Dr. Robert McBroom - Online Memorial Website

 Tears of Remembrance

Ahh, my dad the great philosopher --he had so many McBroomisms--so many that I swear I use everyday.  I can hear him saying them in my mind--so I know his great wisdom lives on.  Like my dad, I can be well . . .let's say short tempered and want to spout off when angered but my dad would say--"never get in a pissin contest with a skunk"--maybe not so eloquent--but oh so true!  That saying has saved me many times from saying more than I should.  And over the years when I have just not understood the injustices of the world or how some awful people get away with things, my dad would say--"the cream always rises to the top"  And after working for years around some catty women I finally had to print that saying out and look at it every day to remind me of his great logic.  It seems someone is always trying to get the best of you but by just remembering a few of his sayings--it can save you a lot of anguish and wasted energy.  Man do I miss his funny philosophies and his brutal honesty. He might not always put things eloquently but he spoke the truth and you always knew where you stood with him.  He didn't mince words.  Sometimes when I say--gosh daddy I miss you and I need you--I realize he's right there with me guiding me and giving me advice.

I was adopted but my dad (and mom) NEVER treated me like anything other than their own and I was.  My dad taught me that family is not about blood, it's about the people who love and care for you no matter what.  My dad taught me that anyone can give birth to a child and be a "parent" but that it takes much, much more than that.  Also, in my family I was never treated any differently, not even by my much older brother.  We were a family and that was it.  I never knew any other way. Well I took that lesson into my second marriage when my husband already had a daughter and I already had two and couldn't have anymore.  My dad had taught me that once married, we were all a family, period. To this day I don't allow the word stepchild or stepsister, etc. in our home.  When people ask me how many children I have, I say 3.  And when they say, yeah but isn't one of them your stepchild, I say no.  I have 3 children, period.  I realized that I felt this way because my parents had instilled this value in me. We should all be so lucky. Family is so important to me and always feeling like I belonged meant the world to me.  I want my kids to always feel the same way.  Thanks, mom and daddy

A New Year has dawned and the calendar has rolled on along.  In 2 months we would have celebrated another anniversary in our many, many years together.  You always had a surpise for me each year, no matter how many times we said that neither of us wanted nor needed anything.  You sometimes were the night before buying the card, but you always found the perfect one that expressed your thoughts and caring for me...as if you'd written it yourself.  I still have all of those cards and will have them until my death.

I'm not sure how I will survive 2009, because it will certainly be different without you.  You've been such a huge part of my life for so long, and we've shared everything together.  I want to go duck hunting, turkey hunting, bill fishing, ling fishing and all of the other things that we always did together.  You know that I'm a strong person, and you know that I will survive...but not easily.  I thank God for the memories that you left me with.  I can sometimes laugh at the things that we did and wonder how we managed to survive all of the craziness that we got ourselves into.  We always seemed to be in the right place at the wrong time!  Oh, but to have a few of those times back again, but that can never ever be and there can be no "what ifs" .  Life goes on, times change, loved ones leave us, people can become distant and there's no looking back.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Rest in peace, my darling.  Your struggle is over.  Our hell here on earth is still evolving, but with God's help, your family and I will be fine.  Just know that you're constantly in our minds and hearts as we walk the path that is laid out for us.

 

Just remember.....save that last dance for me. 

January 1, 2009

Being that Thanksgiving is just around the corner-- I remember Poppa- Dr McBroom cooking a 22 pound turkey on our grill when we lived on Canal Street in Pascagoula- The cooking time was approximately 11 minutes- It was like something you would see at the movies-- all that was left was the skin and bones-- but -- we all laughed and made it a memorable thanksgiving-
He is going to be with us this year- I'm sure- he is smiling at us now just waiting to see what we do for him in his place this year-
We love you-
Thanksgiving November 2008----