AUSTIN FAMILY STORIES
Johnnie

One memory I have (besides growing up thinking that all you ever cooked were beans) is in the mid 90's when we were on our way to a family gathering. (Fulks side I believe) and Harold wanted to take the old Chevy. You reluctantly agreed stating that it always broke down. So off we go. I was in the back seat with my family and we get most of the way there and sure enough, Ruth breaks down. We sat there and could not get the old car to start. You started in on Harold for attempting a long drive in the old car since it always seemed to break down. This went on for a while and Harold changed the subject a few times hoping for a miracle such as the family would come looking for us or that the car would decide to start. It took a few hours to get a ride back to the house to get another car so that we could pull the old car back home. By this time we had missed the family gathering.

When we later talked to family who had been worried about us not showing up they all said the same thing. "We called your cell phone but there was no answer" your reply was "Oh I keep that thing in my purse but it's always turned off so nobody will call because it cost money when they do" I thought Harold was going to jump out of his skin. We were stuck on the side of the road all afternoon and the whole time you had a cell phone that was turned off. You knew that you had screwed up but you stuck to your argument that the phone was only for emergencies and that it cost money to use it. Harold finally gave up the argument knowing that it was a lost cause.

You are a strong and wonderful woman. My mother obviously took a few notes from you over the years. In 2010, we lost Jimmie. This was a year when she needed support from everyone around her but even through this time I needed her more than she needed you. 2010 was also a devastating year for me. Not only was Jimmie gone but I went through a strange and horrible divorce, one of my best friends was killed, I was in a car wreck, my appendix ruptured and that actually is just the tip of the iceberg. I guess you were the one holding her up so that she could hold me up.

Thank you for whipping her until she peed her pants when you caught her smoking and then whipping her again for peeing her pants. Thank you for holding her up while she held me up. You are the foundation that many houses have been built on and they all are still standing strong today.

I love you.

Johnnie AKA (brother)

You are the only one that still calls me that.