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In February of 1973 I enlisted in the United States Air Force. I was convinced that I could learn a trade and earn enough money and benefits to get a college education without my father having to pay for it. I managed to make it through basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas without much trouble and flew through tech school at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi, finishing number one in my class of Avionics Navigation Systems Specialist. (Fancy term for a dude who works on black boxes on airplanes). In October I was assigned to the 354th Avionics Maitenance Squadron in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 2
There I adapted to the routine of military life and settled in to make my mark on the world as little or big as destiny would allow. I worked in a shop of 7 or 8 guys and one WAF ( Women of the Air Force). It was a growing up as well as a learning experience for me. In the summer of 1974 a new guy joined us. A tall, curly redheaded guy named Richard (Dick) Lynn Todd. He was the epitome of a southern gentleman. He was very polite and highly religious man with a code of ethics reminiscent of Jesus himself and work ethic I could only dream about. Being the newbies in the shop we were taken under the wing of a master technician named Robert (Bo Morgan. Bob happily taught us the ins and outs of repairing navigation equipment on board the A-7D aircraft. We eagerly learned and soon became quite good at it. Dick and I became the best of friends. 3
In August of 1975 I got married. Several months later Dick did the same. We were both living off base. Shortly after a run in with the landlady my wife and I moved into a trailer next door to Dick and Jenny. Where our wives struck up a friendship too. For the next 18 months we practically lived together as one big happy family. We witnessed the birth of their first child, Joshua. We were as close as two couples could get. Life was plain but it was good. 4
In December of 1976 I was discharged and Joan and I returned to Texas. We kept in touch periodically over the next decade or so. Dick and Jenny lived in Florida where he worked for IBM. I’m not sure what he did for them early in his career but I do know he became a software engineer. The guy was brilliant. Anything he put his mind to was an absolute obsession for him. He routinely worked sixteen hours a day because he LIKED it. 5
In the mid 90s Dick’s career brought him to Houston. Where we met again and shortly after that planned for grand reunion when they got settled into to their new home. Again things were good. We stayed in touch and would meet occasionally when careers and domestic life would allow. They even invited us to Josh’s wedding. 6
After a few years here in Texas ,I guess, Jenny got homesick and they moved back to South Carolina. Well for one reason or another we drifted apart. We hadn’t heard from them in a while when one day Jenny called Joan and relayed some terrible news. Dick was dying of a brain tumor. A month of so later Dick died. 7
That brings me to the reason I’m writing this down. Last night I had a dream about Dick. It was so vivid that I didn’t know I was dreaming until I woke up. The dream was actually quite pleasant. (unusual for me in that most dreams I remember are like 50’s horror flicks) We had met in Louisiana, (the ancestral home of my parents) and decided to go get something to eat. After a burger with Dick , my cousin Mike and my Uncle Randof (now deceased) we decided to do some sightseeing around the countryside. That’s when it occurred to me…… “I thought you (talking to Dick) were dead.” He just smiled and the dream ended. I have no idea what spurred this dream and can’t imagine what it means. All I do know is when I remember a dream it usually means something significant. 8
Where ever you are may you rest in peace, Dick Todd. 9
Author notes
I welcome any ideas as to the meaning of this dream.
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
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This is just a heart-warming stroy, Leo. You enjoyed a friendship that was very close and hard to find, and your friend came to visit you in a dream.
You are very fortunate to have had this visit, especially the smile he gave you before you awoke. It's much like a hug between two men who care for each other just because.
I truly love this story. Although I'm sorry your friend is gone, I'm sure he will live forever in your memory and your heart. Love and Hugs, Patricia
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A+
As to what I think about your dream about your deceased friend, perhaps he was just trying to let you know that he was ok and at peace now. You say that your friend just smiled, and then the dream ended. I'm sorry to hear that you lost a good buddy but take comfort in the fact that he's not in pain anymore.
Just when I thought I knew everything about you, Leo, you show me something new about you. Great write my dear friend
I don't know why but I really like stories like this one that give a personal glimpse of one's life.
swp 4/8/06
language: 5, plot: 5, overall: 10, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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great, thought provoking write
Very thought provoking write here, my dear friend
This sort of reminds me of right after going through the wrath of hurricane rita in Winn Parish...and I felt my mom's presence in the roses that sprouted just after the hurricane winds passed. I think Momma was trying to tell me from heaven that see? everything is going to be okay...I'm sending you something tangible to give you hope...Momma passed away from congestive heart failure on April 10, 2004. The coroner's office told me that they think she passed away sometime between 11am and 4pm that fateful saturday. Thank God I found her sitting in her chair on her backporch and not sprawled out on the floor or in her yard. Looking back on it now...I think God was preparing me to find her body when I drove into my carport, went into my mob. home, and received a voice mail message from my son telling me to please go check on Grandma..that she had not answered her phone all day long. Well..I thought that was strange because from where I was ...it looked like she was just sitting..taking a break from gardening on her backporch...she always did that. Well..as I got closer to her backporch...I noticed that she was sitting really still..with head down, sunhat over her head. That is when I knew something was not right. I went into her house and took the phone in my hand to call 911..well that didn't work..so I called my neighbor, Sharee and thank God her husband was home...he came over and affirmed for me what I sort of already knew ...that she was gone..that was just her earthsuit sitting in that chair. Her soul was gone. I remember thinking I needed to call Clotile...a work associate of Mom's and good friend..but then I thought..well..Clotile's gone too. She passed away a few years before. Anyway, after Scott, my neighbor came, he called the the Atlanta police chief's house and from there the coroner's office.
Later that night, my pastor and his family came by...my aunt and cousin, Judy came down...some dear friends of ours..The Geismans came. Can't remember if the Hoffpauirs came also that night...but thank God I was not alone because I don't think I could have handled it being all alone after just finding her body like that. I remember trying to call my sister and I couldn't reach them. I remember calling Billy and he was shocked but told me he'd be on his way home...he was in Oxford, MS pursuing his masters degree at Ole Miss. Dang..this is the longest comment I've made thus far I think. All spurned from a dream you had...geez...great write my friend
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I would love to tell you what the dream meant. But after having a few...... no way they could happen .....dreams. I decided that dreams work like this, you have several things going on in your mind, stories for setting, people to play the parts. Sometimes your brain just spins the wheel and ends up with odd combos. Good that your combo was a rememberable one.
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This was really nice to read. Whenever I read something like this it makes me think of some of the people that come and go in my life. Just out of curiousity I googled dream interpretation - and this is what one site said about dreaming about the dead:
Dead
To see the dead in your dream, forewarns that you are being influenced by negative people and are hanging around the wrong crowd. You may suffer material loss. This dream may also be a way for you to resolve your feelings with those who have passed on.
If you dream of a person who has died a long time ago, then it suggests that a current situation or relationship in you life resembles the quality of that deceased person. The dream may depict how you need to let this situation or relationship die and end it.
To see and talk with your dead parents in your dreams, represents your fears of losing them or your way of coping with the loss. You may want that last opportunity to say your final good-byes to them.
To see your dead sibling, relative, or friend alive in your dream, indicates that you miss them and are trying to relive your old experiences you had with them. In trying to keep up with the pace of your daily waking life, you dreams may serve as your only outlet in coping and coming to terms with the loss of a loved one
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Personally - I think heartnsoul has the right idea about your dream.
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You are an excellent story writer... this kept my interrest from beginning to end! Shiver I hate to think what the dream means. He sounds like a cool guy though.
Red -
This was a bit long, but you told a great story. Life changes and I could really see it when I was reading this. I'm sorry your friend died, he seemed like a great guy from what you told me. I'm glad I read this and I hope other people get that chance as well.
>>> Catalyst <<< -
Well done Leo! I would say to you to look around you. What changes are taking place. How did you feel when you saw Dick, verses seeing your cousin and uncle. Or maybe Leo, similar to a dream I had a very long time ago. They are just visiting and letting you know they are watching over you.
~Michelle~
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