ForeverMissed
Large image
Stories

Share a special moment from Leroy's life.

Write a story

Remember Leroy

June 30, 2016
by ting lu

It’s been three very long years since your departure.  I hold your memory so dear to my heart, and this help me to live.  I see you everyday around me, and everywhere inside the house I kept your belongings in the same places.  In that way you’re still here.

One cactus that Leroy cut it off from roof always remind me of you.  It’s tough, independent and strong to survive as I see you in the same. This cactus grew on our roof quite a long time ago.  We first found out about it when some neighbors told us they’ve seen it up there.  We found it and it was standing about 1 feet tall on top of the roof.  Leroy went up on a ladder and tried to pull it out the next day.  It would have grown there and damaged the roof.  Cactus was so strong that it took a long time and Leroy still can't pull it out, finally Leroy cut it off.  I then planted it in the backyard.

The cactus grew, and very soon it became very tall.  Sometimes when there was a strong wind blowing and I would watch it swing back and forth in the wind, but it didn’t break.  Every year we see it has flowers, although they are short-lived.  When the cactus grew to 12-15 feet it finally broke from the middle one day in a gust of strong wind.  But cactus lives, and continued to grow from the place where it broke.  It grew three new branches from the broken place and never broke again since then.  

By now it grew even more new branches from those three branches and is a very big giant cactus tree.  In recent years a lot of new flowers blossom, and then grow into beautiful red, delicious fruits!  They are the most rare and delicious fruits I have tasted.  Although Leroy is not here but his spirit character shine, I can feel it through the fruit. I know you are here with me. Remeber of Leroy forever.

Two years memorial tribute to Leroy

June 30, 2015
by ting lu

 

It's now entirely two years since you left us. Although the wound of losing you would slowly heal, but the hole in the heart may never recover.  Just like one says, death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal.  

Every morning when I sat in front of the computer studying the Wall street or
searching the information I need, I could always "see" you also working on the computer quietly, I so much wished I could talk to you to get your opinion from time to time. Whenever I entered a theater to watch a movie by myself, I so much wished you could be beside me and explain the story I was confused about...  

Your kindness, your smiling, your high spirit in fighting disease, your continually finding new things to challenge yourself, all of these good characters are deeply implanted in my inside and accompany me and uplift my day when I am feeling down. I indeed miss you daily.  

During these two years after you were gone, my body suffered a lot of pain and also experienced many health problems. I regularly visit various doctors and did all kind of examinations. I am fighting with a lot of different problems and often feel very exhausted.  However whenever I thought of you and I would feel strong - you helped me go through the difficult time. 
 
Thank you, Leroy! You will be remembered forever.

Thanks Leroy for helping me to fight Leukoplakia

November 27, 2014
by ting lu

It's Thanksgiving Day, and I want to thank Leroy, as always. I thank him especially for his kind and strong support. He indeed is with me and helps me when I'm in trouble.

One day during the last month I sudden felt something unusual in my left cheek. After I took a careful look I saw a rather large white, rough and hard patch protruding on the inside of my cheek. I didn't know what it was. I then searched the web for information regarding this strange symptom. I read that it's a kind of precancer lesion that often appears in smokers or is caused by "mechanical damage". It's called leukoplakia. Sometimes it requires oral surgery in order to prevent it from transforming into cancer.  

I never smoked, then I realized it must have been from my recent dental cleaning, when the technician put a very large film into my mouth which hurt me inside my mouth badly and damaged my cheek membrane. I became very scared and worried that it would never get better. I kept checking it often, whenever I had a chance, it did not go away. I called my doctor and made an urgent visit. My doctor agreed with my diagnosis and suggested to me to pay close attention. He said I may need to do oral cancer screening and later to perform oral surgery if the leukoplakia doesn't fade and heal in the next few weeks. I got even more scared after that and had trouble eating and sleeping.

While I was scared by myself I happened to remember that Leroy always said don't worry, face it what ever it is and believe in that everything would be fine in the end. I soon felt calm and strong again, as if Leroy was here with me. After I changed my way of thinking and followed Leroy's attitude of optimism, I began to eat and sleep in a normal way again. I looked at the leukoplakia as if doing research and tried some treatments that I found to reduce the inflammation. Two weeks later the leukoplakia disappeared like a miracle. I told Leroy thanks. And today I want to tell Leroy thanks again, and happy Thanksgiving Day!
 

One year memorial tribute to Leroy

June 30, 2014
by ting lu

Time flies so fast and you have departed already for a whole year. I think of you every day and you were with me all the time.

One year ago, I was almost fainted to see that you laid there quietly, with your eyes open and without a cough. I called up to the sky, I called down to the ground, I called all around, I called myself, no matter how I called for help I just couldn't wake you up. Although the weather that day was extremely hot but I felt like I was sitting in the North Pole wearing only one shirt. On that day I realized for the first time what it feels like to be hit in the center of my being, fatally hit; I realized what is real pain, to be separated by the hand of death and to grieve without end for your return...

It's said that one appreciates the value of something more only after it has been lost. This is absolute correct. When you were with me, I often complained that you didn't have regular lifestyle and loved junk food but no vegi and fruit, you didn't help with any house work but keep mess up the house, you had no patience and was easy to get upset. For all of these we often had argument or conflict...Now you are gone and I started to recall all the time we spent together and started to rethink about you and your character. The more I think, the deeper I dig, the more I now realize what a wonderful person you were. I think you are a treasure but covered by dust. After I wiped away the dust of your surface your shinning nature showed. 

You had a warm and kind heart, and were always glad to help others, with jobs big or small. You had an iron will to fight disease, and even your doctor admired you and called you a real-life iron man. You never stopped at any setbacks and always set new goals, one after another; you reached a new peak every time in your career. You tried hard to enjoy life even though you suffered so much in the final years, and you never complained always hid your pains from me and others...

You now finally departed, but the spiritual wealth you left is priceless. I will always remember of you, learn from you, will hold this treasure that is yours in my heart forever.

A hanger in the trip to Joshua Tree National Park

May 5, 2014
by ting lu

Leroy, not like many other Americans, didn't like to travel.  One reason was his physical condition limited his activities, other reason was his real interest had been in computer but not in nature.      

Before I met Leroy I had visited Europe 3 times and had also been to 30 or more states in the US to attend meetings or to work.  I was so amazed to see so many different places.  After I met Leroy I asked him which places in the world he would be interested to visit, he said almost none, but maybe Spain or Greece. Leroy said he rode his motorcycle cross the country a few times and he thought the US was the number one country covering a lot of things.  He saw enough thus he didn't have any desire to see the rest of world.      

Although Leroy didn't like traveling, he planned a special trip with me in 2001 as he wanted to go to Las Vegas to celebrate his birthday.  The day we planned to leave was 911 morning when devil terrorists attacked the country.  We canceled the trip instead and stayed at home to watch TV. Afterwards many things happened to Leroy and we thus never tried to schedule another trip for a long time.      

One day I received a note that I was invited to Palm Springs for 3 prepaid nights stay in a great hotel plus free gifts for food and gas.  I talked to Leroy but he was hesitant as he was back in school and was busy to prepare for coming examination.  However since we haven't made any trips during the past many years, and Palm Springs was not far away from home, plus everything was free.  Leroy finally agreed to go with me.  He carried all the books and materials so he could read during the trip.  However, on the way to Palm Springs, Leroy felt nervous when he watched my driving.   He couldn't read his books as he had planned but kept giving me instruction on how to drive...      

The whole trip went very well and we both enjoyed everything.  On the way back home we decided to visit Joshua Tree National Park which was only 50 mile away from Palm Springs.  We bought several post cards printed with many rare cactus flowers and their respective names.  Once we entered the entrance I took deep breaths as those trees, stones on the surrounding hill and a lot of cactus were unbelievably beautiful.  We made many stops whenever we saw a pretty scene.  For safety reason I always carried my purse and locked the car door when we stopped, since we would walk a rather long distance from the car.  

After we made many stops, we saw a rare cactus with flowers thus stopped again. Leroy stepped out first and walked towards the flowers while I was comparing it with the pictures on the post card in order to find the cactus’s names. I took the post card, got out and simply closed the door behind.  Once I heard the noise of closing door, I immediately noticed I locked the key inside the car. I stood there, couldn’t say anything nor move away any step. It was on a weekend and no lock-smith would help, plus it was in the middle of the desert with no cell phone reception for making a phone call. If we couldn't open the door we had to spend night in the desert without any warm clothes neither lights. The weather would be very cold after sunset.  I was so mad at myself.  Seeing me standing there, Leroy walked back and I told him I locked the key inside the car. Leroy's face changed and he was very upset. I knew it was time for him to yell at me, but he saw my guilty face, he comforted me with smiles instead of yelling. Then we tried to open the door.  I even picked a stone tohit rear window, but the window was very strong and I couldn't break it…      

At that time there were several visitors who all came and talked to us.  One visitor said he was about to leave and he would contact the park ranger at the exit.  Two visitors kindly left water bottles and one visitor left a package of cookies when they left.  Among those visitors, one vistor talked to us for a while about his story.  He also once locked his car key inside in a strange place in the middle of nowhere.  He finally managed using a clothes hanger to open the door.  He told us to find a hanger if possible.  After he left Leroy and I stood there staring at every new comer and asked if they had a hanger.  But no one carried it.  Then we saw a RV coming which brought us hope.  But the answer was still No.  After over one hour, here came another RV.  It was an elderly couple who were traveling around the country.  We went up and told them our trouble.  We asked if they carried any clothes hanger by chance.  Luckily the answer was yes this time.  The man handed a hanger to Leroy.  Leroy rush to the car and put it into the door’s side, up and down a few times.  Only about 15 seconds, the door's lock popped up.  We were shot through with joy and all the other visitors gave Leroy a big applaud like he was a hero.  We sat in the car, waved hands to everyone and drove away. At the exit we reported to the ranger as our problem was solved.      

Leroy was very happy and told me that the trip went much better than he expected.  He also was very happy to learn that one hanger can play such a big role in saving our trip from trouble.  From then on we always kept one hanger in the car. Leroy told me we should go somewhere again as he enjoyed the trip so much.  A few days later Leroy passed the examination with excellent scores. Soon he found a job, and we never could schedule another pleasant trip again, but I still kept a hanger in the car…

Walking into the movie world

February 14, 2014
by ting lu

Having watched the Golden Globe Awards last month and looking forward to the Oscars, I am thinking of Leroy enormously, since he was the one led me walking into the movie world.

Before I came to the US I knew very little about American movies. All I remember were a few movies I saw with my favor characters like Charley Chaplin, Shirley Temple, Cary Grant and director Alfred Hitchcock.  I came to US for the first time as an exchange scholar over three decades ago, I was totally occupied with research and never had the time to watch any movies in near 3 years that I was here. Just before I left the US my professor took me to watch a movie about Mozart (Amadeus).  Although I had difficulty understanding the conversations, I enjoyed it very much.  

It's six years later when I came back to the US again I was even more busy, this time not only doing research but also having to raise a family as a single mother. Everything was extremely hard then, I have had no time for movies for a long time, not until all high pressures from work and family were greatly reduced. That was the time when I met Leroy, and he was a frequent movie-goer.  He was an expert in all kinds of movies; he knew most of the actors, actresses, and the directors, both classic and current.  When I mentioned my favorite characters, he was of course familiar with them.  

When we were planning for our first movie together, Leroy told me to pick the one I wanted to see. I looked at the posters and pointed to Heartbreakers. For some reason Leroy questioned my choice and asked me three times to make sure this was the one I wanted to see. Actually I didn't realize that Leroy didn't like this movie and he thought the story was silly and boring, but it was too late for him to take his back words. Thus we went to the theater and I felt refreshed and excited, since this was one of a very few times that I had actually walked into a theater to see a movie after working in the US for 10 years! I enjoyed the movie very much; the story was funny and rather simple, conversations were not too complicated and I understood most parts. However there were still some places where I felt confused. I turned to Leroy for help I was surprised to find he had fallen asleep! What amazed me was although Leroy fell asleep, he still could answer all my questions and explain them in detail after movie finished. I thus thought either Leroy had special function who could watch a movie in his sleep or maybe he just made up the story to fool me. Whatever the condition was, I did enjoy the movie.

From this day on, Leroy and I saw movies regularly. We joined movie clubs and often received free tickets for movie pre-screening. Shortly after, the number of movies I watched became far greater than how many movies I had ever watched in my whole life. The names of my favorite characters became a long list... Gradually, we found out that each other had different preferences in the kinds of movies we liked.  Leroy liked action movies with loud yelling full of dirty words and constant shooting which could deafen the ear, and he also liked science fiction movies; while I preferred comedy dramas plus good foreign films. So we took turns choosing the movie to watch together. Leroy still would fall asleep during the movie from time to time. Often I would try to wake him up but he would get very mad at me...A few times when he fell asleep the loud shooting and explosions made him jump out from his seat, this caused me to giggle. I asked Leroy: "Are you mad at movie?"

 Besides going to the theater Leroy also took me to Blockbusters which was a huge movie library. I was so impressed that there were so many movies including those from all over the world. Movies did open my eyes and gave me new experience, and I learned about the different cultures of the US and other countries. I often got lost while at Blockbusters choosing movies, then I found an easy way: pick the winners.  However Leroy, who often picked his movies quickly, laughed at my “picking trick”, he often told me that "winner" was meaningless but “shitty”.  After watching so many acclaimed movies I developed the interest to give commentary on them. On the way home from the theater I used to like discuss the movie with Leroy. I even wrote short comment on the web. Later, the annual Oscar Academy Award drew my attention and I liked to compare my personal likings to the nominated movies. Leroy didn’t care about the Oscars but he would sit by me and watch a little bit or fall sleep in front of the TV.

Among the so many movies we watched, one was very special.  It was called “The World’s Fastest Indian”, played by Anthony Hopkins, who was our common favorite actor. Although this movie showed for a rather short time in the theater and didn't get too much publicity, nor won any awards, it gave both of us extremely deep influence. Burt (Anthony) is a senior man with a heart condition who lived in New Zealand. India is the name of his motorcycle. He tried hard to modify that India in order to make it run fast for world championship. He came to the US for the competition, even though he had to keep taking medicine to control his heart pain. He was not only fighting for first place but also fighting with his own heart. Burt finally won the championship. Afterward Burt came to US nine times and set world record several times. His spirit inspired Leroy and me and everyone who watched it. When Leroy got sick later, he is always a fighter. I see Leroy's spirit shine like Burt's...

In the last year after Leroy left, the first movie I watched by myself was Unfinished Song which reminded me of Leroy. Now every time I go to the theater I always feel Leroy sitting by me falling asleep. Leroy led me into the movie world not only added an important part to my life, but also gave me a way for healing...

Leroy's flower

December 16, 2013
by ting lu

Leroy loved computers and so do I.  But Leroy not just used computers, he also liked to build them from parts.  Thus there were always so many desktop cases, hard drives, cables, corded mouse, wireless mouse, USB's, batteries, head and earphones, etc., etc., scattered everywhere in the house.  Leroy actually transformed the room into a machine shop and sometimes the messy room did upset me.

I love using computers, but also love flowers and plants just as well.  Whenever I have a chance I always look for beautiful flowers to buy at a low cost and bring home.  I also like to grow flowers or plants from seeds.  Any time if I got tired from working or was feeling down I always went to my flowers; it's said that flowers are a mental food.  In contrast, Leroy did not have one bit interest in flowers or plants. When I found new plants grown from seeds I would go to tell Leroy to take a look.  Leroy sometimes politely said, “it's nice,” even without looking, but often he would get upset and scold with dirty words to express that he could not care less about flowers and plants.  Leroy once told me many years ago, one of his neighbors knocked on his door and yelled at him for never watering his plants and the plants were dying.  She even directly ask Leroy to move away because he was not taking care of his garden like everyone else.  When Leroy told me about this he added, those plants don't belong to his house because they don't pay rent so they are the ones that would have to move. However some plants like it here, one cactus actually grew up on the roof.  Leroy climbed up on a ladder there and cut it off near the root as root was so hard to pulled out.  I then picked up part of it and planted it in backyard, it soon grew to more than 10 feet tall...

Leroy spent most of his time working on the computer.  He  especially liked to find different software which can be downloaded for free, then installed on the out-dated computer for upgrade.  A few times, when I was doing something on the computer, computer suddenly stopped working. I asked Leroy what did he do to crash the computer?  He mysteriously said someone from Asia just invaded his computer and spread virus in it.  I asked him why and how they found his IP address.  He finally confessed that he went to their website to peer at some software..  I surely was upset as I was in the middle of something so I lost data, I yelled at Leroy and then went to my flowers for getting comfort although Leroy promised to fix the computer soon.

Leroy did build a few desktop computer and gave one to me. He gave the computer a name  "Curly Hair" and told me it's a very fast computer.  I didn't really care about computer's brand name,  I only cared if it would do a good job.  Around 2012 Christmas time Leroy bought me a new laptop which was very nice of him.  However I told Leroy I was happy with the old desktop which he built it for me.  I didn't need an additional new  one.  It would be wasted if the computer just sat there not being used.  After we talked for several times Leroy finally agreed with me and let me return it back to store.  At seeing many old and dead computers pile up on the floor or shelf, Leroy still like to collect more, I kept asking Leroy, “why do you need so many computers?” Leroy looked at me, kept silent, then slowly said, “computers are my flowers!”

Were the ants companion?

October 29, 2013
by ting lu

Our once ants-free house for over a decade suddenly broke out with a horde of ants this year. You can find ants everywhere: floor, kitchen counter, computer screen, house plant and even my arm and neck as I suddenly felt a sharp pain where an ant bit me.

Over 13 years ago when I visited Leroy's home for the first time, I noticed a lot of ants in the house. Ants freely and comfortably went everywhere. I asked Leroy, how come you got so many ants? Leroy said, “ants are my companion; since it's almost impossible to get rid of all of them because the way the house is built directly linked to the ground.” Thus Leroy just let ants be so long they did not bite him. Year later when I lived in the house I didn't like having the ants live with us. I said to Leroy I would like to do something to make ants leave, since some times ants can climb on my body and bite me. Leroy said we can try but don't be disappointed if we weren’t successful.

One day I left a small piece of boiled egg yolk by accident on a small plate, and put it in the sink without rinse then left for work. In the late afternoon when I returned home, I saw hundreds of ants cover that small piece of egg yolk. Then I traced the ants up and up, and saw hundreds of ants lined up looking like a black string hang on from the ceiling! All the ants were very busy: some of them carried a yellow spot of egg yolk granule on their back or head to move it out while others moved in. I was so amazed to see the ant's society organized so well and all worked so hard. I felt sorry as I turned the water running and flushed all of them down the drain. Then Leroy got home and I pointed to him that “black string”, Leroy quickly made some vinegar spray. He said the vinegar would cut off the ants’ chemical trail so they would lose their connection and not find the trail coming back. The next day I left a bigger piece of boiled egg yolk on the plate and put it in the sink on purpose before I left for work. When I got home near evening, again the egg yolk was covered by a lot of ants like a drop of black paint. I again flushed all the ants down the drain, and used the vinegar spray to “clean up”the rest of the ants that were climbing from the ceiling.

We used this same method day after day, until the ants learned slowly that as they kept coming back and they could never get out of the house. Finally, the ants learned the lesson and they realized that they are not welcome in the house after two weeks. From that time ants never came to visit and we lived in an ants-free home. Leroy was so impressed for our success. Then not too long afterward we noticed our neighbor's house covered by tent for fumigation.

This year ants suddenly come back into the house again as Leroy often didn't stay in the home. Lately, I sometimes watched the ants that moved around in the house and was reminded me of those days when Leroy kept ants as ompanion,I asked the ants: “did Leroy send you here to be my companion?...”

Happy Little Duck

September 9, 2013
by ting lu

Before I came to the US I heard that Americans often lived on credit cards, or carried a lot of debt from paying for college, buying a car, or borrowing from the bank to buy a house. This is called, use credit in advance even when you don’t have the money. However my education has been, don’t use money if I don’t have it and don’t borrow money, but instead earn the money then spend it. When I met Leroy I was surprised that he had no debt, neither did he spend money in advance. He was always very safe spending money on anything although he had enough in the bank. To this point he doesn’t look like an American. I often told him he is a mixture of Asian and African, surviving in a developing country.

 

One day I asked Leroy where he got this good non-American habit, and from whom he learned it. He looked at me and smiled. He said, first, he grew up in a rather poor family; his father had to work very hard to support the whole family thus he never had much money to spend. Second, he saw a cartoon movie when he was little, about a little duck who was always very happily sitting on the roof of the house with the house filled up with money. Since then he decided to be a happy little duck when he grew up. His dream was to be fulfilled later in life.

 

But at first, while he was working in San Jose, he always used up all his earnings and had nothing saved up. Only after he moved to San Diego he tried to start saving for his retirement, and was successful. He became that happy little duck since he did not need to worry about ever being without money. We had this in common since I am a saver also, and we could both save together.

 

Many years ago, one day one of my colleagues was talking in the office about selling a stock that he got for free to got quite amount of free money. It so happened that I had this free stock also. Soon I also sold it and got free money. Interestingly, when I told Leroy this story, he said he had the same free stock, too; but he had totally forgotten his password. Since he had a hard time trying to find his password, he wanted to give it up. But I didn’t give up, I began doing all the work to contact the company back forth several times. Seeing that I persisted, Leroy told me that all the money would be mine if it works out. I smiled and asked him, are you sure about that? He smiled told me sure. It did finally work, and the company sent Leroy’s certificate with his password. Leroy sold this stock earning $20 more per share than I did. When Leroy got the money but said nothing. I asked him about if he remembered and would keeping his words. He pretended he didn’t know what I was talking about. But the next day he came to me, with soft voice, and said could we share this money. I laughed loudly as I knew Leroy. I said: sure, we can share it, since I liked to see him being the happy little duck he was. Even today I still can see he stood front of me with smile...

 

Happy Birthday, little duck!

Tribute to Leroy

August 18, 2013
by ting lu

With my deepest sorrow and grief,  I mourn the loss of my life partner, my true friend and mutual support.  Together we were better than one.  I tried so hard to keep you here longer, but you had to go, in such a hurry.  


Your personality was always so candid, your humor outrageous.  You were humble, modest, possitive, never asking a lot; quietly you saw the simple truths in the hearts of others.  You had an elegance that spoke of your spirit and wisdom.  You were simple and plain, yet your generosity was always truly giving. I will always carry on this torch for your smile, innocent like that of a child.  It always shined unexpectedly through the hard times.  Everyday, I light candles to remember your kindness.  Only those close to you know this.  


But everyday now seems a little more empty without you.  You’re smiling in paradise now, at the end of the road to life, there I will meet with you again.  Tears run down my cheeks on these lines, tracing the way to heaven.  


Goodbye, Leroy,  but you forever grow in my heart. 

I remember...

July 30, 2013

 

 …when Leroy came home from the army and mom was so happy to see him.  She loudly said “Leroy’s home” and I could see him through the kitchen window, carrying a duffle bag on his shoulder and smiling.

 

…when Leroy would come home from work late at night and try to quietly get in the house.   Our dog “Happy” made sure everyone knew it.  Leroy would snap his gloves at her which made her yelp and me start screaming  “Leroy's killing the dog”.   The commotion usually got mom out of bed.  Leroy always explained his side of the story with laugh.  One of those nights he did come home with a stuffed monkey that he gave me.  That monkey was pretty special for many years.

 

...when he worked at Harley Davidson and mom would pick him up at night.  It was fun to go along for the ride.

 

…going to visit Leroy at his apartment and eating all the chocolate from his Easter basket.

My cousin Leroy

July 17, 2013
It was fun growing up with the Britton Family. grandma Pritchett lived downstairs from Leroy's and she babysat me. We went to the same grade school. I remember us kids sliding down all three flights of stairs on cardboard for fun. He would let me read his comic books, and we would play marbles also. In our young adult years, would run into Leroy once in a while at clubs and danced a few dances with him. he was a good dancer. He dated a high school friend on mine for a while! I will always remember my visit to San Diego twice, we had a good time. Leroy went out of his way to show me around, even talked him into going to Mexico. His yard had a lemon and orange tree and I picked a bunch to bring home. Thanks for the great time Leroy, I will miss our phone calls. And thanks for helping me get back on Facebook about two years ago. You will forever be in my memories Missing you, Cousin Karen

My Best Friend

July 17, 2013

I met Leroy sometime in the mid 70s.  He had just arrived in the Silicon Valley and started working at CDC in Campbell.  I’ll never forget the first time we were out partying with a group of people from CDC.  He did not drive and needed a ride back to where he was staying in some motel over on El Camino in Sunnyvale, CA.  This was about 20 miles from where I lived which was Okay, but I implored him to move closer.   He did, thank God. 

For the longest time Leroy never owned a car.  He rode a motorcycle.  His first bike was some little puddle jumper that got him around.  I remember one time he and I took a ride to Oregon to visit my father.  I was riding a bike not much bigger than his.  We took of late one afternoon and drove as far as we could until we hit a KOA park in Red Bluff, CA (about 200 miles).  We were so tired we literally fell off our bikes and went to sleep on the ground.  Next morning we drove through the mountains near Shasta in the pouring rain.  We had no rain gear except for some vinyl coveralls we bought at a sportsman store in Redding, CA.   

Our friendship grew into a bond of brotherhood.  For a while we were always getting together to ride or tilt a couple.  Leroy was very generous.  Every time we went to a bar for a beer, he would always buy the first round.  In those days, he would carry a wad of bills in his pocket.  His favorite hole-in-the wall was the Draft board in Campbell, CA.  There were a few others he would frequent.  Leroy told me where he lived in Milwaukie there were little neighborhood bars where you could get a beer without leaving the block.  I guess this was his way of feeling at home.        

Once I gave him a belt pouch which he loved and carried with him always.  It was a great place to keep his keys and what not.  He always wore a bandana when he rode his motorcycle.  He had graduated to a larger bike.  I guess he thought he was a bad ass.

All that changed the day he had a terrible accident on his bike.  He took off for lunch and I left a little bit later.  As I was driving down Campbell Avenue there was Leroy lying on the grass; his bike was down on the pavement; the police were asking questions and taking measurements.  Leroy had fallen pretty hard on his knee.  In fact it was questionable if he would ever have full use of his leg again.  Leroy was going to have nothing to do with that prognosis.  He worked very hard and in about 3 months he was walking again. 

At that time I was dating a lady whose son was good pals with my son.  I had my son for a visit during that summer.  While Leroy was laid up, he had nothing else to do so he watched the boys.  Not sure if he provided much supervision while on crutches, but we felt better an adult was around.  Anyway, everyone got through it okay and Leroy was none the worse for it. 

After 35+ years of friendship I have much to tell about my best friend, but this is what I have for now.

I am really going to miss the man.

 

 

 

My Big Brother

July 16, 2013

One of my first memories of my older brother Leroy was when I was 3 or 4 years old. We lived in an older building on 2nd and National. The building had two apartments on the 2nd floor and two apartments on the 3rd floor.  My fathers, mother and family lived on the second floor, and my mothers, mom and family lived across the hall from her.  We lived on the third floor just above my mothers, mom. The place was pretty big, it didn't have hot running water.  We had a bathroom with a bathtub but no hot running water.  My parents would boil water for our baths.

Any ways we always rode our tricycles in the house because National avenue and 2nd street were busy streets. Leroy had a tricycle that was slightly larger them mine; it had skinny wheels and looked very rickety and fragile. It was just pieced together and Leroy would frequently pull the handle bars out while riding it, then put them back in. I on the other hand had a well built tricycle with thick wheels, and very solid looking; which was bolted together.

 Our apartment had a long hallway and we would always ride up and down the hallway frequently crashing into one another. One day we were racing up and down the hallway, he was going east and I was going west. (We were playing Chicken).  Leroy rammed into me, I went flying and my tricycle ended up in three pieces.  Leroy on the other hand was sitting on his trike and only lost his handlebars. 

As a child Leroy had epilepsy and I was his designated shadow. If he climbed a tree I had to follow him. When he went to the grocery store, I had to go with him and I had to carry the groceries home. Leroy and I always played marbles and teamed up against the neighborhood kids, most all of the time we would walk away with all of the marbles.

Leroy and I almost shared the same birthday, my birthday is one day before his, but he was two years older than me. I always felt cheated because in growing up everyone got birthday gifts and we would get back to school clothes on our birthday because we were born in early September. Most of the time we would have one birthday cake with both of our names on the cake.

Leroy and I always teamed up at Christmas searching for our presents.  When my parents would go out and leave Leroy,  Janet and I home alone, we would rummage thought the closets and open up our presents.  Of course we were a little older at the time. We had gotten quite good at rewrapping the gifts and my parents never knew what we did.  

When Leroy was a teenager he would run around with his school friends.  They liked to swim and would often hop the Forest Home Cemetery fence, after hours. They frequently went skinny dipping in the cemetery pond.  Eventually the cops caught on to the popular swimming hole and would patrol the area in and around the cemetery often chasing the kids.  He was always telling us stories of how the police would chase him and his friends out of the cemetery and over the railroad tracks, they seemed to always out run the cops.  

Once in high school Leroy's acquired nickname of "College Boy", I think it was because of the way he wore his pants or his belt.

Share a story

 
Add a document, picture, song, or video
Add an attachment Add a media attachment to your story
You can illustrate your story with a photo, video, song, or PDF document attachment.