The 4th of July had always been one of my favorite holidays. As a child, we would decorate my buggy and later my bike for the buggy/bike decorating contest at the Legion festivities. We would watch the parade go down Shepard Avenue and then run to get in line to get the free ice cream right after. My dad was often assisting with the ice cream distribution so I could always count on getting more than one for me and my friends. We would hang out at the Legion for most of the day watching various softball games and then get a good spot for the fireworks at night. During my teens years, this was still the hang out on the 4th where I would be the one playing softball or me and my friends would be watching the “cute” boys play in their games. It was always the goal during the first part of softball season to be leading in your league so you could play on the 4th of July!
The 4th continued to be a festive holiday while raising our girls in Franklin. “Frank Fest” became the hang out during the weekend for the girls as well as Don and I and it was walkable from our house. We would watch the various bands at night and the girls would hang out with their friends at the rides. On the actual 4th we had what became an annual party where many of our family and friends came together to hang by the pool and participate in our annual washers tournament! Many complained when I forced them to put their names in to get picked randomly for their teammate but I know they ultimately had a lot of fun and the competition was fierce for the traveling trophies! At night we all moved to the front of the yard for prime seats for the fireworks–well, prime seats except for the groundworks that our neighbors’ house blocked the view of!
So many great memories and fun times. Then . . . two years ago I spent my very last day with Michael Wierman on the 4th of July and the 4th of July lost its shine. For those of you who never got to meet Michael, I’m sorry–you really missed out. He is one of the best people whoever came into my life. He was loving, compassionate, and always spoke up and stood up for what was right and good. He knew sports statistics as well as many other facts like no other and was such a fan of all of his teams and loved to talk about them—well, loved to talk period. He could talk about almost anything. I once thought he talked a lot when he was around us because he was nervous but I soon discovered that it wasn’t nervousness–he just really liked to talk–what I would give to have another conversation with this incredible man.
The best part about Michael is that he loved my daughter. And she loved him with her entire being and that is something that cancer or death will never take away. He left this world knowing what unconditional, endearing, romantic, true love was. And she lives a life knowing the kind of love everyone should strive for and never settle for anything less–a gift that I will forever be grateful that he gave her.
The 4th of July and the world has not been the same since Michael left but step by step we all have made moves forward. Michael was not my son, my brother, my uncle, my grandson, my best friend, or the love of my life but man did he make an impact on me. I still think about him almost everyday and it is still difficult for me to not think about all the “could of, would of, should of beens”. But to live a life in honor of Mike and who he was is to continue to live a life of joy, happiness, and love. He would not want in any other way and his loved ones are doing that no matter how difficult some days may be.
I am including a song in this blog that always reminds me of Mike. It was a song that was used in a Kesem video that he appeared in but later the words meant so much more. I want you to know Mike that we never gave up on you and today we still do not give up on you. We continue to remember you and honor you by living lives better because we knew you. This year the Fireworks will start to shine again and they will become brighter not because the sadness and the grief no longer exists but because the love we had for you is stronger.