Memories of Robert

If you could take a few minutes to share some of your memories of Robert, we would be most grateful. We have heard many stories over the past two weeks, but would like to collect them all in writing. This site will be kept open until November 1; then our plan is to organize all of the memories into a booklet, which we can hopefully have for family members by Christmas.

As this will be a written keepsake, we ask that you take your time and edit your stories to make them concise and readable (not rambling). Proofread what you have written, and get someone else to read through it, before you post. Please be sure to include your first and last name, and note your relationship to Robert. Just click "Comments" at the end of this paragraph to add your own memories. We will be adding pictures soon.
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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousSeptember 8, 2009 at 10:00 AM

    Once upon a time, long ago, but not quite so long ago, there lived in the woods a young maiden, but not quite so young that she did not think and feel deeply. She lived in a big house with many beautiful things, but they were all made of glass and she could not hold them for long without becoming cold. Her parents were very busy, important people, very kind to others but at home with each other they could be quite unkind. There was always enough work to do, plenty of money, but somehow, not enough kindness or love. And the maiden was freezing to death for want of a bit of kindness, a friend, something not made of glass or ice or cool water from the sea. And everything around her was cold, except for her own beating heart.

    One day, this young maiden decided to leave her cold prison for a while and attend a party with other young people around her age. This party was in a humble home filled with lots of love, and kindness, and laughter. The maiden had never attended such a party before, since the rule was one must be at least 15 years of age to be part of the group. Still, because of her intelligence beyond her years from reading book after book alone in her cold room, and her parents' powerful position in the community, an exception was made for her to attend this party just a few weeks shy of her 15th birthday. When she arrived, she was so unique that everyone turned to stare at her. She did not understand then, being young, that there was beauty in her. She did not know her own worth. She knew only that she wanted to stay forever at this warm hearth and laugh and thaw out from the cold. And she forgot herself, and stayed way beyond the time her parents had set for her return. In so doing, she did not realize that it had begun to snow outside, and the snow covered everything for miles, sweeping the roads to her home with crystals of dangerous ice. By the time the maiden realized how late it was getting, and remembered to phone her parents to pick her up, her father was furious with her and refused to come for her. Hanging up the phone, the maiden looked around and realized that she could not drive, and she was white-faced and stricken by her father's refusal to venture forth in the storm.

    Suddenly, there appeared a man beside her, and he had overheard her end of the conversation, for he approached her and quietly said "I'll take you home". He had a truck that was good enough in the ice and snow to get her home safely, and this is exactly what he did. All the way home, the man talked to the maiden and his truck was warm and safe, and he was kind. When he arrived with her, her father invited him inside the house, and for the first time ever, it became a bit warm when he entered. And so, because of his single act of kindness, and many others after that, the house became warm enough for the maiden to grow up safely and thrive. And he never knew what his kindness had done for her, because as hard as she tried, she did not find the right way to tell him. But she never forgot him and no matter what happened after that, as long as she lived, she loved him for the kindness he had once shown to her when it mattered most. And her heart became one of the warmest hearts that ever beat.

    THE END-
    Thank you, J. Robert, for being both a brother and a hero to me! We miss you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2009 at 3:41 PM

    During Robert's teenage years he raised quite a few pigs as a business venture. These pigs were very resourceful in finding ways to escape from their pen, usually during the day while Robert was in school. Several times Mom chased the pigs around the neighborhood trying to recapture them. Robert couldn't figure out how the pigs kept getting out so one day he hid in the barn to watch. He was surprised to find that the pigs would stand on top of their feed trough then they would get their front feet over the top rail of the pen and proceed to see-saw back and forth until they fell over the top to freedom. In an attempt to prevent this from happening, Robert placed plywood around the pen so the pigs couldn't "walk" up the slats of the pen and get out. This worked fine until one morning, before leaving for school, Robert went out to feed and water his pigs, then forgot to turn off the hose when he left. That afternoon when he returned, he found a flooded pig pen and several pigs trying desperately to keep their snouts above the water. They all survived the ordeal, but I think Robert soon gave up raising pigs.

    Karen(Robert's sister)

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  3. AnonymousMarch 27, 2010 at 2:56 PM

    Love you Robert. Happy Birthday. I know that you are with Jesus. No more pain, tears or sorrow. I'll see you again someday.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMay 15, 2010 at 7:47 PM

    Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.

    In loving memory of my best friend.

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