out to his mother. I wished I could reach through the TV and give her a hug.
During this time of the year when people are gathering with friends and family. Lots of you complaining about having to spend time with them. Just remember about the people who have lost people, some in the prime of their lives. No matter if it was the war, accident or unexpected death from illness. I bet that they would give anything for a more time with them. So many things they want to say.
You never know when it is going to be the last time that you see someone. You never know if you are the one that is going to go or if something is going to happen to them.
My brother had a really rough time this past year. He does not want to come for Yule because he has no money for gifts. I am trying to explain to him that Yule is not about gifts. it is a celebration of life. He needs to come and be with us. Maybe even more so because of how he feels.
Opening gifts only takes a few minutes. What happens the rest of the day is what makes the memories to cherish. In my store of memories over the past 33 years I do not remember opening presents. It is the people that shared the holiday with us.
Like the year Aunt Becky fell asleep in the kitchen chair making toast and slipped out of the chair onto the floor. Or that was the year that Uncle Tucker passed out under the tree Christmas Eve putting toys together. I remember things like that. (Tucker started a new tradition that year. Every year after that he would sleep under the tree.)
The present I do remember getting for Christmas is a Barbie Dream House. But that is because Mom took about 20 pictures of Dad cussing and fussing trying to put it together. I still have it, my daughter plays with it now, and the pictures.
Dad passed a year ago last November. When I am playing Barbie's with her she asks questions about Badpa. Badpa is what she called him. He had MS and died from complications from MS. When Brooke was born Badpa was nothing like he used to be. So those little talks we have about him let her have a better picture of what he was like before. But I would gladly give up that doll house to have him back. Even only long enough to give him another hug and tell him I love him again.
So this year hug people a bit longer and let them know you love them.
