A completely selfish post.
I recently had to say goodbye to someone near to me.
When I was a kid, we lived in Goose Creek, South Carolina. On base, in military housing. I was about 11 maybe 12 years old when the Herriott's moved in right next door to us. Frank, Sherrill and their three kids Michael, Michelle and Shawn. Shawn was my age and we quickly became good friends. It might have been an odd pairing at first, the Herriott's were African American and well, we were white. We were living in South Carolina and I quite vividly remember people giving us grief about being friends. That didn't stop us however, Shawn and I mostly ignored the morons who made vicious statements about our relationship.
I very much remember running in and out of the Herriott's house like it was my own and this may sound odd to you if you haven't ever lived in military housing, but we shared a wall (our hallway bathroom and my parent's room).
About a year after the Herriott's moved in next to us, we all went through a hurricane together. Hurricane Hugo was a monster storm and my mom always blames Sherrill for us staying. Sherrill did keep saying that storm was going to turn off, but it never did. It hit us hard and my dad and Frank were gone. The mom's and the kids (plus a few dogs) held tight in the hallway and bathroom of our house while chaos happened all around us. At one point, people were holding the hallway door shut with their feet and Michelle was holding the attic door closed.
You don't just go through a hurricane together and not get closer as a family. I suppose there is something to be said of Navy family's. Often times when my dad was out to sea, I'd seek counsel from Frank. He was almost always available to help this girl get her teeth pulled out. I know that must sound ridiculous. I'm almost 11 years old and still losing teeth? I had horrible problems with my teeth not falling out and save 3 teeth, the dentist pulled them all. Mr Frank pulled two. He pulled a slew of teeth out from my sisters too. I suppose in my mind, he will always be our tooth fairy. I remember two incidents in particular where he told me he would count to three and pull the tooth and he ALWAYS yanked on two, not three!!! One time, he tied my sister's tooth to a door knob and she was so afraid of having the door slammed with her tooth tied to it that she chased after the door each time he shut it! Eventually, he just pulled that sucker out!
A few weeks ago, November 3rd to be precise, at the age of 57 years old, while driving home, Mr Frank had a massive heart attack. Unfortunately, because he was driving, the car continued on without him and eventually struck a parked vehicle. The occupant inside was banged up, but according to state troopers, they pulled her from the vehicle and placed her in the grass to await transport to the hospital. She suffered minor injuries to my knowledge. Mr Frank was gone. It was shocking to me. Horrific honestly. Next thing I know is that his daughter, Michelle, and her children happened upon the accident, which occur ed just down the road from the high school I attended. The police wouldn't tell her anything, but to go home and be with her mom.
Mrs Sherrill, or mom #2, which I have affectionately called her for many years, did not shed a single tear in front on me. She stood strong and simply said at the funeral that no one can take her joy away. Mr Frank is in heaven now, never to be harmed or in any pain ever again. They were married for 39 years. They met in the 3rd grade and began dating in the 11th grade. They loved each other very much.
I love them very much. My heart is sad that Mr Frank is gone. I'm grateful I was able to go to the funeral and tell him good bye. To me, he will always be my tooth fariy and the man that taught me the value of being slow to anger. I never once saw Mr Frank be quick to anger. I'm not going to say that I am any good at being slow to anger, I'm just saying I see the point of it!
It was hard for me to hear Mrs Sherrill read a love letter goodbye to Mr Frank and then when Shawn, my childhood best friend, got up and spoke at the funeral, I thought I would have to leave because I was such an emotional wreck. I stayed strong though. Mrs Sherrill and Shawn give me strength. Their love is unfaltering, all encompassing and reciprocated by my own family.
I suppose this is a see you later and not a goodbye. Thanks for listening.
When I was a kid, we lived in Goose Creek, South Carolina. On base, in military housing. I was about 11 maybe 12 years old when the Herriott's moved in right next door to us. Frank, Sherrill and their three kids Michael, Michelle and Shawn. Shawn was my age and we quickly became good friends. It might have been an odd pairing at first, the Herriott's were African American and well, we were white. We were living in South Carolina and I quite vividly remember people giving us grief about being friends. That didn't stop us however, Shawn and I mostly ignored the morons who made vicious statements about our relationship.
I very much remember running in and out of the Herriott's house like it was my own and this may sound odd to you if you haven't ever lived in military housing, but we shared a wall (our hallway bathroom and my parent's room).
About a year after the Herriott's moved in next to us, we all went through a hurricane together. Hurricane Hugo was a monster storm and my mom always blames Sherrill for us staying. Sherrill did keep saying that storm was going to turn off, but it never did. It hit us hard and my dad and Frank were gone. The mom's and the kids (plus a few dogs) held tight in the hallway and bathroom of our house while chaos happened all around us. At one point, people were holding the hallway door shut with their feet and Michelle was holding the attic door closed.
You don't just go through a hurricane together and not get closer as a family. I suppose there is something to be said of Navy family's. Often times when my dad was out to sea, I'd seek counsel from Frank. He was almost always available to help this girl get her teeth pulled out. I know that must sound ridiculous. I'm almost 11 years old and still losing teeth? I had horrible problems with my teeth not falling out and save 3 teeth, the dentist pulled them all. Mr Frank pulled two. He pulled a slew of teeth out from my sisters too. I suppose in my mind, he will always be our tooth fairy. I remember two incidents in particular where he told me he would count to three and pull the tooth and he ALWAYS yanked on two, not three!!! One time, he tied my sister's tooth to a door knob and she was so afraid of having the door slammed with her tooth tied to it that she chased after the door each time he shut it! Eventually, he just pulled that sucker out!
A few weeks ago, November 3rd to be precise, at the age of 57 years old, while driving home, Mr Frank had a massive heart attack. Unfortunately, because he was driving, the car continued on without him and eventually struck a parked vehicle. The occupant inside was banged up, but according to state troopers, they pulled her from the vehicle and placed her in the grass to await transport to the hospital. She suffered minor injuries to my knowledge. Mr Frank was gone. It was shocking to me. Horrific honestly. Next thing I know is that his daughter, Michelle, and her children happened upon the accident, which occur ed just down the road from the high school I attended. The police wouldn't tell her anything, but to go home and be with her mom.
Mrs Sherrill, or mom #2, which I have affectionately called her for many years, did not shed a single tear in front on me. She stood strong and simply said at the funeral that no one can take her joy away. Mr Frank is in heaven now, never to be harmed or in any pain ever again. They were married for 39 years. They met in the 3rd grade and began dating in the 11th grade. They loved each other very much.
I love them very much. My heart is sad that Mr Frank is gone. I'm grateful I was able to go to the funeral and tell him good bye. To me, he will always be my tooth fariy and the man that taught me the value of being slow to anger. I never once saw Mr Frank be quick to anger. I'm not going to say that I am any good at being slow to anger, I'm just saying I see the point of it!
It was hard for me to hear Mrs Sherrill read a love letter goodbye to Mr Frank and then when Shawn, my childhood best friend, got up and spoke at the funeral, I thought I would have to leave because I was such an emotional wreck. I stayed strong though. Mrs Sherrill and Shawn give me strength. Their love is unfaltering, all encompassing and reciprocated by my own family.
I suppose this is a see you later and not a goodbye. Thanks for listening.
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