Backseat Jabber

So, we have Jack for about five days (July, 2011) and are enjoying every minute of it. He's been out and about with me on a few occasions and rides in his car seat in the back. He is quite observant, but he is often constantly chattering about this or that, going from one thing to another and sometimes talking so fast it is hard to understand what he is saying (esp. in the convertible). It occurred to me that I'd heard much of this before. Dear Daughter, your son has your knack for Heathering. Not as often as you, perhaps...but let's give him time. Love, Dad

Who Is that girl?

Dad says…
The instance of this story was always special to me, because it showed how Heather’s playing ability was viewed by her teammates. Heather was always a pretty good soccer player even though she developed her skills in a recreational program. When she was a freshman, WHS did not have a girls’ soccer team, so she tried out for the boys’ team and made the junior varsity. She held her own that year, and we added girls’ soccer when she was a sophomore. Unfortunately she broke her leg on a hard play early in that season and had to sit out. She played well as a junior and this story took place during the summer before her senior year.
During summers we always had weekly “open fields” in which boys and girls could come out and play for fun and conditioning. It was coed, but pretty competitive, just the same. We also encouraged new freshmen and transfer students to join in. That way they could make friends and be more comfortable when school began. This particular summer (1995) saw a new boy show up at the field. We welcomed him and saw that he was an average player, but he had an above-average mouth. He was always trying to “explain” his mistakes instead of learning from them. He was a little cocky, but the other kids would deal with that if he was good enough to help them.
After attending for a couple of weeks, he returned and Heather was there this time. He grumbled about having to play against girls, but no one paid much attention to him. As it turned out, he and Heather were playing on opposing teams, facing each other at middle wing positions. The boy played a very “physical” game against Heather for about ten or fifteen minutes. She didn’t say much, but I could tell she was becoming annoyed. At that point she shifted into mid-season form and completely dominated him; tackling his possessions and beating him all over the place when she had the ball. He couldn’t handle her quickness and ball control.
When we took a water break he came off the field griping about everything, but no one would listen to him. Finally, he just said out loud, “Who IS that girl?” Things became very quiet. Then a friend of Heather’s, Kevin Finn spoke up. Kevin had played a lot of soccer with Heather and they had been teammates on that boys’ JV team as freshmen. Kevin simply looked at the kid and said, loud enough for all to hear, “Her name is Heather Morgan, and if she were on this boys’ soccer team, you wouldn’t be.”
I have to tell you that was one of the proudest moments I every had as a Dad.
The boy came back for a few more open fields, but never came out for the team in August. Heather made All-District the next spring. You go, girl.

February 13, 2011 6:01 PM

Pasckittee and Jingle Bells...

On Heather's 33rd birthday, I am reminded of how much she loved spaghetti and Christmas Carols. When she was in 3rd grade she was in the hospital for about a week with pneumonia. She tired of the hospital food and wrote pasckittee on the menu for the kitchen. They thought it was quite funny and sent her a big plate of spaghetti for lunch. Heather was quite proud of herself for getting just what she wanted. Heather always started playing Christmas Carols right after her birthday. She would play them before that, if possible. So today family and friends, share a bowl of spaghetti and play your favorite Christmas Carol. Here's to our Heather. We miss her so.

Love you all

Betty

Game Ball

When I was in the Navy my ship was sent to the South China Sea during the Vietnam War. By coincidence, President Nixon had visited communist China a few months earlier. Because of that visit, certain restrictions on Americans in Hong Kong were relaxed. In particular, a very large department store owned by China and filled with items made in China was no longer off limits. When our ship visited Hong Kong in September of '72, I was able to shop in that store. There were many beautiful things, and I purchased some. But, I also bought a very nice hand-stitched red and white soccer ball and brought it home. The soccer ball stayed with me on the ship for two more years...then on to St. Louis when I got out. The ball journeyed to Butler with me when Betty and I were married and then on to Waynesville when I changed jobs. There were many types of sports balls around our house as Heather grew, but the one she liked the most was that pretty red and white soccer ball. I remember watching her kick it when she could barely walk. We started youth soccer when she was in the fourth grade and she played every year after that through her junior year in college. We saw a World Cup game in Dallas and Olympic games in Birmingham. The 2010 World Cup begins today in South Africa. She would be so excited and would be telling Jack and Morgan all about it. It's fitting that the girl that loved rainbows so much is watching the Rainbow Nation's games from above the rainbow. Love you, Honey. Dad

From Stretch Marks and Beyond

Although my pregnancy is only half way over, my stomach continues to grow to a size that I have never seen while looking down. As a woman who will eventually not be pregnant, I am trying all of the little things, fact or fiction, that will help me to fit back into my old clothes at some point after this little girl has been delivered. All of this reminds me of a story that Heather told me while being pregnant with Jack.
Heather, much like myself, was attempting some of the “tricks” that would keep others from knowing she was a mom just by her physique. Heather was so proud of herself from somehow keeping those pesky stretch marks from appearing on her stomach. She was excited to know that she was one of the lucky ones. Then one day, while unloading the dishwasher, Heather came upon a large pan on the bottom rack. As she unloaded the pan she saw a reflection. In that pan, Heather saw what she could not have seen without the aid of a mirror. She saw the underside of her belly & the stretch marks that she thought she had beaten.
Even though I only knew Heather a short time, I believe that she would say that each & every stretch mark was well worth it. She was a tremendous mom & I only hope that Aunt Heather will continue to guide me from stretch marks and beyond.

Christa

3-12-2010

March 12, 2010
Dear Friends and Family,
A year ago today, we lost our wonderful daughter and grandson in a terrible truck-train accident in Hartford, Illinois. We have been supported by wonderful friends, family and church. For that we are very grateful. As we cross this moment on our journey of grief, we are reminded of all of the blessings we have received in our thirty-five year marriage. Our children and their spouses would have to be at the top of the list. Heather and Matt’s son, Jack, is also a great reminder of what the future holds for all of us. Matt is our true hero. He has done all he could do to help Jack grow and remember his mother. Matt’s family has done more than we could have asked to help him raise Jack without Heather by his side. Skylor and Christa have had the support of Christa’s Mom, sister, friends, and church. We are so grateful to those who helped raise funds for a scholarship in Heather’s name at Missouri S & T. That Scholarship will be around a long time to remind us that Heather was a caring and intelligent professional geologist, wife, and mother.
So, the question for us after a year, is now what? We have observed from many angles that life goes on and on. No matter how hard it may be, we must move on and have a full life for however long that may be. None of us know how long we have on this earth. We can assume nothing. This we know after losing our Heather: She was loved by all who knew her. We miss her more than we thought possible. We understand without question why Matt was the one Heather chose. We are amazed at the little person their Jack has become. We treasure our friends understanding and support every day. We know we are not the only ones in this world to have suffered such a loss. And... we have a lot to look forward to in the coming years. Skylor and Christa have blessed us with the news that they are expecting on September 4th of this year. We know Heather is pleased with this news as well. We see her smile in every cloud, blade of grass, and flower. All, signs of new beginnings and the coming spring.

Betty

What is a year?

A year is 365 days. It’s a birthday, an Easter, a Thanksgiving, an anniversary, a Christmas. It’s a time to heal, realizing I have scars from the slip and slide with you 25 years ago, and your scar changed my life. When you left, I never thought I’d be where I am today; functioning. I remember the first month, barely able to get out of bed. Struggling to maintain what I’d worked so hard for. Then the summer crying at work when my coworkers didn’t know. Maybe they did. Then came the fall, your favorite season, as well as mine. Your birthday was my worst day. I’ve made it through every milestone, except a year. The hurt is dull, the sudden loneliness when I think of you is real. I want to share with you. My life, our life, your life. I know you listen, and I know you are watching us all. A year tells me, it will be my lifetime before you can respond. What’s a year? A year is shorter than the sum of all the days. As some seemed like they’d never end, we are suddenly here at this moment. A year is a new start. Less mourning, more mornings. I will surely fail throughout this year, but it will pass quicker than the last. Then next year will be better. I cannot wait to see you, but since I cannot seem to measure what a year is, then perhaps when I do see you, it will seem like no time at all. I love you and miss you Heather. Smile you’re going to be an aunt.