I want to take a moment to remember the first time I took a ride on a motorcycle. See, it was my first and only ride on one, because I never trusted anyone more than I did my cousin other than my Dad, but my dad wasn't the motorcycle kind.
I still remember his quiet raspy voice, and he told me to get on, and I wanted to hesitate as my heart was revving up to the max as if it was the winning car in the Indy 500, and on the last lap in first place....I wanted to go so bad, but no what ifs.. I trusted this man with my life, because he was my favorite cousin on my mom's side, who was always there for me (when I was a kid), and I trusted him with my life. I knew I wouldn't have no regrets if I got on, and took the ride.
It was the best ride ever! He was careful and cautious while I was on there with him, and I couldn't have asked for a better ride with anyone else! Plus, I don't think I could ever trust someone as much as I did him other than my dad, but my dad didn't ride motorcycles, not in my lifetime. I never allowed anyone the chance to go for a ride on their motorcycle, and I never realized how special that day would mean to me today or for all of these years.
When I say he was there for me as a kid I mean he made sure my family didn't go without as long as he could help us or knew we needed something. If you knew me as a kid, you knew how dirt poor we were, and we barely had essentials on our good days. There were times the only food we had was at school or at a friend's house. We ate very small plates, and no seconds when we had food. My parents had 9 kids and I was number 8, so by the time I was old enough to remember the early days we literally had nothing.
My dad was disabled, and my mom was a stay at home mom. She didn't have a choice, but to stay at home and take care of the kids, since hiring a babysitter would cost more than two people's paychecks for the week. As a result, there were days we wondered what we were going to do for meals so many times, and he would show up with boxes full of chips, and on other days he would have someone drop off donuts or he'd stop by with donuts and other food. I know there are so many memories like this from others, because he was such a wonderful man raised by two great parents who shared the same values as he did.
He was always there for us as kids (me and my siblings), and there were so many times we didn't get Christmas, but somehow my cousin would find out, and he would take us to celebrate Christmas over at his house and show us his tree, and we would get there just to find presents under his tree with our names on them. I still remember my favorite Christmas present, and it came from him, a real "My Little Pony", not the cheap, fake ones, but a real white My Little Pony with a rainbow mane and tale. We didn't have Christmas unless he brought us presents or my Aunt Wanda on my Dad's side of the family. I remember 3 Christmases where we had presents from our parents, and about 4 or 5 because of my cousin or Aunt Wanda. I am forever grateful for them!
As I type these great memories who helped shape the person I am today. I pray he knew how many times he was the light God gave me to brighten the darkness in my childhood, and I thank God for him. I know I took the time to thank him for those days, but if I could've spent more time with him or could've been the light in his darkness...
You see, we forget all the great times we share with our family when we begin adulthood and into our busy lives building a family of our own. Then, before we know it, days, weeks, and even years go by and you lose that communication with them, and miss out on so many great memories. Then, one day you find out they have passed, and you can't get back that time...
You will forever be loved and missed Frankie!
For any of you who have someone who has been a true inspiration to you as a child or even later on in life, please take a moment and call them today. Not to just thank them, but to make a point to spend time with them, because we are not guaranteed tomorrow, and don't be like me wondering if he really knew how much I loved him, and how grateful I will always be for such a blessing he was to me!