Oktoberfest Means “All In The Family”

October is a lot more than pumpkins, fall festivals and Halloween for me. My oldest brother was born in October. And so was my youngest son. And, if that wasn’t enough, my favorite grandson also slid into the world in the tenth month. October spells family for me.

 Leon was the first “best friend” I ever had. You don’t get to pick your brothers but I sure wouldn’t throw him back. I don’t ever remember life without him. He “broke in” most of the clothes I wore in those early years. He’d sit next to me at supper and explain which foods were good for me and which were “fillers”. He taught me to lean forward when we ran; how to line the sight up on that official Red Ryder BB gun and which trail would get me safely though the woods. He showed me how to milk a cow. And, to the best of my memory, he was the first person to put a baseball in my hand.

 He would push me around a mite. I figured he was just toughening me up for life. He would make me do his chores. He organized the yard mowing. He pointed out which row was mine when we were cutting okra or picking cotton. Somehow Leon was always in charge. We could complain, argue for a vote or plan to munity but the plain truth was he knew so blooming much more than us there wasn’t no other intelligent path to take. It was like fate sealed both of our roles.

 He shepherded me and our little brother to the movies on Saturday. He led the way over to Pat Houston’s Grocery where we’d buy baseball cards. If I wanted to go to town, “it was alright”, Mom would say, “as long as Leon goes with you”. If he liked Tennessee Ernie Ford’s singing, so did I. If he was a Chicago Bear fan, so was I. If he didn’t like school or a particular teacher…..then I didn’t like them either. There is a lot more to being the oldest brother than meets the eye!

 I will tell you something I bet you don’t know about Leon. He would kid me around girls; sometimes he said things that would downright embarrass me in front of LaRenda Bradfield or Jane Hill. He’d give me crazy advice about buying candy for girls and then hinting that they were overweight so I could eat most of it myself. Or he’d get on me about kissing a certain girl when he knew good and well I wouldn’t touch her with a ten foot pole! But guess what, when I took Charlotte Melton to an eighth grade party and Leon drove us he never kidded or joked or said a word. He knew that I liked Charlotte and it was my first date ever and instead of making fun or having a high ole time or showing out, he treated both Charlotte and me with the utmost respect. I will never forget that. God gave me a big brother who knew when to do what! 

 Jesse was born on October 1. He was due Christmas of that year. My youngest son likened to not have been at all! He weighed less than 2 pounds and his little lungs fought for every single breath. Sometimes, to this day, as I lay down at night I can still hear Dr. Benton saying “if we can get him air lifted to Sacred Heart and if he is a real fighter, he might have a chance”. It is amazing what Jesse taught me about life and prayer and faithfulness and miracles……in the first week of his life!

 He couldn’t mow the yard worth a flip. He didn’t get carried away with the mundane. He’d drive me crazy playing Nintendo all day long. He would eat at a snail’s pace just to teach me patience. He favored the Cubs over the Cardinals and the Packers over my Bears just to show me, I reckon, his dogged independence. He beat to a drum sometimes of which I was not always familiar. But he was a son that thought his way along, never embarrassed the family and who made me proud at every turn. When things get to moving pretty quickly today, too fast for me to figure on the run…… I call Jess for advice.

 Luke came along in October six years ago. He was the first grandchild I ever held. He was the first grandchild I silently promised the moon. He was the first grandchild who, with a host of parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and the like clamoring for his attention, ran to me! Luke and I have gone to the zoo, explored closets, swam in the ocean and chased Bad Louie to Deadwood City and back. And we are just getting started! He is old enough to phone us. “K.K., what are you doing?” I’m telling you, kings have never received a better greeting!

Life is still worth living because I have Luke to look forward to. I want to chase after him and hear the laughter from both of us as I never quite seem to corral him. I want to “make that memory” of his eyes alive and alert as we high step together. I cherish the role of his “all time best good buddy”. 

 I wish I had been the brother Leon has been to me. I wish I had been the father that Jesse deserved. I want Luke to remember me long after I’m gone……the same way I remember my grandfather.

 And I hope and pray that all three of my October boys understand and appreciate my never ending love and admiration for each of them.

 Respectfully,

 KC, Dad, KK