Cain has been dead for almost 7 weeks.  Even though this is the happiest day of the Christian year...our hearts are broken by Cain's death. 

We know his spirit is with his friend Jesus because of Jesus triumph over death.

It still HURTS!!!!!

Dad

Cain liked to search for Easter eggs.  We could not leave them while we went to Easter service.  The dogs would eat them.  Proof of this had been found in our back yard.  You know a dog has eaten a Reese's Pieces egg when the wrapper was found embedded in dog......scat.  

I would leave after Communion and get home to hide the eggs in the house. Cain and Cara would first have to find their basket, which usually contained a "major" gift.  For  Cain that would always be a DVD.  For Cara...cash usually worked fine.  

The eggs would be scatted ed in 4 rooms of the house.  If left to the laws of nature, Cara would find 80% of the eggs...but...surprisingly they both ended up with the same number of eggs. Cain would always help Cara find eggs and show his prowess for finding eggs with a "nah nah". to Cara.

Dad

Cain loved scary movies.  He liked Michael Meyer's in the Halloween movies.  On afternoon and evening, Carolyn and I could see Cain in our back yard.  We thought he was listening to music is his wooden, playground house.  But when we went out...he had stuck, poles, lumber, re-bar, bats into as many of the openings in landscape wall as possible.  There must have been 20 items placed in the wall.

When asked what he was doing, he said "Mike My".  He helped us understand that he was protecting us from Michael Meyer.  if Michael Meyer ever tried to kill us, he would have to break through the protection Cain had built.

Dad

When I moved to Dallas in 1981 I brought with me pair of Levi cowboy boots.  About a year and a half ago I showed them to Cain.  I did not think he would like them because he liked to wear socks up to his knees.

To my surprise we could not get the boots off him.  He wore them everywhere. He wore them with shorts.  He wore them to work.  He wore them to church and Walmart...and Tom thumb.  He wore them so much he wore the soles off...which I replaced in January.  Cain got more wear from my 30 year old boots than I ever did.

When Cain died at work, he was wearing his boots.  I took them off at the hospital.

They now set in his room, waiting...just waiting for Cain's return.

Love, Dad!!!!!!!!

When Cain was smaller he would go into the Church library and check out books...lots of books.  I'm sure if you go to the Lamb of God library and pull out some of children's books, you will see Cain's signatures.

Dad

Cain....had very, very, very rough beard.  I would call it his "monkey" beard.  He would call it his "King Kong" beard.  For awhile he would shave himself.  It was not a pretty sight.  Let's just say, he had lots of nicks and he only got about 75% of the beard and used lots of shave cream.  I got to shave Cain the night before he died.  It was a close shave...the best shave I ever gave him.

Love,

Dad

A couple of years ago, when Cain would listen to music in our front yard, he could see the playground at Highland Village Elementary.  If there were any girls on the swings he would walk over and start posing for them, like Charles Atlas or a wrestling character.  Unless you knew Cain, he could appear rather odd or scary.  The girls knew him and were not really bothered, except for disrupting their meetings with their boy friends.  I suspect the girls were middle schoolers.  Even in mid July under the HOT Texas sun he would go over to visit with his "girl friends."

Oh, did I say, he would go over without permission.  He would go out front, and we'd tell him not to go to the playground.  But....if we turned our back or went inside for a moment...he'd be at the edge of the drive way...then a few feet onto the neighbors lawn....then, a look over his shoulder to see if Mom or Dad were there....then a few more feet...then gone!

He finally stopped going over...not sure why he stopped.

Dad!

Cain would get "officially" get $1 a day for a snack at work.  Well, some times...more than some times...he would go into my wallet and take, not every dollar, but one or two dollars.  He did this at night when Carolyn and I were sleeping...not more than 5 feet from my wallet.  I had to sleep with my wallet, to be sure I had dollars. 

Love,

Dad

Cain...loved basketball...especially shooting. He was not afraid to shoot or try his Space Jam move.  He had a gliding strut when he made a basket.  He was the on-court coach and he directed others to play better defense or to go defend some one.

Dad

Of all the entertainment destinations Cain wanted to go to, "Shamuwolrd" was his favorite.  He visited each Sea World, except the one in Ohio.  Once in San Antonio I was selected to interact with the whales.  I was given a command...which I did not know was the command to spit water.  Well, I got soaked, several times...and... Cain LOVED me getting soaked.  Every time we went to Sea World he wanted me to get soaked. 

Love,

Dad.

The day before Cain died, we went to early worship service.  Cain was needed as an acolyte.  Lamb of God had just received Cain's new acolyte robe. A robe just for Cain because he was the acolyte so often.

 It was a little big, so he could not wear it that Sunday (March 6).  After service we were tring to size the new robe for alterations, so Cain was late getting back to the sanctuary.  As was Cain's practice, he would ALWAYS, butt in line, to shake Pastor Braun's hand after service.  I was in the lobby waiting for Cain...and saw him run back to shake Pastor Braun's hand. 

Love,

Dad

Cain...was the permanent, emergency acolyte or crucifer for Lamb of God.  Each Sunday we would get there 20 minutes before the start of the early service.  Cain would be seated sideways, so he could see if his "good friend"  (Dick Lasch) would be signaling that he was needed.  He would smile...point to Mom to help him get ready.  During the summer, Cain would be the acolyte for nearly every service.  Sometimes his good friend would stand in front of Cain and say "I need an acolyte. I wonder if there is anyone who would like to be the acolyte."  Cain would looked around and then Dick would look down at Cain...and Cain would beam with joy.

He especially wanted to participate at Christmas, which happened in 2010, and he was lobbying with his "good friend" to help at Easter.

Love,

Dad

About 3/4 years ago, I was in a SUV with Cain and Russ..and Carter and Nick.  Cain, Carter and Nick were playing at Special Olympic State basketball.  We were going to a game...when a High School Musical song came on the radio.  Not sure which of the tenors had the lead...but Cain, Carter and Nick sang as loud as they could..off tune.  I'm surprised Russ stayed on the road and the Tenors did not disrupt the radio transmission is the passing cars.

Cain and Carter and Nick sang with PASSION...off key...but with PASSION.  I am sure each one heard the words and note were in their ears.

It was a one time performance...that will EVER be in my heart.

I miss you Cain!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dad

Cain dreamed of getting married.   For his wedding he wanted a "limo", " a biiiig diamond ring", and a "honeymoon, to kiss the girl."

Love,

Dad!!!!

In early February, the police stopped by and said it had received a 911 call re Cain.  The 911 call indicated that there was someone waving a sword at cars.  That someone was Cain waving his plastic sword...the BIG, plastic kind...like you would seen on the Pirates of the Caribbean.

The Police had long ago known of Cain's sword play  and that it was not threatening...but they still had to investigate. 

At the time of this incident, Cain was wearing this Dracula cap, shorts, his King Tut hat..his cowboy boots...so how anyone could be threaten by Cain and his confusing costume.....

Miss you, son!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dad.

One night about 11:30 there was a knock on the door.  I opened and there was a Highland Village cop.  He wanted to know if Cain was at home.  What?!?!?  I said sure he's sleeping.  The cop said they had gotten a 911 call indicating Cain was running naked down out street.

To this day, I do not know who was taking a midnight streak, but it was not Cain.

Cain loved gong to the movies...any kind of movie.  Many times he did not understand the "talking" movies...but if he did not understand...he had a good nap. 

Before the movie would start Cain would go to the rest room...and be gone for a LONG time.  He was loitering out front, looking for friends, wathcing another movie...or just looooooking good.  We would be anxiously waiting for Cain to return, prior to the previews...and some how he could time it nearly perfectly to return just as the first preview was shown.

If he liked the movie, he would turn and smile and say " I want dat."

Love,

Dad

Cain loved to go to the movies.  The last movie he saw was "Limitless".  He is now "limitless".

Love,

Dad

The last time I picked up Cain from work...he was carrying on dueling remarks.  I would hear Cain say, "Chicken foot"...and some one else saying, "Cain, you chicken foot."  Then Cain saying, "No, you chicken foot."  Had he not gotten into the car, he would still be there saying "No, you chicken foot."

Dad

Cain...would sit next to me while I was watching television.  Soon he would move closer...and closer...then he would take his shirt off...he wanted me to scratch his back...or his foot...or his leg or arm.

I miss rubbing Cain's back..even as hairy as it was.

Love,

Dad

Cain like to laugh...he would find a funny scene in a DVD, like someone falling down or saying something silly, are replay is over and over.  He might back up the DVD only a few frames..but he would laugh and laugh.

He especially like seeing one of his lanky, basketball friend fall down.

At a Marcus game, Cain was shooting around at half-time and Bill told him to get off the court.  Cain was not happy about it but he did it...after he chunked the ball and then flipped his ring finger in Bill's direction!  At least he had his WWE wrestling belt to go back to...