Dear Darrell,
I'm sitting here on your porch this early, foggy morning thinking about you, as always. The fog is so thick that I can't see your neighbor's house (but I can HEAR his dogs!). I'm still amazed how far sounds carry here in the "flat" lands.
As I look all around me, I'm reminded of one of my favorite memories of you; the first time I came for a visit. You were standing on this porch waiting for us to get out of the vehicles. I looked around and then looked back at you; there was this huge grin lighting up your face. You were so proud of this beautiful land that you had found and so happy that we could be here to share it with you.
It was just like the grin you had in a picture taken when you were about 9 or 10.
You were with our brother, Bill and your friend, Ronald, holding up a rabbit that you had caught. It's one of my favorite pictures of you, looking so proud and happy, with that big, beautiful grin.
Well, the fog has lifted so I can take my usual morning walk. The land is even more beautiful with all the work you have done; fields cleared, trees planted, the garden, so many things. But I see all the things you showed me that you were going to do, and all the work that you had started.
I try to remember how happy you were with all your plans and dreams, how well you and Merry worked as a team, and how happy you were when family came to visit. You were so excited about how many of the family were making plans to visit this summer. I think you would have been happy if a couple dozen of us would have brought campers and just stayed! Your family always came first with you.
But as I walk around it seems so empty now, and no matter how many of us are here it's too quiet.
I remember when you were in that horrible mining accident 24 years ago and almost died. You were so young, only 26 - the same age our Mom was when she died. By the time you were taken into surgery all your family was there to support each other. After some time had passed, a roaring noise, like a loud waterfall, blocked out all other sounds, and the only thing I could see was a dense fog. I sensed our Mom's spirit and I knew that you were going to her and leaving us. I prayed so hard that God would let us keep you awhile longer, no matter how disabled you were. I felt our Mom's spirit again, as though she was smiling, and I knew you would be ok. I was then able to hear and see again and I told Merry and the rest of the family that you were going to make it. The doctors told us later that there was a time during surgery that they thought they had lost you.
I know that you lived with pain everyday of those 24 years, but I am selfish and want more time with you.
You would be proud of Merry, Dale and Emma. Merry is so lost without you, but she carries on for Dale and Emma. Dale and Emma give Merry constant love and support and they are helping each other get through this.
My life is forever changed without you, but I am forever blessed that you are my brother.
PS: Take care of Robert
Love always
Your sister, Dianna
