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Here We Go
Have you read the introduction?
Have you read about Dale?
We had decided to go to Purtis Creek in Eustace to camp for a week, but first we went to Wayne's. I needed to get an inspection sticker for the truck and we wanted to see Dale before we left.
Linda said we were crazy when I told her we'd be camping. She's not the camping type. She couldn't understand how anyone could enjoy being in the woods for even a few days, much less a whole week. Wayne just said it was too cold.
Dale called and I told him we would visit with him in the morning.
We got up early the next day and went down there. We wanted to leave around noon so we could get out to Eustace before dark.
Dale was up and waiting for us when we got there. Seems he had called Linda and asked her to have us come pick him up so he could do his laundry. He said that was a long time ago though and he had just taken his medicine so he didn't want to go now. Later, Linda told me it was really, really early when he called so she didn't get up.
I felt bad about not offering to do it for him, like I had last time. I wanted to spend what little time I had with him, though. I didn't have time to do the clothes. I didn't know then that later I would think back on it and wish I had done them. Later, I would wish I hadn't been in such a hurry that day.
I told Dale we were going camping. His reaction was about the same as Linda's. Why in the world? He hooked up the playstation so Alex could play while we talked. He had me go through his cabinets and get some cashews and crackers. He also insisted we take his compact cooler. I could tell he was worried about us. I also knew he was lonely and would have loved to have us spend some time there with him. His only company was his dog Pepper and the home health care workers.
Dale was too hard to take in large doses, though. Alex and my other son Joey were the only people I knew that could spend hours and hours with him. I told him we would come back and see him in two weeks.
We left to get the inspection sticker and didn't get back until 12:30. We went back to Dale's and stayed until 1:00. Before we left, I gave Dale a big hug and told him I loved him. It was one o'clock, November 2nd, 2006. It was the last time my brother hugged me. It was the last time he told me he loved me.
Purtis Creek - Eustace, Texas - Crazy cats, cramped cold quarters, and scary creatures. Our first night of camping may be our last.
or see the index a little farther down this page
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