I Don't Do Critters!
January 25, 2020
We lived at 1939 Elsmere Dr., Dayton, Ohio - I don't quite remember the apartment number, but I do remember we were on the top floor. What I also remember is that it was later in the evening and as always; Mom, Tammee, and I were laying around watching TV - we spent every evening together. Anyway, as we were all laying around on the couch, we caught a glimpse of something moving really fast across the floor. We quickly realized that there was a mouse in our apartment. We all screamed. My sister and I grabbing onto mom and mom quickly grabbing her phone to call the very special man who would step in and become the only father we knew (Marvin aka Dad). Next thing I knew, mom sprung into action grabbing a gun. I don't know where this gun came from and didn't even know she had one. As we were held hostage on the couch, mom says, "if it runs out again, I'm going to shoot it!" As I think of that now, she was going to have to be one hell of a marksman. I hear my dad yelling at her through the phone, "Pat, you can't shoot a mouse, you live on the top floor and you are going to put a whole in the floor. I'm on my way!"
It seems like it took forever for my dad to get there, but in Dayton the distance between places is not that great, so at best, it may have taken him 15 minutes. He came prepared. Mouse traps - both traditional with peanut butter, and sticky traps. In less than 30 minutes, my dad, our hero had apprehended the tiny mouse that had held us hostage.
I think of the lengths and sacrifices you made to ensure we were always safe. Thank you mom and dad for always putting us first. Your fearless heart runs through me every day. Your passion for life and your family will forever live on. I was once told that when you left us, you left the best part of you with us. I know that to be true because I feel you with every decision I make. The compassion my sisters and I have for each other. The love that you taught us will forever be strong and our bond unbreakable. You taught us that family is first. We may not always see eye to eye, but you have an obligation to always be there for one another. That was our final promise to you Mom and I think we are doing pretty good at keeping that promise. And don't worry mom, to this day, we still don't do critters!
I love you yesterday, today, and forever more.
It seems like it took forever for my dad to get there, but in Dayton the distance between places is not that great, so at best, it may have taken him 15 minutes. He came prepared. Mouse traps - both traditional with peanut butter, and sticky traps. In less than 30 minutes, my dad, our hero had apprehended the tiny mouse that had held us hostage.
I think of the lengths and sacrifices you made to ensure we were always safe. Thank you mom and dad for always putting us first. Your fearless heart runs through me every day. Your passion for life and your family will forever live on. I was once told that when you left us, you left the best part of you with us. I know that to be true because I feel you with every decision I make. The compassion my sisters and I have for each other. The love that you taught us will forever be strong and our bond unbreakable. You taught us that family is first. We may not always see eye to eye, but you have an obligation to always be there for one another. That was our final promise to you Mom and I think we are doing pretty good at keeping that promise. And don't worry mom, to this day, we still don't do critters!
I love you yesterday, today, and forever more.