Bob in my heart
When my husband Bob and I got married, my only regret is that I didn't make a toast. Bowing to "tradition," as well as my discomfort at public speaking, I passed.
But when Bob was in the hospital for the final time—on our 12th wedding anniversary—I decided that now was the time to write my toast.
Bob was raised a Christian Scientist, and I recognized in him the innate sweetness that I found in my Mother, her Father and many of their cousins. Beyond kindness, they all shared a way of living that was open and trusting, without guile.
Bob was goofy, there's no denying it. He could make me laugh ’til the tears and the snorting came. He had lovely manners, opening the door on my side of the car first, not because he had to do so, but because he wanted to.
He was a great hand-holder. Never did we walk more than a few steps without him taking my hand in his. We always sat side-by-side in restaurants, especially in booths, like our favorite spot for breakfast, the Denny's in Monterey, where we'd go after working out. 🙃 We'd always ask to be seated in "Edie's section," and almost always had our “regular.” We'd split a Grand Slam: egg whites with cherry tomatoes and an English muffin for me, oatmeal and two eggs over medium-hard for Bob. We'd read the newspapers and point out articles we thought would interest each other.
Bob loved sports—I mean he REALLY loved sports! I always told friends that if cricket—or even tiddlywinks—were televised, Bob would watch it. I grew up with a Father and four brothers, four sports fans and one brother who follows the ponies. They have listened in awe as Bob dissected any number of games, teams, leagues, calling up statistics and factoids from his childhood, teen or college years. The 1967 "Ice Bowl" at Lambeau Field, the South Carolina-Clemson rivalry or a Milwaukee Braves game when Warren Spahn was pitching.
He followed college football and basketball (South Carolina Gamecocks and Wisconsin Badgers and, out of loyalty to me, the Oregon Ducks); pro football (Green Bay Packers and the team of his adopted home state, the San Francisco 49ers); pro basketball (Golden State Warriors, of course); pro hockey (San Jose Sharks); but most of all, baseball: the San Francisco Giants!
At Bob’s memorial service, my brother Jeff summed up many of the reasons that he and the rest of my family and friends adored Bob. He said that Bob had turned his sister from someone who a completely non-sports person to an avid fan.
I would say that Bob turned me from an observer into a participant. It was much more fun that way, and life with Bob was always fun.
