This story is dedicated to my amazing Uncle Randy who's life story was cut short. Now this is just based on his life, not everything will be or is factual, so, please don't get upset if I added my own story to it. Thanks!
The day was an amazing day in January. January 10th to be exact, the year was 1957. A beautiful baby boy had been born to an amazing family. He was the youngest of 3. Two sisters, Cheryl and Brenda. They were the happiest girls that day. They couldn't wait until Phillip was home with them. He was a gorgeous baby, the most hansom that anyone laid eyes on. Every stranger that saw him had the same reaction. They wanted to keep him, be a part of his life., there was just something amazing about him from the start.
Now for those that might think, oh, I'm sure he was born into money, lets get that straight now. The family was not in any position to be raising 3 kids. They struggled daily, but did with what they had. One thing the family did have was plenty of love, for one another and everyone they had met. Strangers were welcomed with open arms, if someone was worse off, they would offer to give their last dime if it would help that person out. These people were the type that you only heard about!
Phillip was now in high school. He had many friends. There was one that he was closer to then others. Now this guy had a few sisters, and by a few I mean 5. Phillip had met one of the sisters, Peggy. He knew right then, that this was the one! He was only in high school, people thought he was crazy, but he knew he was right. Peggy had felt the same thing, so they got married at 16. Had a child at 17, a beautiful daughter named Marie. Everyone said it wouldn't last, that they wouldn't make it, no one believed except them. As with any marriage it is difficult, but at 17 being married and having a child, you know its rough.
Phillip and Peggy both got jobs, worked as hard as their bodies would allow to make life the best it could be for their daughter Marie. They were poor in the eyes of others, yet Phillip always told everyone that he was the luckiest man in the world. His daily saying was, "I am the man who has everything!" People never understood what he had. They lived in a little house, barely made enough to survive and pay their bills, yet he always smiled and knew he had it all.
As Marie grew, Phillip and Peggy's life got a bit easier on them. They got better jobs, were able to splurge, buy a house and go on vacations. People now started to see how he could have a smile on his face. They now saw, he had a beautiful house, nice car, jet ski's, everything that most people would dream about. One day, a co-worker approached Phillip, "Hey man, you are so lucky. How did you manage to get everything you have?"
"I don't know, but you sure are right, I am lucky. I have everything a man could want." Phillip responded.
Much time had gone by, Marie was now married with children of her own. Two little girls that Phillip and Peggy just adored. They did everything for these girls, as they had done for Marie. On a dreadful day in late 2006 Phillip had gotten some terrible news. He had cancer. His family was devastated. Everyone was in shock, he was such a healthy man, loved to run, ate right, not something anyone would have expected. He on the other hand looked at it as just another obstacle. Something that he and Peggy would get through together. He had treatments did everything he could to fight it off and it worked. He was cancer free! Everyone that knew him loved to hear that! All hearts were hopeful that this was it.
A year had gone by and with every test Phillip had had, it always came back the same, except this last time. His cancer was back, and spread. This time the lungs. All hearts were dropped to the floor. Now, let me explain this man a bit more to you, so you understand why so many people were hurt and affected by this.
Phillip was such a man, that you can't even compare him to anyone else. He was fun, loved to dance and party. He had the best jokes ever, his smile was contagious. When he was around it was hard to not laugh or smile. Don't get me wrong, he had his serious side as well. It was deep and caring. He loved everything and everyone the same. He never judged, he was always welcoming, to even the strangest of people. His heart was always open. Never did a person hear a bad thing about a anyone come from his mouth, unless it was true, I might add.
Now you probably have a better picture of him as a person. He touched many peoples lives, and many people loved him . The news of the cancer spreading was terrible for all, yet he still looked at it the same, something to over come. He fought, treatment after treatment, still saying the same thing, "I am the luckiest man, I have everything any man could want." Still people didn't understand, he had a terrible disease, yet he smiled, pushed everyday to be a part of daily life, never giving up.
As time went on the cancer started taking over, doing what it does and being terrible. Now as you all know this isn't just a story to me, this is true to my heart. It broke everyones heart to know that it was winning. Many times people thought we would lose him, but he just kept on fighting, going strong and moving on. The smile always there, sometimes not on his face, but in his heart always. Finally, the cancer had completely taken over. He still pushed to do what he had to, to make sure he was still a part of his families daily life. Giving everything he had to keep going, keep fighting.
One day a friend had gone to visit Phillip, and told him, "Man, you sure are a fighter. You always said you were the luckiest man and had everything any man could want in life, you still feel that way?"
Phillips response shocked everyone around, "Yes, I do still feel that way. I am very lucky. I don't know what I did to deserve the beautiful wife I have, or the amazing daughter. I have the best family that anyone could ask for. I have great sisters, my mother is the most amazing woman, even my in-laws, they excepted from the beginning and love me as their own flesh and blood. I don't know how I got everything I have, but I'll tell you, I sure believe that I am the man who has everything."
Everyone sat in shock, he never once spoke of the material things. He was lucky and had everything because of the people in his life, not the items in it.
This was very difficult for me to write, as this man is very close to my heart. I miss you Uncle Randy and I love you so much. As for my aunt and cousin, I am so sorry, but know that he loved you both and you are the reason he had everything!
The day was an amazing day in January. January 10th to be exact, the year was 1957. A beautiful baby boy had been born to an amazing family. He was the youngest of 3. Two sisters, Cheryl and Brenda. They were the happiest girls that day. They couldn't wait until Phillip was home with them. He was a gorgeous baby, the most hansom that anyone laid eyes on. Every stranger that saw him had the same reaction. They wanted to keep him, be a part of his life., there was just something amazing about him from the start.
Now for those that might think, oh, I'm sure he was born into money, lets get that straight now. The family was not in any position to be raising 3 kids. They struggled daily, but did with what they had. One thing the family did have was plenty of love, for one another and everyone they had met. Strangers were welcomed with open arms, if someone was worse off, they would offer to give their last dime if it would help that person out. These people were the type that you only heard about!
Phillip was now in high school. He had many friends. There was one that he was closer to then others. Now this guy had a few sisters, and by a few I mean 5. Phillip had met one of the sisters, Peggy. He knew right then, that this was the one! He was only in high school, people thought he was crazy, but he knew he was right. Peggy had felt the same thing, so they got married at 16. Had a child at 17, a beautiful daughter named Marie. Everyone said it wouldn't last, that they wouldn't make it, no one believed except them. As with any marriage it is difficult, but at 17 being married and having a child, you know its rough.
Phillip and Peggy both got jobs, worked as hard as their bodies would allow to make life the best it could be for their daughter Marie. They were poor in the eyes of others, yet Phillip always told everyone that he was the luckiest man in the world. His daily saying was, "I am the man who has everything!" People never understood what he had. They lived in a little house, barely made enough to survive and pay their bills, yet he always smiled and knew he had it all.
As Marie grew, Phillip and Peggy's life got a bit easier on them. They got better jobs, were able to splurge, buy a house and go on vacations. People now started to see how he could have a smile on his face. They now saw, he had a beautiful house, nice car, jet ski's, everything that most people would dream about. One day, a co-worker approached Phillip, "Hey man, you are so lucky. How did you manage to get everything you have?"
"I don't know, but you sure are right, I am lucky. I have everything a man could want." Phillip responded.
Much time had gone by, Marie was now married with children of her own. Two little girls that Phillip and Peggy just adored. They did everything for these girls, as they had done for Marie. On a dreadful day in late 2006 Phillip had gotten some terrible news. He had cancer. His family was devastated. Everyone was in shock, he was such a healthy man, loved to run, ate right, not something anyone would have expected. He on the other hand looked at it as just another obstacle. Something that he and Peggy would get through together. He had treatments did everything he could to fight it off and it worked. He was cancer free! Everyone that knew him loved to hear that! All hearts were hopeful that this was it.
A year had gone by and with every test Phillip had had, it always came back the same, except this last time. His cancer was back, and spread. This time the lungs. All hearts were dropped to the floor. Now, let me explain this man a bit more to you, so you understand why so many people were hurt and affected by this.
Phillip was such a man, that you can't even compare him to anyone else. He was fun, loved to dance and party. He had the best jokes ever, his smile was contagious. When he was around it was hard to not laugh or smile. Don't get me wrong, he had his serious side as well. It was deep and caring. He loved everything and everyone the same. He never judged, he was always welcoming, to even the strangest of people. His heart was always open. Never did a person hear a bad thing about a anyone come from his mouth, unless it was true, I might add.
Now you probably have a better picture of him as a person. He touched many peoples lives, and many people loved him . The news of the cancer spreading was terrible for all, yet he still looked at it the same, something to over come. He fought, treatment after treatment, still saying the same thing, "I am the luckiest man, I have everything any man could want." Still people didn't understand, he had a terrible disease, yet he smiled, pushed everyday to be a part of daily life, never giving up.
As time went on the cancer started taking over, doing what it does and being terrible. Now as you all know this isn't just a story to me, this is true to my heart. It broke everyones heart to know that it was winning. Many times people thought we would lose him, but he just kept on fighting, going strong and moving on. The smile always there, sometimes not on his face, but in his heart always. Finally, the cancer had completely taken over. He still pushed to do what he had to, to make sure he was still a part of his families daily life. Giving everything he had to keep going, keep fighting.
One day a friend had gone to visit Phillip, and told him, "Man, you sure are a fighter. You always said you were the luckiest man and had everything any man could want in life, you still feel that way?"
Phillips response shocked everyone around, "Yes, I do still feel that way. I am very lucky. I don't know what I did to deserve the beautiful wife I have, or the amazing daughter. I have the best family that anyone could ask for. I have great sisters, my mother is the most amazing woman, even my in-laws, they excepted from the beginning and love me as their own flesh and blood. I don't know how I got everything I have, but I'll tell you, I sure believe that I am the man who has everything."
Everyone sat in shock, he never once spoke of the material things. He was lucky and had everything because of the people in his life, not the items in it.
This was very difficult for me to write, as this man is very close to my heart. I miss you Uncle Randy and I love you so much. As for my aunt and cousin, I am so sorry, but know that he loved you both and you are the reason he had everything!