School started and school ended. This means that summer is here. YAY! I was going to go spend some time over the summer with my dad. Oh boy was I excited. I packed my clothes, and hugged and kissed Herbie good bye. I got in the car with Trish (cousin) and was headed to Salt Lake to see my dad. Trish took me to Artic Circle to get some lunch and then we ran around, finally she took me to the bowling alley where my dad was bowling (he was on a league). I got in there and said I had a tummy ache. My dad got me a drink and sat me on the bench. He went back to bowling. But I knew once he was done with his game, he would come and play with me. My stomach started to get bad and I told his girlfriend (we will call her Betsy, not her real name) and she told me to be quiet and go sit back on the bench. As I was laying on the bench I threw up all over. Betsy came and grabbed me by the arm and told me to knock it off. They called my brother to come get me and he did.
I felt ok the next day and was playing with my nieces waiting for my dad to come see me. He wasn't able to make it. I stayed at my brothers for 2-3 weeks, but no dad. I did get to talk to him on the phone though. I of course would call Herbie. I didn't want to go home so I would call Trish to see if I could stay longer. Finally she told me no and that it was time to come home. I was leaving the next day. I called the bar to talk to my dad and he said I won't be able to make it tonight sweetheart but I will come tomorrow before you go.
I sat waiting for my dad and Trish came to get me, but still no dad. I told her I didn't get to see my dad. My sister in law at the time said he was at the bar and so we stopped there to see my dad. He came outside to see me. I was so excited. I hugged him and told him I loved him and he said the same and then told me to be a good kid and he will come see me soon.....He didn't come until Christmas...It didn't matter I got to see my dad. I was the happiest kid ever. My dad and Herbie all in one day, who could ask for more.
Time continued on and the "punishments" were the same, swinging into the walls and ya know the normal. The next school year came and went and I went to see my dad again, but out of the 2-3 weeks I was there I didn't see anyone but my neices. My brother would go buy us a bunch of junk food and movies and come back in a few days, to get us some more. When it was time to leave we stopped at the bar to see my dad.
When I got home I was so happy to see Herbie. His kids were down to visit they were alot older than me. They even had their own kids.
His one daughter took one of our drinking glasses and so I told my mom, so I wouldn't get in trouble for it. A few days later she told me that her and Herbie were getting divorced. "What"? I said, "what does that mean"? She explained it to me and I asked if I could go with Herbie. She told me, "no" That Herbie was really mad at me and didn't want anything to do with me. That he didn't love me anymore because I have a big mouth and was the reason they were getting divorced. All I could do was cry. I didn't mean for anything to happen. I didn't get to see Herbie for a long time.
After school had started, I was walking home from school and I seen Herbie driving. I waived and was so excited. He kept driving, I thought, oh no he does hate me. But really he was going around the block to come back to see me. I told him what Trish had said and he reassured me that was not true that he loved me very much. He took me to get some ice cream and took me home. I called him all the time, yeah I probably drove him crazy but he always talked to me and then he started to come get me and take me for rides.
He later moved to New Mexico and we kept in touch through the mail. But the visits came to a stop.....He did move back to Utah a little later on.
I kept in touch with Herbie up until his passing in January 2011. I hope that everyone can have a great person in their life like Herbie. I was very lucky to have him in mine! I love you Herbie...
