In the summer of 2004, my husband, my nephew, and I went on a road trip "Out West". Our trip was more than a vacation it was a special journey.
My big brother, Steve, always loved the mountains. He had dreams of living in Montana or Wyoming. However, lung cancer had other plans. His tumor was inoperable. The doctors told him that treatment would just give him some more time. I can't believe how strong he was. I don't mean physically. I mean mentally. I know he didn't do the treatment for himself. He did it for us. Family was always the most important thing to Steve. However, chemotherapy and radiation were abandoned and he decided that he was going to live life to the fullest, as best as he could. His main goal was to take his youngest son, Lee, "Out West" to see the Mountains.
I offered to drive them "out west", but he declined. He knew that I had two little girls to take care of at home. Steve always put others needs ahead of his own. He was determined to go on his own. I think most of us didn't think he would get to go. But he really surprised us.
He told his hospice nurse that he was going whether they liked it or not. So she arranged for him to have several oxygen tanks for the trip. When my brother told me they were going, I really didn't think I would ever see him again. That was the one time in his illness that I completely broke down and cried.
He drove through South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Colorado and back. I don't know how he did it. His son was not yet driving. They had an incredible trip of a lifetime.
AND HE CAME HOME!
He lost the battle in Ocotober of 2003.
Which brings us to the summer of 2004. My husband and I took our teenaged nephew out West for the purpose of spreading his Dad's ashes. My nephew had a map that he had highlighted the route he took when traveling with his Dad. We followed that route for the most part, even stopping at some of the same hotels. We saw numerous National Parks in South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. We decided that we were going to spread his ashes in the Grand Tetons. I played my favorite song, "Imagine" by Mercy Me, as we drove through the park. I popped open a Miller and rose it to my brother. Then his son went off the trails and privately spread the ashes.
Rest in Peace Big Brother!
