The Summer of 65

I opened my inbox and my heart skipped a beat when I read the name Rae Chell Xxxxxxxx. It was as if I had been catapulted back in time, back into the past. She asked if I was the boy who was from that far-a-way town, in that far-a-way time, back in the early 60’s with a brother named John. The town, the time and sibling were all a match. But her last name was not the same. Oh! I thought. That’s right. Girls change last names.

All these fond memories came flooding back from the past, of a dear sweet girl who was compassionate and caring during a difficult time. It was the summer of 1965. That fateful summer my parents and younger sister were lost in the Utah Mountains where their plane went down. It was a stressful time as I look back on it…even though, at that time, I thought I was bullet proof. The two months of waiting and wondering for the plane to be found was some sort of strange limbo of not knowing what to do. The
Summer of 65 was a time that is not very comfortable to look back on…although it is never too far from my subconscious. All-in-all it was a sad thing but not necessarily a bad thing. It definitely forced me to do some growing up…something my parents had tried to do…in vain.

As I remember, Rae Chell was a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy situation. She was a warm loving soul that gave some meaning to life and a reason to carry on. I was busy at the end of that summer closing a house, taking a younger brother to college in Missouri, and putting family affairs in order. Then I headed back to college in Lubbock. Apparently I lost Rae Chell in the shuffle. A part of me looks back wondering what could have been, wondering what unattended or unintended fires were left burning. But yet another part of me knows that God has given me what I needed when I needed it. I have no regrets but only thanks and praise for a loving God who has blessed me beyond belief, a God who sent angels to care for me, a God that stood by me through thick and thin.

Rae Chell was and is one of those angels, an angel that deserves nothing but the best. My best wishes, thanks and prayers go out to her and her family wherever she is.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all of your blessin’s
For the angels you send, that teach me the lessons

But just one request, I have for today
An appeal for a friend, for this I pray

I’m sure it would be, so totally swell
For You to bless, my dear Rae Chell

Amen