Sometimes it takes a tragedy to bring a family and friends together. I know. It happened to me.
My children were scattered to the four winds. Kathy in New Braunfels, Pat and Vicki in Denton; Shannon had settled in Richmond, Virginia. Kalli and Tony were in Little Elm. We weren’t estranged, just widely spread.
Since retirement, I hadn’t kept up with several friends.
The tragedy occurred in the middle of the night November 18, 2018, when my house outside Driftwood caught fire. I escaped with one night in the hospital. My wife, Joyce, died in the blaze.
Not only did I lose my wife of 41 years, I was left with only the pajamas I had on. I didn’t even have shoes.
That was when family and friends regrouped to help put my life back together.
Kathy took me to her house to stay until I devised a plan.
Tim McKenzie, whose late father had been a friend, called to offer an unoccupied apartment he owned.
Everyone came together to solve my problems.
As a newspaper editor, I had written about businessman Tracey Dean, then president of the Wimberley school board. When Tracey heard about my misfortune, he appeared with a sizeable check from members of his church. Then he arranged a line of credit for building materials at McCoy’s and hired a carpenter to help me rebuild.
My granddaughter, Bethany Kraft, set up a GoFundMe to raise money. Friends I hadn’t seen in some time mailed personal checks with condolences.
Granddaughters Melissa Niland and Rachel Nielsen helped set up the apartment as friends contributed furniture and clothing. Tim and grandson-in-law Brian Nielsen cleared cedar and built a pad for a foundation.
We purchased an unfinished 16-by-40-foot building as my future home. With much help and my building skills, we finished the inside to my design. Grandchildren as young as 5-year-old McKinley, 12-year-old Ned and teen Chase contributed. Grandson Cliff Roberson, a professional electrician, provided lights and power. Pat hung a storm door and installed cabinet shelves while Vicki, my daughter-in-law, joined the girls.
My former wife Vicki and her friend Joe nailed down the oak flooring furnished by Tracey from a remodeling job he’d done.
Now—thanks to all their love and efforts—I’m settled and happy in my new home. It’s been said that it takes a village. A tragedy can prove what it really takes is family and friends.
