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. . . from "momy" Lisa

I will never forget, the sweetest words I ever heard....

Brandon was around 5 years old.

I had just married Mark,

and I felt like I was caught between a rock and a hard place.

Brandon had always slept with the light on,

and frankly Brandon had always been the boss.

Mark was whining about the light staying on,

telling me Brandon had to learn to sleep with out it.

One night I went to Brandon's room to see if I could convince him,

reassure him that it would be okay to turn his light off.

As I tried to reassure him that everything was alright,

I was just in the room next door,

"Brandon lets try sleeping without the light tonight."

Brandon looked at me with those Big Beautiful Blue eyes,

and said so sweetly,

"Momy, I can't sleep without the light."

I answered, "Why can't you sleep without the light Brandon?"

And he looked at me and said,

"Because I'm a light sleeper momy!"

Brandon age 5

Brandon and Rachel 1989

Seems like as long as Brandon and Rachel were together,

one would always see it white the other black.

The two of them would drive me nuts with all their arguing.

Every time we went to go anywhere in the van they had a routine.

Stand outside the van and argue over who got the front seat.

I can't remember one time the two of them didn't go through this ritual.

And once in the van, any little stop would cause the seat shuffle,

they would exchange seats, even if I stopped for 2 minutes.

A few times, I was in no mood for their little routine,

so I would tell them, "Both of You!! Get in the back Seat!"

But all this did was cause them to argue over who got which side.

Brandon would say, "Get in Rachel!"

And Rachel would always reply, "No you get in first Brandon!"

As long as I live I will never forget how one morning,

on our way to church,

the three of us are standing at the front door.

Both Brandon and Rachel have their hands on the door knob,

and they are arguing over who gets to open the front door.

I couldn't believe it.

I just wanted to leave.

I mean, I knew when we made it outside,

I would have to listen to the seat routine.

I took my hand and kept slapping both of their hands,

telling them to let go of the door.

But this war they had, my slapping had little effect.

They both finally let go and I opened the door.

Oh my children,

how I thought this game the two of you played,

would drive me crazy.

But I would give anything, anything,

to be allowed to witness this ongoing war one more time.

I longed as a mother for that day to come,

where both Brandon and Rachel would show,

their deep love for each other.

Brandon and Rachel 1989

I'll get that wish I have as a mother,

someday in heaven when we are all together.

Brandon age 16

This is my favorite picture of Brandon.

Because the last couple of  years I was allowed to have him on this earth,

this is how he always looked at me.

With his eyes over his glasses, and that look that said,

"Give me a break mom", "Jeez mom."

I loved that look Brandon.

It always made me smile.

I miss seeing you look at me that way.

I am so thankful that I was allowed to dance with my son.

I only had one opportunity, but I am grateful nonetheless.

It was at the wedding of my cousin Chris, the day she married Leon.

Brandon looked so handsome that day.

He always did, but especially so this day.

We were sitting at the table, everyone was dancing.

I asked a few times, "Brandon, dance with mom."

And  each time in that deep, deep voice I received a big NO!

Brandon had been eyeballing the keg of beer from the second we got there.

He asked a couple of times, "Mom can I have a beer?"

I told him it would be okay,

but maybe you should wait until your grandmother Rose leaves.

Well, I guess he couldn't wait.

I know in his mind he was thinking,

"The cup is red, how will she know I'm drinking beer?"

Then Brandon came to the table with his beer.

And the first swallow had him putting his glass down

and wearing the biggest foam mustache I had ever seen.

Both his grandfather Milton and myself saw this sight.

And both of us burst out into laughter.

Brandon looked at us with that "duh" look,

"What?" he said.

So I informed him that he had foam all over his face.

It wasn't long before he was feeling the beer.

And when I asked, "Brandon, dance with mom?"

I got a big YES.

We dance that night, and it was hard for me not to cry.

I was so happy to be dancing with Brandon.

Brandon didn't stop at one beer.

the more he drank, the more he wanted to dance.

It was a fun night for me, I hope it was for you too, Brandon.

Leon and Chris's Wedding Day

Valentines Day 1998

email me at msdunlap@gci.net

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