Its been one year today that my baby Brother Eddie left us. Actually it was 1:02 am November 1st. All Saints Day. It was the saddest day of my life. I was devastated when Ruey and Tommy left us. And I do think about them everyday. But I never expected Eddie to go before me. I dont want to dwell on the sadness. Im just going to write whatever comes to mind. I remember....when Mom brought Eddie home from the hospital. He was so cute. I had a baby Brother. I remember when he was old enough, he would always take MY last bottle of Pepsi at night, that I saved for me for the next morning. He would actually get out of bed after everyone was asleep and go downstairs and drink it in the dark in the kitchen. I would be pissed the next morning. But even back then. somehow he would make me smile and Id say to myself....ooohhhh hes just the baby. I remember taking him to John the Barber for his haircuts. Then after years, the first time the Barber left him with sideburns, I knew he was a young man. As me, Ruey and Tommy started in the crazy world of showbiz, Eddie was staring on the local weekly TV show called Dance Party. Creating dances and then as he learned the guitar he would dance with the guitar behind his head. Eddie was a star in his own right in Columbus at 12 years old, without and before the Rhodes Brothers had any success. Between then and through the years there are thousands of stories about Eddie, me and the Brothers. Today, I want to remember the last 4 days of October. Of course, there was sadness. PLenty of it, as there is with any loved one passing. But I choose to remember the bright side of those 4 days. I remember how strong Eddie jr was. How brave Bobby Rhodes was. How his wife, Karen made it through the pain. Stacey, his daughter at the hospital when I arrived. I remember the lunches and nights out for those few days and nights with our friends, relatives, and immediate Family. I remember Hank Goldberg calling me every 8 hours to check on me. He was in LA. But he worried about me. I can not tell you how many laughs we had over those few days. Donna Wood Beney , me, Eddie jr and Mark the first night. I almost felt guilty. One doesnt know how to react when a sudden death occurs. But everyone reminded me that Eddie would want us to laugh and tell jokes. Just before his death , he was trying to get another Family reunion together. There was screaming, side bursting laughter those few days with Family and Friends. I remember the day of the service.....so many people and friends came from long distances. Bob Stone drove all the way from upper North Carolina. Heard the Service and got right back in his car and drove back to north Carolina to his Bed and Breakfast business. On the road 28 hours with no sleep. He said he had to be there because he loved , Eddie. There were hundreds of phone calls and condolences. When we went to the Church in the afternoon to plan the service with my Sons, Eddie jr and Bobby and Karen. My Son JR said ...Hey Dad this is perfect for MY Ding - a - Ling. We all smiled. I was not going to do that. Then we went back to rest and get ready for the Service. This is where I tell you about a true Guardian Angel.......I had to jump on a plane in a hurry to get to Miami when Eddie jr called me and told me I should come and say goodbye to my Brother. I was in Charlotte NC. My wife , Kathy was sick so she couldnt go. She, thinking quickly called my Guardian Angel, Mark Freidman. He picked me up at the Ft. Lauderdale airport and he was with me almost every waking moment for those next 4 days. I didnt get there in time to speak to Eddie. But Mark and I told jokes to him for hours. Im still believe he heard us. As we were all writing our goodbyes to Eddie at Karen and Eddies house. I looked around and saw all of my Family grieving as they found their own areas of the house to be alone. I can not tell you how proud I was to be among them. Mark picked me up and I told him that the song Ding-A-Ling was mentioned. He said GREAT. I also said that Im not sure I could do that or sing Its a Wonderful World because the song was so sad. He said.....Oh sing me the song and lets see how sad it is. Of course, he and I had played and sung that song a hundred times. He was just showing me that it was a pretty song and more importantly Eddie would have loved it. I used to sing that song at the end of our Grandma Goose routine. Grandma and Eddie would sometimes cry when I sang it. Dont know why. We would just sometimes get into a spiritual zone. A love zone. Long story short ( too late ) The Family agreed Ding-A-Ling was in. At the Service..I said the word shit in Church..I apologized to God and the Preacher before I said it... I said ....Even if Eddie would forget words to a song, knock over a mike stand, or break a $ 400 banjo, he would give me that ( shit eaten grin ) like. Oooooops. Sorry. What ? What ? Its not that bad. And I would laugh. He was like Dennis the Menace and Pig Pen combined. Soooo friggen cute and funny. We sang Ding, with Eddie jr coaching one side of the congregation and me the other. It was a tie, of course. I did sing Wonderful World with Mark at my side. He played beautifully during the Service. Ended with Rock n Roll Heaven. So cool. As my heart was breaking, I was still somewhat funny for Eddie. How and why ? Because all of my Family told me that Eddie would have wanted it that way. I thank them all. As I again, thank all of the Friends of Eddie and the Rhodes Brothers, I thank all of the Rhodes Family. They are truly an exceptional group of Gods children. They gave me such strength. I thank my wife Kathy for helping me through my sadness. Thank you, Karen for being a good wife to Eddie And lastly I thank my Sons. Within 18 months my Sons were with me as I said goodbye to Tommy and Eddie. When I finished my goodbyes to Eddie from the pulpit, I went back to the church pew. Both of my Sons were crying and they padded me on the knee and said..Good job, Dad . That was an extremely comforting moment in time for me. I think Eddie was saying the same thing. I love my Sons. The older I get ( almost 60 ) the more I realize I dont know much. I do know, that God gave me today. Today is a gift. Life is a gift. Some people that were at Eddies service are no longer with us. I miss them as well. Like we all say in sad times or when we lose a loved one. Love today. Act like it is your last day. Who would you call? What would you say ? If you think of friend or family member you havent called in awhile..call them. Tell them you are thinking of them. Forget petty arguments. Get yourself a 6 pack of Pepsi and chips. Sit down an talk. Laugh. Tell funny stories. As Im crying today I am also laughing with Eddie. Im saving a Pepsi in the fridge for Eddie. Its my last one. But Ill save it for him. I love you all. God loves us all. PS: Lyrics from one of our albums: What is life? Where did it come from? Where did it go and why? Who knows the answer? Tell if you, please. Id like to know before I die.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 03:51:13 +0000