The Shoebox - Thoughts of a 4 year old

[fergy4ever]

October 27, 1964. A day I will never forget. I was 4 yrs old and today is Moms 38th birthday. About 2:00 that afternoon there was a knock on the front door. As Mom answered the door all I saw were 2 policemen. Shortly thereafter mom told me I needed to go next door to tha neighbors and I would be having dinner with them. Being only 4 years old, I had no idea what was even going on. i spent the afternoon playing and after dinner we were all allowed to sit on the front porch and have Cherry Pie for dessert. For some reason I didn't want any pie, but I did want to know why there were police cars at my house, and who were all of the people coming and going, and why? Finally I got to go home and all I remember was mom was crying and I knew something bad had happened, I just had know idea what. I don't remember much else until 3 days later. My older brothers and sisters did not go to school, but we were all getting dressed up and going somewhere. I wish I knew where we were going. I do remember my sister had on the prettiest black dress I ever saw. We finally arrived at our destination. The Ffuneral Parlor. My Father and Uncle were killed in a private airplane accident 3 days before, on Moms Birthday! After that day I had terrible nightmares for many years. Our lives went on and Mom managed to work hard and raise the 7 of us children on her own.

Although I do not have many memories of my Dad, I do have a very vivid memory of The Shoebox. The shoebox was always kept in the bottom of Moms bedroom closet. I would sneek in there every chance I got. There were many items in this box, but the only thing I remember is a small piece of twisted metal. I would sit there holding this metal and thinking about my Father who was in Heaven.

Recently I visited my Mother and one of the things that I longed to do was get the shoebox out. Mom removed the box from it's place in the closet and spread the contents on her bed. I immediately picked up that small piece of mangled metal, held it tightly and just cried ! As we proceeded to look through the contents there were so many treasures there. All of the sympathy cards and telegrams, newpaper articles and a Birthday Card for Mom that was in my fathers jacket pocket. My mom handed me 2 pieces of paper and asked "Do you remember these ? As I unfolded the papers I saw 2 pictures drawn by a 4 yr old little girl. below each picture my mom wrote what I had to say. "Daddy in Heaven with God, looking down on us,. he's smiling thinking of us". And "Daddy, he's smiling because he is happy up in Heaven with God.

This Shoe box held so many priceless goodies that I will forever treasure with all of my heart !!

[carolynmamaw]

Oct. 27, 2009 at 11:23 AM

Connie that is so sad sweetie and it happening on your Mother's Birthday:( love you hun,carolyn