Monday, July 16, 2012

430 miles for fajitas?

     We drove to Ft. Worth, Texas last Monday to eat fajitas at Papasitas Cantina!  Actually and to be truthful there was a lot more involved than that....and as Paul Harvey would say "and now the rest of the story".
     We got a call on Friday from someone very special to us, Erin Rhode.  For those of you who don't know...she is the daughter of LT James Mitchell JR who was killed in Viet Nam in 1965.  (Jim was Ed's LT and killed from the same land mine that injured Ed.)  She told us that she and Scott would be in FT. Worth on Monday evening and wanted to know if we could make the trip south to visit with them.  There was no hesitation in answering that question...obviously we would go!  It has meant so much to both of us to have Erin and her family in our lives.  This year her three children were not with them as they all had their own activities elsewhere...so we also left our grand children home.  Over the years her children and our grand children have developed a great friendship and we are so happy about that!
     Erin and the two of us arrived early in the day and spent an afternoon "catching up".  Scott arrived at the hotel about 7:00 PM and we left for Papaistas Cantina; Scott's absolute favorite Mexican restaurant in this area.  We enjoyed a dinner of wonderful fajitas.  Scott says they are the worlds best!  Back at the hotel we visited for a long while before going to get some rest from the long day.
     We met for breakfast in the morning and visited some more before Scott had to leave for work...we wished him well saying "someone has to work!".  We were all a bit uncertain if this was the 3rd or 4th year we had been meeting here; but for sure it has become a yearly event for us and we so enjoy the time spent together.  It truly means so much for Ed to be a part of Erin's life.  For him it is an important way to honor the memory of LT. Mitchell. 

Connie Beesley

    It is so amazing how certain events are etched in our memories. Even the passage of time cannot diminish their impact on our lives.  One such event happened in my life on July 20th 1965.  I was in Vietnam where we were fighting a war our politicians would not let us win and our fellow Americans did not support, a very confusing time for a 19 year old farm boy. On that day I recall my platoon commander announcing the birth of his baby girl Erin. To me that baby girl was a symbol of hope in a chaotic world.  Her father James M Mitchell Jr.would be killed in action six weeks later.  She would never see him.  It would be many years later that I would be privileged to meet that little girl who was now grown and has a family of her own. Erin, You impacted my life those many years ago  and you Scott and the kids still inspire me today.  Thank you soooo very much for being in my life.

Semper Fi
Eddie R Beesley

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