I remember that my dad always found time to have family dinner each night. Even though he wouldn't get home from the hospital until around 8 pm, he still made sure we all sat at the table together and ate something great my mom cooked each night. I didn't realize how much it meant to me until I got older and had my own kids. Now we make a point to eat together at the table at least once a week. It's not every night but hopefully once a week is at least a tribute to my dad and some of the great things he taught me. And hopefully it will be as important to my girls one day.
I first met Bobby at a party given in his honor to welcome him back to Centreville, MS, as an Internist. He asked me to come "dance with him on the rocks", which simply meant outside on the patio where the music was playing. At that moment, I think we both knew that this wasn't just a casual dance. Less than two and a half years later we were married, and we spent many years loving and laughing---until death did us part. I have so many memories of so many funny things and so many wonderful things during our years together. I pray that I will be able to retain those memories, since they are what keep me going.
Bobby loved Christmas, possibly more than anyone I've ever known, and he loved the outdoors. If he could have made a living by hunting and fishing, I'm sure that is what he would have done. However, if that had happened, this area would have missed out on one of the greatest doctors that I have ever known. A lot of his peers called him "Sherlock Holmes", because he would never stop until he figured out what was wrong with a patient. He left no stone unturned in the practice of medicine, and his patients always came first. Another nickname that was given to him by the female employees of the hospital was "Dr. Wonderful", and he ate that up! He was not only a good and caring physician to his patients, but he was their friend as well. I have been so pleased to have so many patients call or write me and say exactly that about him. He would be so proud.
Thank the Lord that I liked to hunt and fish, so we did everything together. We worked together every day, and we played together every day. What more in life could you ask for in a relationship? His love for me was so strong that he would have done anything in the world for me, and I knew that I could count on him for any and everything. That was a real comfort throughout the years, and I miss him more and more every day.
Rest in peace, my darling--------
Dr. McBroom was one of the most interesting men that I have known. He once told me the story of completing his Batchelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and how he ended up going to medical school. He loved to travel and was an avid outdoorsman. Each time I met with him, I learned a little more about him. He was a self taught artist and the scenes that he shared with me were of outdoor scenes. He had a clear passion for medicine and his patients. Because of Dr. McBroom's exam detail, he was able to detect early stages of cancer for a friend of mine. Because of this, my friend is still here today. Dr. McBroom accomplished so much in his life, yet he was humble. He will be missed, but can never be forgotten.
One of my fondest memories of my dad was how he was at Christmas. He was like a kid, always in a good mood, singing Christmas carols. And over the years our family developed a lot of traditions at Christmas, most of which I have tried to continue. And just being around my dad at Christmas would get anyone in the spirit. He loved decorating the Christmas tree and every year without fail he would pick it out, my mom wouldn't like it and he would say he was never picking out another one. But the next year would come and he'd go pick out another one. And our family made a big to do out of decorating it that became very special to me. And then we always had Christmas dinner together and my dad would roast his famous turkey, make his delightful gumbo and everyone's favorite wild rice. My dad instilled a lot of rich tradition in me and I only hope I can do that with my own kids. Merry Christmas, daddy.
