“Big A”

“Hello…Goodbye”  =  One of Allen’s favorite lines..

Today’s blog is of a post I created before boarding for our (AMAZING->”Thanks” Gina Fowler) Honeymoon in the Fall of 2017.  I’ve been checking my facebook memories regularly lately for this post as I really wanted to re-share it on Allen’s anniversary.  It’s not an exciting kind of anniversary, but it’s a time to remember and reflect.  Below is the memorable post I made 2 years ago in regards to Allen.  He passed on May 20th, 2016.  Looking back it still seems like a whirlwind.  Everything just kind of stood still after we got the call from Robin that night at the concert.  Anyways, moving forward.

ORIGINAL FACEBOOK POST: As Daniel and I arrived at the Airport this morning, we were reminded by memories you try and push aside. The last time we were here we had Marilyn Kay Switzer Esry with us and were heading for Jeffery and Lindsay Fletcher’s wedding. However, the emotional memory is that Daniel’s father had just suddenly passed a couple days prior. We were going for a celebration but leaving with something lost. While reminiscing this morning I realize how God works in such mysterious ways! The day before Allen passed, I went out to hang with him and help with some medical things/appointments. Later that day I had this strong urge to invite them over for dinner. And to all of our surprise, big A actually came over and had dinner with us. We don’t think he ever had came over to dine and for it to be so spontaneous meant even more! I cooked dinner that night as Daniel was at baseball practice. I remember getting irritated because Daniel was taking so long and I was trying to manage the stove, oven and bbq grill. I had fixed hamburgers, turkey burgers, and pasta salad (don’t remember what else) but in hind sight Daniel was late because he was asking for my parents blessing to propose while we were in Florida later that week. We ate outside that night and we had to constantly tell Allen how we were in the city and he couldn’t yell and holler out profanity like he would at home. I teased him how he needed to behave while we were all gone and for him to hold down the fort. He kept saying that night how much he appreciated the dinner and we teased him to eat more or we’d take him to the hospital bc he was barely wanting to eat. Since he wouldn’t eat much I did offer him a beer (even though he was trying to be on his best behavior 😉). I gave him a Busch Light and I’ll never forget his facial expression as he said it tasted like “horse piss”. Allen was pretty stubborn after all. That night he gave Daniel a History journal from when he was young and got emotional giving it to Daniel as he told him to remember him by that, not his older years actions/choices. If only we knew that was the last time we’d see him. Deep down I think he knew himself though. I didn’t know him for too terribly long but gosh I loved that man! We totally got each other and loved giving each other crap. Daniel never got to tell his Dad we’d be getting married as the next night, Daniel and I went to a Billy Currington concert in Columbia and got the call you never want to get. We didn’t get to see the concert as we raced home. The ambulance lights around the Boar’s Nest, the stillness of people in awe and the raw emotions will probably never leave my mind. I always wonder what ol’ Allen would say if he was still here to tell him we were expecting. I like to think he’d say, “well G** damn Feefer ain’t that some shit!” And then he’d get emotional out of pure excitement. Be grateful for the little, precious moments you have in life. You never know when you won’t have them again.

Since, so many great things have happened… Jeff & Lindsay got married; as well as Daniel and I.  Both these couples have had precious baby boys; as well as Josi and the Kellogg clan!  Bennett’s middle name (Wayne) is named after Allen, as he LOVED John “Wayne”, but the name Wayne also runs on Marilyn’s side of the family too.  Sometimes I stop and envision what life would be like with Allen and Bennett here.  I think Allen would just crack up at him and Bennett just grin ear to ear.  They would talk (and “coo”) about going hunting and fishing and how Allen would make Bennett do all the grunt work.. LOL!  Regardless, he is definitely remembered and never forgotten!

For the love of PBR Big A - miss you buddy.. CHEERS!!! 🍻