His "Baby" - his only "Babe"
For 35+ years (over half my life) this tribute IS my best friend! We traveled thousands of miles to and with each other. We laughed to tears and I cried in general sometimes (never him though because he is the strong one)! In all these years we never missed a single birthday or holiday (most important being Groundhog’s Day & Halloween). I always called his “YOUR” day because bdays were voodoo to him! We never missed a beat in anything, and communication was always there from both sides. We never had a missed call from each other – we always answered.
We conquered dirt roads, darts, nice dinners out, rivers, gas station snacks, casinos, floods, stupid cold winters, tourist traps, the hottest summers, drunk TINA (once or twice), family gatherings, cars with no AC, funerals, soooo many airport rides, 1/8” ribbon of all colors (if you know you know), oceans, nighttime, war ships, dolphin watching, daytime, hotels & motels, sunsets, movies in theater, the “Ohio-Flu”, sunrises, bars, Christmas light tours, beer gardens, church, bike rides, festivals, military bases, and EVERY single thing in between. Each had ONE boundary, he never got a spoonful of sweet potato pie in my mouth, and I never got him on a horse with me.
Age difference and small-town USA never deterred us – we know what we are doing, and we got this! We NEVER had a fight – NOT ONE – although there was a nonending debate on who was better between Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart (it’s Bret btw)! We never judged the other for any single thing! We never let outside things influence us! We had each other’s backs 24/7!
He made me a better person – I made him laugh. He is the ONLY person who could just say “Tina Marie” in the softest of voices and my antics or tantrum would STOP even as I entered my 5th decade! He believed I am smart, and I knew he was smarter! He was always my SAFE SPACE from the big mean world. I am beyond broken, that is a fact, but I am at peace that he is at peace.
I have, do, and will continue to cry at this change in life, but only like a champion would because he would be SO MAD if I was “freaking whiny, crying, and crap” or started to dwell in sorrow over him. I am to enjoy the days and the nights. I am to respect and love the nature I still get to surround myself in. I am to be silly, laugh, and never ever ever give up on ANYTHING I believe in. I am to BE DIFFERENT because I always have been and “it’s a good look on me”.
I will never forget our final words or delete our last text, but I will smile at a sunset or river’s edge every chance I get just so I can see him standing in the distance smiling back at me! Being his “Baby” was an honor and I will be forever proud that he chose me! I will dance in your memory and not the loss just to make you proud. William J. from the bottom of my soul to you in heaven - thank you my love – for everything.
