Ten years, hard to believe. Always remember Randy loved this time of year on the farm on the Umpqua (Oregon) The place was on the estuary, so was Tidal. Randy was descended from a long line of Seafarers and River people.
Was out on the Tractor with the Bush Hog attachment yesterday cutting back the Blackberry Bushes and was remembering Brother Randy.
When we were kids, this time of year, we’d pick blackberries to sell at the feed store in town. Up until the year before he passed on, he would spend the better part of the day picking blackberries at his favorite ‘secret’ spot, although I think he ate more than he put in the can. He’d use an old paint bucket held by a belt around his waist, that way he could pick with both hands. Still can imagine the taste of Mom’s Scrumptious Blakberry Cobblerthat evening for dessert.

Randy was my older brother, the first of seven siblings of Alys Roselind and Thomas Henry Richmond. Mom Alys was, an excellent loving mother, homemaker and arguably the worlds best cook. Dad Tom was, most notably, an extremely talented carpenter and cabinet maker, sometimes stern but always a gentleman. Our maternal Grandparents lived on what is now the family farm located on the Umpqua River. They kept our family supplied with fresh vegetables, beef, venison, milk, cream and smoked salmon. Our paternal Grandparents lived close to us in town and grandpa was in partnership with dad in home construction. Grandma was a staunch Catholic and also the worlds best cook. 

We all spent many happy hours growing up in the lush Oregon Rainforest and Coast environs. Except for the times mom took us to swim at lake Marie when there was still ice formed at lakes edge. We all worked from the time we were young, dad taught Randy a lot about how to build things, and had him out on the job on occassion during summers. He also spent alot of time on the farm, where he learned boating, and farming. He was a Boy Scout and was always working on one of his numerous merit badges. He built a photo darkroom in his bedroom and so he'd have more room, knocked out a wall and had a 'built in bed'. We would gather in his room at night and listen to "The Shadow'  'The Whistler' and 'Fibber McGee and Molly' I always looked up to Randy, he was my friend and taught me many things. Handed his paper route over to me when I was in the 4th grade, so I always had a little spending money. He was on the Basketball team and took me to the games, taught me how to be an Altar Boy. Always stood up for me when Mom was angry with me. He had cool friends that would come by the house. He even had a pair of Blue suede shoes, that I was not allowed to touch. I did touch them once when he wasn't home. He had a 49 Chevy coupe lowered, with glass pac mufflers. I was always helping him work on that car, mostly transmission, clutch and u joints, from too much peeling out around the corner. Those were the days of the corner drug store and doing the bop to the Juke Box, with bobbysoxers.

During those days we had an extended loving, caring family, with riches beyond compare. I'll miss Randy and always have him in my heart, and keep him in my most good thoughts and prayers and am looking forward to the day we meet again.


Take good care Randy wherever you are and don't forget your brother.