48 Years Ago Today; July 28, 2020

It is early Tuesday morning, July 28.  Today would have been my sister's 48th birthday.

I started to think about this a bit on Sunday as I was finishing up a book that I bought on sale from the Barnes & Noble in College Station late Saturday morning.

Actually, it was two books that I bought.  Some might call it part of a minor addiction.

Nonetheless, one is Howard Kurtz's "Media Madness:  Donald Trump, The Press and the War over the Truth" and the other was Joe Biden's "Promise Me, Dad."

Call it equal opportunity reading.  :-)

Biden's book, honestly, was hard to put down as he covered many themes, but most importantly the common thread was his late son Beau's cancer diagnosis, treatment and eventual succumbing to the disease.

However, much was written about the relationship that Beau and his brother Hunter shared.

I read it with a little bit of envy. 

Not that mine with Holly was ever totally bad (yes, there were times that we were distant), but it wasn't where one consulted with the other over a major decision as the two Biden brothers, born little more than a year a part, did.

Holly and I were born five and a half years apart.  That probably kept up from being closer than we could have been.

I faintly remember her coming home from the hospital after she was born. 

Well, it was more like I think I remembering missing my Mom more than anything

I remember that I had stayed with my grandparents, my Dad's parents - my Gom and Papa, while my Mom was in the hospital bringing Holly into the world and remember running to her - and almost tackling her - when she came in the door to the kitchen from the garage at the house in Tipton.

There are other simple memories that stand out.

We moved a few times in the late seventies. 

From our home in central Pennsylvania to Texas, then to Arkansas and back to the western part of the "great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" - as I like to say when I announce and know that a runner from home crosses the finish line.

Four and a half months we made a home in a two-story townhome - that felt like three due to the entry from the garage below - in Venetia (in Peters Township south of Pittsburgh) before heading back to Texas in March 1980.

We weren't there long enough to really get to know too many people - although I surprisingly had good enough friends that took me to a Penguins game before we left - so we played with - and I'm sure quarreled some - each other quite a bit.

I remember we spent too much time throwing either a ball - one of those ones that cheerleaders throw out to the crowd at sporting events - or a rolled up pair of white socks shaped similarly up and down the stairs between the two floors.

Minor in consequence, but major in the good memories column.

Some might call it a shame that our best memories don't some from more significant events in our lives, but I suppose working together on something is really significant.

I know this sounds really egotistical - given all of the races I've run, attended or been a part of putting on; however, the inaugural Chick-Fil-A 5K and the Run With The Cows Kids' 1K in Spring was about the only perfect event that I've ever been at or involved with.

Maybe something minor with the race happened that I've long since forgotten about, but when Holly passed six and a half years ago the race was still fresh in my mind when I delivered a eulogy at her memorial serivce and referenced it with the same opinion that I have today.

The results can still even be found online:  http://runhoustontiming.net/race_result/1342614807_8028428_cfa5Koverall.txt

Driving home from a movie late Monday evening, I chuckled remembering that we actually crossed Kuykendahl - over about a quarter mile into the race and back late in the race! 

You couldn't do that today, for sure. 

While I brought some resources to bear for the race, that was not any pull that I had, but rather the relationships that Holly had built through her professional career.

That was truly one of the greatest days ever, even though I personally that day experienced some emotional sorrow that maybe only Waverly knew about.

Obviously, today is hardest on my Mom as well as my Dad.

We won't understand it fully until it is our time to pass on from this earth and - as a result of accepting Christ as our personal Savior - spend eternity in Heaven.

All I know to do is to keep the best memories - regardless of how significant they are or aren't - alive and well and to pay respect to all that she accomplished and had a hand in or was a part of, including - in different ways - the continuing successes of her two daughters - my two nieces.

I know from the Bible - and believe - that Heaven exists, but wouldn't even fathom to say how things actually are there so I hesitate to say the popular "Happy Birthday in Heaven" just because I don't know if that's really the case or not.

However, I will use the occasion to keep her memory alive as long as I'm around to do so.

2020 Movie Ratings

Make You Think / Action
1.  "Just Mercy", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (January 9)
2.  "Clemency", Regal Green Hills, Nashville, TN (January 29)
3.  "The Gentlemen", AMC Metropark Square 10, Shenandoah, TX (February 17)
4.  "21 Bridges", Star Cinema Grill Richmond/Katy, Richmond, TX (June 12)
5.  "The Outpost", Tomball Premiere 7, Tomball, TX (July 5)
6.  "The Hunt", Star Cinema Grill Conroe, Conroe, TX (March 16)
7.  "Bloodshot", Star Cinema Grill Missouri City, Missouri City, TX (July 10)
8.  "The Last Full Measure", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (February 4)
9.  "Richard Jewell", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (January 7)
10.  "1917", Cinemark at Market Street, The Woodlands, TX (January 17)
11.  "The Rhythm Section", Cinemark Valley Ranch, New Caney, TX (February 3)
12.  "Bombshell", Cinemark Spring-Klein, Spring, TX (January 10)
13.  "Deadpool", Star Cinema Grill Vintage Park, Houston, TX (July 3)

Thriller / Odd Endings
1.  "The Invisible Man", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (February 27)
2.  "The Wretched", ShowBiz Cinemas Fall Creek, Humble, TX (June 5)
3.  "Brahms:  The Boy II", Regal Lone Star 19, Tomball, TX (February 26)
4.  "Underwater", Cinemark Valley Ranch, New Caney, TX (January 20)
5.  "The Turning", Regal Green Hills, Nashville, TN (February 13)

Feel Good
1.  "The Photograph", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (February 25)
2.  "The Call Of The Wild", Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas The Woodlands, The Woodlands, TX (February 23)
3.  "Mighty Oak", Star Cinema Grill Baybrook, Friendswood, TX (June 6)
4.  "Playing With Fire", Star Cinema Grill Cypress, Cypress, TX (June 6)
5.  "The High Note", Waco Hippodrome Theatre, Waco, TX (June 13)
6.  "Max Winslow and the House of Secrets", ShowBiz Cinemas Baytown, Baytown, TX (July 6)
7.  "Jumanji:  The Next Level", Cinemark Tinseltown 290, Houston, TX (March 10)
8.  "Harley Quinn:  Birds of Prey", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (March 3)
9.  "Bad Boys For Life", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (January 21)
10.  "Smallfoot", Huntingdon Cinemas Clifton 5, Huntingdon, TX (June 25)
11.  "Irresistible", Star Cinema Grill Springwoods, Spring, TX (June 29)
12.  "The Way Back", Xscape at 1488, Conroe, TX (March 8)
13.  "Like A Boss", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (January 16)
14.  "Downhill", Cinemark 17, The Woodlands, TX (February 18)

Classics
1.  "Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark", ShowBiz Cinemas Kingwood 14, Kingwood, TX (July 2)
2.  "Jaws", Cinestar of Huntsville, Huntsville, TX (June 30)