August 4th is not just another day in my family. It is one that is both mourned and celebrated by my side (Kim's) of the family each year. On August 4, 1971 my parents received in the very wee hours of the morning the knock on the door no parents ever wants to receive. That was the day our middle sister, Jojane, was tragically killed in a one car auto accident. She was just two weeks past her 21st birthday and was fatally injured along with two of her friends. So much of the weeks that followed are a blur yet so much is vividly recalled. Jojane was a tall slender young woman with a huge zest for life. Our son, Chris, was only 18 months old when the accident occurred but was the recipient of her love and devotion like no one else. She gave him his first bath and helped care for him when we moved to Houston when he was 5 weeks old. They would have been best buddies for life, I'm sure. Both my younger sister, Kelli and I, have mourned over the fact that she never knew our other children either. On the other side of the equation, August 4, 1989 was a day full of excitement and joy as Kelli's youngest daughter, Natalie Renee Dailey entered the world. She has been both a delight and puzzle (as are all children) to our family for 20 years now. We celebrate with her in spirit today as we are not in Texas at this time. In some respects she and her Aunt Jojane are kindred spirits as both of them had/have fierce independent streaks and know who and what they are/were.
So to these two Texas lasses, I say I love you and miss you, Janie, but will see you in due time and Happy 20th Birthday, Miss Natalie, I love you lots.
