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Robby James Wirick Rob made his debut on July 24, 1971. He was born jaundice and before we left the hospital he got pneumonia in his right lung. When I was released from the hospital, the little fella had to stay. It was so hard to go home and leave him there, so for the next four days I would go stand in the nursery window and stare at him. After he came home I would move his bassinet from room to room so I could watch him sleep. I watched him so much Rob's dad made fun of me. But he was precious and I just couldn't get enough of him. Rob loved to ride "horsey" (his horse on springs) and he played cowboy all time, shooting everything in sight. As he grew older the cowboy hats and horsies gave way to his bicycle, and his passion was BMX racing. He was constantly doing wheelies, and playing "Evil Knevil", much to my dismay. We took a few trips to the Emergency Room because of his daredevil games. He also loved to pick "flowers" for me, and got such a thrill from bringing them to me. I remember one year when the boys (Rob and my nephew, Mark) went door to door collecting pop bottles so they could cash them in. Then they went and bought flowers for Mothers day. I guess they were about 8 then. They were so proud that they had a surprise!! I can still hear them giggling because they were so excited about their secret. Those boys were something else!! Bet they're gathering flowers in heaven together now. Rob picked me flowers so much that I wrote this poem about him in 1976, It's one of many I wrote in his baby book |
A Survivors Road To Healing ~ |
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Rob was the most curious kid I've ever met, and I swear his "why" stage lasted longer than other kid in the world. When he was about 4 he would sit on the porch everyday and wait for the mailman, then he would follow him 4 houses down the street (that's as far as mom allowed him to go) and he would ask him questions. Then on his way back home, he would gather cigarette butts from the sidewalk- which I emptied out of his pockets every night. He would ask questions anytime he had someone to listen, and when he would wear out one adult, he would simply find another one that would answer him. I guess it paid off because we were told all through his school years that he was a gifted child. In 6th grade when they did the state tests, he tested at high school level in every subject but two. One of those subjects was math. In math he tested grade 13. (college) That was the year he won the Spelling Bee for the entire Tempe, Az school district. He was so proud he grinned for a week! My nickname for Rob was ybbor, (Yib-ber) which is his name spelled backwards. He hated it when anyone except mom called him that. But he really liked it when I said it. He never outgrew that. When he was little we used to have "I love you more" play-arguements. I would tell him, "Well, I love you more" and he would say, "No sir, cause I love you this big" and he would stretch his little arms as wide as he could. But he would always end it with, "Well, so what, mom. I love you GREAT BIG, waaaaay up to the sky!! So there!" and he would run off so he could have the last, winning word to settle the argument. When Rob was 18 he joined the Army and they sent him to Germany for 2 years. In fact, he was over there when the wall came down. He went to Cuba for 6 months, went to Bosnia, and so many other places I can't even remember. During the 8 years he was in the Military, he married and had 2 daughters. At the time of his death he had been out of the military for a year and a half, and was living here in Texas. He was a copy machine repairman, and went from business to business fixing copy machines, faxes, etc. He really loved his job, and he used to say, "Man, can you believe they pay me to do this?" He had to wear suits to work, and I have to tell ya, the kid looked sharp!! Rob was a big hearted kid all of his life. He was very giving, very loving, just a sweetie. He also had an anger problem, which I'm doing a story about for the web page. I hope you read it when I get it done. But when I think of the big picture, my Rob was a sweet kid, always trying to please. He was a perfectionist, and the military really brought that out in him big time. My favorite treasure of his.... well, I have his military flag and some things like that. I gave his dad all his medals because I just felt like he should have them. I guess my favorite treasure, more than anything (except pictures) would have to be his shirt. He had this old ragged muscle shirt that looked like it was even too old for the rag bag. He loved that shirt and wore it ALL the time. I told him a couple times if he would trash it, I would buy him a new shirt. He wasn't willing. When I got the few boxes of his stuff back, I was going through them and found that old muscle shirt. I cried and cried. I have that shirt now, and just like my son, I don't ever intend to get rid of it. If I could, I'd take it to heaven and show him I saved it for him. He'd be so proud! smile I thank God that I had 27 years with this young man, and that I was the one he called mom. The pain I've known since his death has been debilitating at times, a nightmare, and something I will never "fully recover" from. But if given a choice, I would live this pain all over again for the honor of being his mother. Ybbor, my son, I love you GREAT BIG, waaaaay up to the sky! If anyone speaks badly of you, live so no one will believe it. |
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Moments in Memory 
