FROM START TO FINISH

The story starts during their high school years.

It must start someplace! And thus, it shall. . .

As Mike brewed his cup of tea, he reflected on the road he had

traveled . . .

Kathy and Tommy met during a summer neighborhood party. As

is often typical with a few, they seemed to recognize each other

upon their first introduction. The party around them seemed only

to be background as they commenced getting to know each other

under the invisible spotlight. It all seemed to happen in rapid

fashion.

Through most of their high school years they were inseparable.

The large group of friends that they shared came to accept the fact

that they would eventually marry. Who would think otherwise?

Kathy’s older brother, Mike, thought the world of Tommy. He was

an avid baseball player who collected models of all the American

city’s baseball parks. Mike’s favorite photo of Kathy and Tommy

would be that of their standing at the front gate of Chicago’s

Wrigley Field.

Most teenagers are anxious to explore the wild side. On the

southern shore of Long Island lay the house of the Amityville

Horror. Kathy and Tommy would often drive to the house, park in

front of it, and do what typical older teenagers do.

Unfortunately, they never came back with a good story.

A few more years passed. Mike had been away for his college

years at a far upstate college.

Distance has its disadvantages.

Mike was out of the everyday circuit of being at home. He missed

some of the glue that connected the highlights of the ensuing

romance.

Maybe it was not there to be missed?

Following college graduation, Mike had been invited to share a

rental house with two neighborhood buddies of his younger years.

It beckoned him. After considering the offer, Mike gave a positive

response to the invite and prepared for the big move to El Paso,

Texas.

Mike joined his two buddies for a new adventure in the American

Southwest!

John and Harry had been living in El Paso for several years.

Mike settled into his new journey quite well and really did enjoy

the new life.

But something happened back east.

Mike’s sister, Kathy, was no longer dating Tommy!

What had happened to his anticipated future brother-in-law?

Nothing offered.

No questions asked.

Mums the word.

The development became a matter for his future, too, and he was

very concerned!

Almost a year passed, and one day when Mike answered the

phone. . .

“Hi Mike, this is Kathy. Well, I decided that I need a change. I am

going to move to El Paso if there’s room enough for both of us

there.”

“Great, sure, come on down!” Mike blurted.

And so, within three months, Kathy was a Texan!

During her first few years in El Paso, Kathy had kindled a

romance with Mike’s housemate, John.

They married and rendered a son exactly nine months to the day

after their wedding union! John would always admit that he

sweated that one out!

Mike excepted a position in San Angelo, Texas, about 400 miles

to the east.

It was time again for a new venture.

A few years later, Kathy and John decided to split up.

It was a very civil, friendly divorce. Actually, they got along better

and did more things together after the divorce.

Mike asked no questions

No information was offered.

Mums the word.

Tommy had married on the east coast. After many years, he and

Carmen decided to dissolve their marriage.

One phone call from Tommy led to the next phone call, and the

next, and the next . . .

Six months later, Tommy made the move to El Paso to move in

with Kathy and her teenage son.

They are reunited for what seems to be what should have been

but somehow went a-rye.

Life’s normal course had somehow gotten upset for them.

“I love you,” Tommy said. “And I’m so glad to be here with you!”

As they looked into each other’s eyes, Kathy could see the the

cardinal just outside the window.

“Oh, look at that beautiful bird sitting on the white, snow-filled

mighty oak’s branch. The hooting owl sang his song as Kathy and

Tommy became reacquainted.

Still, Kathy and Tommy would never marry.

At first, it was due to the fact that student loans for her teenage

son would be jeopardized.

Mike never asked questions.

Nothing was ever offered.

After eight wonderful years, a cancer diagnosis was delivered to

Tommy. A little over a year later, Tommy passed away.

The internment service went well. Mike stood next to Kathy as

she wept.

“Kathy, you had your wonderful times together, thank the

Lord. But you shall be with him again. Kathy, you will be with him

again,” the minister said respectfully.

Mike watched as the importance of the message was transferred

from the minister to Kathy.

“I will miss him so much,” Kathy sobbed.

“He will be watching over you. You will see him again,” the

minister reinforced.

Mike witnessed and heard this sad departure.

One day the phone rang in San Angelo, Texas.

Mike reached for the phone.

“Hi Mike.”

“Hi Kathy!” Mike happily responded.

“Yeah. I want to move to San Angelo. Would there be room

enough for the two of us in your small city?” Kathy asked.

“Why, sure, you bet!” Mike reacted with surprise.

The move was made four months later.

Over the next twelve years, Mike would often drive over to

Kathy’s house and have a dinner visit. After all, they had been best

friends all their lives.

“Iced tea?” Kathy would always suggest.

“Iced tea, iced tea, iced tea,” her African Grey parrot pronounced

loudly!

Mike would usually decline and say that he had brought a cold

beer with him. On the hot summer days when he stopped at Kathy’s

house to help with yardwork, the cold iced tea would be most

welcomed between mowing the front and back yards.

During those twelve years, Kathy would occasionally mention

that she had watched a cardinal outside the window or in the

backyard. She loved cardinals. Anything with cardinals were

a comfort for her.

“I always feel that when I see a cardinal, he is always watching

over me,” Kathy would often assert.

Kathy called Mike at work.

“Mike, please stop by later for tea,” Kathy asked.

“Sure,” Mike replied. “Anything up?”

“I’m moving to Oklahoma City to be with Peter,” she managed.  

“Well, wow, how soon? Next Year?” Mike replied hiding his alarm.

“In three weeks,” Kathy responded.

“What? Kathy, you have a whole house filled with lots of

treasures, and the pets . . .”

“Mike, I’ll be gone in three weeks,” Kathy simply stated.

Mike had given Kathy a plate with a cardinal on it for her last

birthday. She had most admired and cherished it.

He had no idea of the significance of the cardinal!

She had made the move rapidly as she intended.

Mike stopped at her house after she had left town.

The painted picture of a cardinal still hung on the living room

wall. The cardinal plate that Mike had given her the previous year

lay on the table with all the estate sale items.

Mike wondered why she would leave these behind.

He presumed all was going well in Oklahoma City.

Kathy talked with Mike about looking at houses to buy in

Oklahoma City.

Two months later Kathy’s son, Peter, called Mike to let him know

that his mom was not doing well and in the hospital.

Mike called back two hours later upon leaving his workplace.

“My Mom passed away thirty minutes ago,” Peter cried.

“What? Why?” Mike urged.

“Lung cancer. Advanced,” Peter said.

Mike was stunned. He then realized that Kathy had known her

fate months earlier.

But mum was the word.

Kathy departed to meet her cardinal once again, as was

envisioned long before by the minister.

And now we have reached the finish to a long run. Kathy no

longer needed earthly reminders her cardinal. She knew that she

would fly with him shortly.