Happy Birthday, Leta
Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around my oldest sister Leta. I’ve mentioned before that I learned a lot about music from her; some of it from her saying; “Listen to this” and some of it from having to tolerate “If” by Bread for the 100,000th time from the next bedroom. My Mom would agree. I forgive her for that; though, because it taught me to seek solace in song when I needed it, just as she needed to have David Gates deliver it to her.
I remember trips to Charcoaler for a coke. I remember her teaching me how to drive a stick shift in the parking lot of the elementary school up the street in her Celica. I remember getting my license and asking her time and time again to borrow her car. By now it was a Pontiac Sunbird with a sunroof. Even though I knew there were times when she would have rather not; she did anyway. I remember a ski trip to Ruidoso when one of the cars broke down and 9 of us had to pile into Mark Sauntry’s Cutlass Supreme. This had to be around 1977 or 78. I remember the year because I was singing The Grand Illusion by Styx until Leta had to tell me to shut the hell up. Little brothers need to be told sometimes that they are being obnoxious. I moped for a little while; it wasn’t my fault that the only other 8-track in the car was some K-Tel compilation and that no one could stomach Rock the Boat anymore. I think it was the fact that I couldn’t carry the high notes as good as Tommy Shaw did in Man In The Wilderness that sent her over the edge. I’m actually lucky, I think, because if she hadn’t said anything, it’s quite likely that someone else in the car would have taken my life before Come Sail Away.
I remember the scrapbook she made for me my Senior year in football. I get it out every once in a while and dream about what could have been. I remember being at the hospital after she gave birth to her son; the first grandchild in the family. I remember climbing on the roof of my parents house 4 years later on Christmas Eve and dangling the sleigh-bells that hung on my parents front door down the chimney. I shook them to and fro and in my best Santa voice said; “Ho, Ho, Ho! Is Trey down there? He better get home, I’m on my way!” I don’t think he’s ever put his shoes on faster since. I remember a night in 1978 when she and I went off the road between Santa Fe and El Paso and ended up in a cement culvert in the middle of I-25. That accident should have killed us both. She had fallen asleep at the wheel and we had drifted off the right shoulder. The rocks hitting the under carriage woke her up and she pulled the steering wheel to the left. The force broke the right front tire and it crumpled beneath the car. In so doing, it brought us back across the freeway into the culvert. This was 3 o’clock in the morning. When we went back in daylight and saw the tracks on the side of the road, we stared at each other in amazement. We were about 10 feet from going headlong into a 40 foot gully. Nobody would have ever found us. The state of New Mexico operates on the pretense that if they can hear your car hit bottom, then they don’t need a guardrail. They’ve saved millions of dollars over the years, but cost many lives. God was surely looking over us that night.
Of all the things that I remember about my sister, the one thing that I forgot was to call her yesterday. Yesterday being her birthday and the reason for the title. I didn’t actually forget her birthday in totality, I actually remembered it several times in the days leading up to it and 5 times throughout the day. The problem was; each time I remembered, something would distract me from calling. The first time I picked up the phone to call, the other line rang. The second time I had all but 2 numbers dialed in and some kid throws an acorn at Nukegirl and pegs her in the eye. By the time we got her home from her brother’s football practice and got everyone fed, bathed and in bed and cleaned up a little it was too late to call. I know, I know; excuses, excuses. I do apologize, Leta, for not calling you yesterday, but as you can see, I had a lot going on. Today? No excuse whatsoever. That’s why you get this post instead. The phone call will come tomorrow; if you’ll forgive me enough to answer. Happy Birthday. I Love You.
Mr Lady
Anyone with such good musical taste gets a happy birthday from me, too! Happy birthday, Leta!
Mr Ladys last blog post..I’ve Still Never Been To Detriot, Though.
Oct 11, 2008 @ 2:49 am
Sue
What a lovely post for Leta! So glad she woke up in time! Eeps!
(NukeDad) Me too, Sue; me too.
Sues last blog post..Kindergarten Is Tough
Oct 11, 2008 @ 9:04 am
Weaselmomma
Happy Birthday Leta!
Weaselmommas last blog post..Ask Not What Your Momma Can Do For You, But What you Can Do For Your Momma
Oct 11, 2008 @ 9:25 am
Leta
G-. I don’t know what to say except thank you. I’m honored to be placed on your blog. I guess you never know or remember how you affect someone’s life…even a brother. When you think about it, it is amazing that you, I and our brother survived childhood. Poor Mom would have a stroke if she knew some of the things we did. Underground forts with cardboard roofs covered with dirt, getting lost in the Bosque’s, jumping off the roofs of houses being built into sand piles…I’m sure you remember these and other things.
I also remember there were a ton of kids in our neighborhood. Think about it..between us, the Spencers, the Shores and the Pereyras there were 17 kids just in those 4 houses. Lots of baseball games in the street, scavenger hunts….just plain fun. Not a lot of TV, no video games, just bikes, skateboards and barefeet.
Thanks again for taking me for a trip down memory lane. And this is SO much better than a phone call, so there is absolutely no reason to feel guilty. I Love You. Leta.
(NukeDad) I’ve been thinking about the bosque lately; I’m working on a post for it. I forgot about the underground forts! I could have been the original baby Jessica!
Oct 11, 2008 @ 10:53 am
tom
This is so cool. What a great family you have. Happy Birthday, Leta and wishes for many more.
toms last blog post..The Scent of a Daddy
Oct 11, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
Stacey
the best part is how much you all influenced me. I’m the youngest –so take your experience and multiply it . I too went to Charcoaler, singing Little River Band at the top of my lungs(different era, different band). Truly, what a blessed childhood. I couldn’t ask for more. I had (have) the coolest brothers and sisters on the planet. lucky me. lucky us.
(NukeDad) Oh, man; am I ever craving a #1 with double cheese, extra ketchup and a lemon Dr. Pepper. You’re right; I think we were all lucky-but it took some effort to get us all there too.
Some families never even make the effort.
Oct 11, 2008 @ 11:13 pm
Karen
That is so sweet, happy birthday to Leta =)!
Karens last blog post..Contamination Fairy Drawing Contest
Oct 12, 2008 @ 4:52 am
Kim
awhhh..
Happy Birthday to Leta..
Kims last blog post..Weekly Winners
Oct 12, 2008 @ 9:32 pm
matt
Happy birthday, sis! And don’t worry too much about the Styx thing, man. I have their greatest hits on my iPod. There, I said it.
matts last blog post..Ready. Set. Go. The Adventure of A Lifetime
Oct 13, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
Momo Fali
Aw. You almost make me wish I had a brother.
Momo Falis last blog post..Spanning the Globe
Oct 13, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
Mike
There’s nothing like immortalizing your sister in cyberspace. I’m sure that this will not soon be forgotten. Congrats to your sister for another year…
Mikes last blog post..Drama at the Beach
Oct 14, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
Steve
Wow, what a trip down memory lane. My Sisters and Brother, we should also remember those nights in the garage at the Sauntry’s house during the summer spinning 45’s to the tune of “Let it Be” and many others, football in the front street, frisbee tag aroung the house, and probably something near and dear to each of us was the fires and keg parties at the river. What I wouldn’t give to be able to go back to those much simpler times when we packed Dad’s truck up to go on the annual trip to Raton and then later on Santa Fe. Those were the day’s!!!!
(NukeDad) Ix-nay on the eg-kay! NukeBoy1 reads occasionally and I would have lots of splanin’ to do. What about the football games under the lights at Marwood Park? And who can forget Mrs. Driscoll careening around the corner on 2 wheels at 80 mph? I can’t believe she never hit anyone. Check the news also, Juarez is a tiny sliver of what it used to be. Part of the allure was the danger of going over in the first place; these days it can get you killed.
Oct 15, 2008 @ 9:22 pm
Nuclear Family Warhead » The Student Becomes The Teacher
[...] it birthday time again? This series started when I forgot to call my sister Leta on her birthday, prompting an apologetic post listing all of the lame excuses I could muster. It actually turned [...]
Dec 18, 2008 @ 7:06 pm