Blog 2817 – 07.15.2023

Martimus At Midnight

A polar bear in the land of the midnight sun is the star of today’s children book reading. Today would have been, had she lived, the forty-third birthday of my daughter Emily Elaine White. I was on a two month work assignment in the land of the midnight sun, Alaska, when Emily sang her swan song and left this stage for I believe a higher engagement.

Her last act was relatively short if not so sweet. She had gone to the emergency room in late May of 2012 with what she thought might be appendicitis. Alas it was not. After a couple of days of testing the hospital doctors determined that she had a large tumor on her liver. On a Friday in early June, I spoke with Emily on the phone and she and her boy friend and partner in the musical group called Dancing With Spock, Toby Harris, both said they were determined to fight this thing and to win. By the following Monday all the fight was gone and was replaced by the sad resignation that this battle would be short and their last together. It was one of the most difficult calls of my life.

I could have probably arranged a flight from Kenai, Alaska to Virginia where Emily lived, just outside D.C., to be with her during her last days but instead decided to book flights for her mother and brother in Austin, Texas to fly to be by her side. And I also asked my better, braver, more beautiful half, my lovely and loving wife Linda, Emily’s second mom, to be there in my stead. I knew those three could comfort my Angel more for I would be unable to hide my distress from Emily and so I opted to stay in Alaska working but in constant phone contact.

On the day, just five days after her thirty-second birthday, July 20th, 2012, Emily flew home and I got permission to take the day off and drove from Kenai, Alaska to Homer, Alaska to there say farewell to my Angel Girl. Emily is and has been since even before she was born a part of my heart. She bestowed upon me one of the greatest honors any man can ever know, she made me a dad.

On or about September the first a new baby girl is due to arrive. My son Jay and his lovely wife Lauren are expecting their first child. This little girl, like her wonderful Auntie Em before her, will bestow upon me another great honor, she will make me a grandpa. I have already bought her a small pink safe, complete with her first gold coin, and first silver coin. There is also an American Girl Bitty Baby and carrier on its way from Wisconsin for her. These two gifts will not mean much to her for at least a couple of years, but there will be others to remind her how very prized and precious she is to all in her orbit. When she is old enough her dad and I will tell her about her Auntie Em and share her stories and songs with her so that Emily will be a part of her heart too.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NS378ORbO_h2MZ0w8TdFDRuufsInjpIU/view?usp=drivesdk

Martimus At Midnight

True performed by Dancing with Spock – Original song – LIVE at MelonHead + Friends