I loved Arte's laugh, and he laughed often before his health issues. It made me feel good to know that he was happy. I remember watching Arte play baseball and tennis, riding bicycles, playing outside until the fireflies appeared, skating on the driveway and losing the skate key, running after the ice cream truck, following the mosquito truck, swimming in floodwaters on San Felipe, waving at him as we passed in the school halls, camping at Buescher State Park, enjoying the sun at Surfside Beach, eating 25-cent hamburgers from the Shortstop, mowing the church yard, spending family time in Fredericksburg and San Antonio, walking on the campus of University of Houston, riding in his Mustang, climbing trees in Needville and his excessive love for pickles! I miss him so much. I need to let go of his hand - his hand which squeezed mine for the very last time. When I least expect it, I swear I feel his hand slip into mine and hear those final words he whispered to me that last evening, "I love you, too." I miss you so much, Arte. Now that you are able to see again, watch over us!
Your Sister
