I
learn yesterday that I have lost another cousin.
But
this time, it was expected.. he was 81
And
has had Alzheimer’s for 8 years.
The
past 2 weeks he has gotten weaker.
So
it is rather sad…
But
let me tell you about my cousin Dick.
Dick
at the age of 15 got his own tow truck.
And
ran it .. himself, in a small town in R.I.
In
those days you didn’t have to be 18.
And
when he got more money, he got an ambulance.
In those days, an ambulance was
Mostly
a truck van like, with a first aid kit in it.
The
point was to rush you to the hospital. And
Hope
you lived that long. When there was a
need
For
both, he had his dispatcher drive the
Ambulance. His Mom.
I
love listening to him tell the stories about how
The
mafia tried to put him out of business, and
Then
decided they liked him and respected him,
So
they protected him after that. He saw
some
Pretty
raw stuff.. But never open his mouth
about
Anything
he saw or heard. Guess that is why they
Left
him alone.
Later
he had a gas station, when the ambulance
Vehicles
got more advanced. Then later in life
He
switched to small motors.. lawn mowers and
Snow
blowers.
He
and my dad were best of buds. More like
Father
and son, than uncle and nephew.
Also
trading stuff. Mom would watch Dad like
A
hawk when he would come home from Dick’s
House.
Because he would always have something
That
Dick gave him or traded. Much to Mom’s
Displeasure.
Just before Dad died, Dick moved
To
Florida
Was
a kick in half. It took about 10 loads
or more
To
Florida
Counting
Lois’s stuff and the house hold. He end
Up
getting 2 or 3 huge garages built on his property. Talk about a mess for his family to clean up
after he moved away. He moved with Lois
to a nursing home in Va.
Helped
them. Lois passed away last year.
So
Dick lead a great life.. full of fun… and now he is
Up
there trading stories with my dad and my brother, along with his mom and dad.
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