I miss you, sweet sister…..

I am awash in memories of Crystal starting with the day she came home from the McChord AFB hospital in Tacoma Washington in July of 1960. She quickly became the center of attention in our family. She was cute as heck, smart, funny and always had a twinkle in her eyes. At a very young age She developed a great sense of humor and always had our family laughing.

Like most kids in the 60s, Mom would cut her hair at home. I can see her sitting on the kitchen counter as Mom would clip away mostly in a short, trendy and adorable “pixie” haircut style with a little dab of “Dippity-Do” holding it all together.

She loved music, had perfect pitch, played piano and could remembering the lyrics of every song she ever heard. She was also very creative and artistic always making, painting or crafting.

She and I developed a great bond together mostly over music and credit each other for surviving the constant moving we did being children of an ambitious Air Force Officer.

After Carol and I both had  left home Mom, Dad & Crystal finally landed back in Universal City, Texas as Dad wrapped up his Air Force Career where Crystal graduated from Schertz/Cibilo High School in 1978.

She ultimately married a high school sweetheart and began working at several jobs over the years in San Antonio, Austin and Houston developing a special skill in administration.

She and her late husband Augie had one son, Ian. After a cancer battle and several disabling health issues she was forced to stop working.

She ultimately purchased a small home on a half acre North of San Antonio in Spring Branch. She loved her Dogs, did small art projects and enjoyed her yard. She seemed to relish in her isolation and solitude.

She was raised in a Christian family,  and I believe she passed still trusting Christ and his promise of salvation.

It was hard seeing her in her final weeks and days in the hospital and then hospice, but today I choose to remember her like she looked in a photo I took with my Polaroid camera in 1969 . Sweet smile, smart as heck, a sparkle in her eye, with that “pixie” haircut and a little dab of “Dipitty-Do”… holding it all together.

I Love You sweet little Sister.

I met Chrystal when I was 19. I was dating her son when he first moved to his mother’s house. We didn’t last long, but Momma and I always stayed close. I wasn’t always around, because I became a mother myself, but momma loved me and my children. I remember when she would invite me over for dinner, she would ALSO cook the BEST food! We would always jam out to some music. We would listen to The Beatles a lot and just sing out loud! We would stay on the phone for hours to catch up. She helped me when I lost my job and don’t know what to do. She could always light up a room. We would talk about The Most High and His love for us. I am blessed to have voicemails from her that I pray The Most High will always let me keep to hear her voice. I miss you momma! I love you very much! Your daughter from another. Until we meet again in The Kingdom! I LOVE YOU! 

I loved her eyes, oh how they twinkled! How I miss those summer days at grandma and grandpa’s house in Augusta.  Rest in peace sweet cousin. 

My memories of Crystal are “red dirt” memories of our childhood days in Augusta at Grandma and Grandpa Hogan’s house. Those were good days.