Sixty-nine years…ending another decade. A lifetime of memories, but I fear they are beginning to fade.
When we were certain Rob would not see sixty, I gently coaxed him to tell me the hidden stories of his childhood. It was too late; he was fading away. I promised myself, I would leave our family snapshots of our life well-lived, but grief’s fog and a series of traumatic events left little energy for recall. Most remain bottled up in my head, ready to spill. Write them down before it’s too late!
1978-we had been married just over a year: a hard year, financially strapped, churchless, homesick for life back home in Kansas, and weary from grief. A small apartment on busy Westheimer was our temporary home. Our budget didn’t allow for any fancy getaways or romantic dinners so date night meant exploring our immediate surroundings. A new mega music store, Sound Warehouse, opened its doors at the corner of Voss and Westheimer and it soon became our Disneyland…well, mostly Rob’s dream store. I just tagged along, happy to be with him in his happy place.
I still see that young, thin guy, clad in faded loose jeans and worn t-shirt, hunched over rows of records, intently memorizing lyrics and musicians. There was no Google search to later jog his memory; my musician stored every detail in his inquisitive brain. Rob browsed for hours and I soaked in the music and him.
One night, he bought a new release, Dan Fogelberg’s Nether Lands. Trust me, it would not have been his pick of the night, but that was Rob, always thinking of others. We could not afford it, but he bought it anyway; he knew how much I loved Dan’s music and backstory. As usual, we closed down the store, carrying our new purchase to our next destination: House of Pies, open 24 hours a day. That night we probably had to share a piece of chocolate meringue pie and a drink; our cash was now quite low. Oh, but how rich was my heart. I had everything I needed and more.
Scarecrow’s Dream, one of my most favorite songs from the album, plays on repeat as I enjoy my early morning coffee. Oh, how I hope you are making beautiful music, Rob. “And if you ever hear me calling out….”
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