(no subject)
When we were little, about 3 and 7, Charlie and I used to sneak jalepenos out of a jar in the fridge. We would each eat one and then jump up and down saying "hot hot hot!". When I was 7 we were all walking around in the woods by our house and I got stung by a bee on my forehead. Charlie picked me up in his arms like I was a baby and ran up the hill to our house to get me help. He didn't even hesitate.
We used to share a room with bunkbeds when we were little. He was on top and I was on the bottom bunk and we used to talk all night and get yelled at to go to sleep by our parents all the time. lol. Once we got a little older we had rooms right next door to each other so when we were mad at our parents or just bored I could hang out in his room just talking, making bugs in the creepy crawler machine, or playing skateboarding or baseball video games.
After he was in job corps he had been away for a few months which was way too long for me and he was coming home for Christmas break. He got a ride to our house and wasnt expected until late at night so my friend Ashley and I slept on the living room floor by the fireplace so we could welcome him home when he walked through the door.
Charlie was always my best friend my whole life. I was the youngest and he paid the most attention to me, played with me, and was always there when I needed him. Even chatting online he had a way of being goofy and making me laugh. I wish I had saved every conversation we ever had on aol or yahoo. When he went to job corps and boot camp I missed him so bad because he was gone for months. Once he lived in fort lewis it was okay because we would text message and we would go pick him and Lizzy up and they would stay for the whole weekend at Mom's house so we were able to make a lot of memories and take a lot of pictures of them. I knew that I would miss him so much when he went to Iraq for a year but I never even imagined I would have to miss him for my whole life. When we found out he would be coming home for Christmas R&R my boyfriend and I decided we wanted to get married and have him there. My mom was so sweet and helped us plan a real wedding in 3 weeks. Charlie came home and held one arm to walk me down the aisle while my other brother Danny had my other arm. It was so fun and we were so nervous. They both were stepping on my dress but Charlie did the most. They both told the reverand "WE DO" to giving me away and then they stepped back and high fived on their way to their seats. Everyone laughed. We all said our goodbyes and got big hugs. He gave the best hugs. I told him to BE SAFE!
5 months later my mom, aunt, and I were staying with my grandparents in Idaho. We spent the day shopping, talking about how good Charlie was doing and that he could come home and get his state drivers license and probably have another baby with Roxy because he wanted more kids so badly. That night, May 26 2007, Ben called Mom. She kept saying "no,Ben,no." We all looked at each other and tried to figure out what he could be saying but Charlie being killed was the last thing I wouldve thought. Mom said "its Charlie". and I just screamed I was too in shock to cry. We went to bed and Mom and I held hands but we got no sleep we just laid there letting it sink in. Elizabeth was only 3 years old. Now she is 8. I now have a 4 year old who is named Jackson Charles. I wish Charlie could've met all of his neices and nephews. They would have loved him. We are all very proud of him and honor his name any chance we get.