Tammi's World

August 7, 1972

It's early in the morning. So early that the sun has not yet even begun to rise. A little girl snuggles in her bed listening to the sound of someone bustling around the house. It's Daddy. He's getting ready to leave for vacation.

She was supposed to go along this year. Mama and Daddy had discussed it and they felt she was finally old enough, at 10, to go fishing with Daddy and Uncle John. But...in the last week they changed their minds. No reason was given, just that Mama needed her at home to help with her younger sister and the new puppy.

Disappointed she pouted most of that week. Until they went to Uncle John's house on the weekend. She and Uncle John almost shared a birthday. His was the 26th of July, her's the 28th. This year they had a joint birthday party. Uncle John turned 26, and with a brand new baby had a lot to celebrate. She was double digits now. 10. Wow. Yeah, it called for a party.

It was such a good weekend that Uncle John allowed her to spend one extra night. Daddy drove all the way over to pick her and Dee up and bring them home on Monday morning. As they drove back to Mishawaka that hot sunny day there was much laughter and singing. Until the argument between Daddy and Dee. Dee wanted ice cream. Being 6 years old, she couldn't understand that you can't have ice cream for breakfast. As Daddy finally put his foot down she glares at him in anger and said "Fine. I hope your plane crashes into the water and you drown." Silence took over the cab. She hit her sister in the side and told her to say she was sorry. That wasn't very nice. Dee apologized and gave Daddy a peck on the cheek. But the damage was done. The rest of the ride home was subdued.

The rest of the day is spent helping Daddy pack and playing outside. Love, the puppy, kept climbing into Daddy's suitcase and trying to hide under his clothes. It never failed to make her giggle when it happened, even Daddy had to smile. They all sat up very late that night, playing cards and laughing. Finally it was time to sleep. Daddy had to get up early and claimed he needed his beauty rest.

Now it was morning. Early, early morning. She hears her bedroom door open and feels the side of the bed dip as Daddy sits down. "Princess? Sweetie. Get up. Come on, Daddy wants to talk with you."

She sat up and rubbed her eyes and jumped out of bed. Quiet time with Daddy was always a treat. They went out to the back yard and sat on the swing.

"Sweetie, I need you to be a big girl while I'm gone. I know you wanted to go along, and next time you can. But this week I want you to help Mama with things here. I need you to take care of Love. She's your puppy and you need to be responsible."

Then they walked around the backyard, Daddy showing her different things he needed her to do. Then they went back into the kitchen and he showed her, again, how to feed the dog and take care of that stuff.

"I love you Princess. Don't forget that and I'll see you soon. Be good for Mama." With that he tucked her into bed and gave her a kiss. She heard him wake up Dee and take her in his lap. She heard them talk about the argument from the day before. She heard Daddy say it was alright. Everyone gets mad. It was just important to make up again.

Then he was gone.

Later that morning the girls got up and Mama decided they should all run errands. It would help them keep from missing Daddy so much if they were busy. As a special treat she let them play the radio in the car. They went grocery shopping and to Kmart. Then they stopped at Mama's friends' house for coffee and donuts.

As they pull into the drive that afternoon there are so many cars there. Everyone is standing outside the back door. Waiting. As they got out of the car Pastor walks over and takes Mama's arm. They go to the door. There is a note.

Mama starts to cry. They can't find the key to unlock the door. Where's the key?!? Where's the damn key?!?!? Finally they get in the house. Everyone is helping Mama. The two girls are still standing by the car. Finally Aunt Carol comes out and brings the girls inside. Mama is on the phone. She is crying but not saying a word.

"You girls go to your rooms. Shut the door. We'll be in soon to get you." But they didn't remember that she could hear everything in the kitchen from her bedroom. They didn't remember she had a phone in her room. She picks up the extention and hears a man saying..."they're all dead Mrs.Goss. The plane crashed right after take off. We're so sorry."

She hears Mama screaming NO. He can't be gone. It's because I'm fat. He's gone because I'm fat. NO. Not Babe. Not John. No.

Suddenly she realizes what has happened. The plane crashed. Her daddy is not coming back. Her beloved Uncle John, Mama's youngest brother, is gone too.

As night falls the house fills up. No one has checked on the girls. By now she has gone to her sister's room and they are huddled on the bed together. Trying to figure it all out. Finally Aunt Miriam comes in. She brings a tray with sandwiches and milk. She explains what has happened. She can't stop crying. Neither can the girls.

The amazing thing is that the announcement regarding the crash was on the news that morning and they didn't hear it. But that was how so many people knew. Otherwise the notification would have been a note on the back door.

"I love you Princess. Don't forget that and I'll see you soon. Be good for Mama."

I love you too Daddy. I miss you.

*source Fulton County Obituaries

Donald E. Hart,
John Graber Jr. and
Willard L. Goss
Investigating officials said today that heavily overcast skies and improper reading of instruments may have been the cause of a plane crash which killed three men, including Donald E. HART, 43, R.R. 3, Rochester, at 12:45 p.m. Monday.
Killed with Hart, who is the father of six children, were John GRABER Jr., 26, R.R. 4, Goshen, and Willard L. GOSS, 41, Mishawaka.
The plane crashed in a cornfield a half-mile south of Nappanee, just inside the Kosciusko county line.
Investigators said the three men were on a fishing trip to Wisconsin and were not scheduled to leave the Nappanee airport until 5 p.m. But due to the heavy overcast, they took off early. Officials said it is believed that the pilot was attempting to return to the airport after takeoff and had become confused in reading his instruments.
Debris was scattered over the entire field where the plane crashed, just two miles from the Nappanee airport. Witnesses told police the plane nose-dived to the ground after its left wing fell off.
Both Graber and Goss had pilot's licenses but it is not known which man was piloting the plane. Graber was co-owner with two Nappanee men of the four-place Piper Commanche.
The crash is under investigation by the Kosciusko county sheriff's department.

Posted by Tammi at August 7, 2005 06:37 AM