Monday, February 10, 2014
THEODORE JOHN OSESKY "TEDDY"
My big brother, you never knew I was watching and learning…
It was an age before internet and cell phones…an age of only two TV channels…
I watched you as a busy young boy thriving on outdoor play…wondering how you and your friends could actually bat the ball every second day into the neighbour's garage window…again! Hey, you taught me to fling the knife just so to get it to stick in the grass properly in our made up games of the times. How to not be afraid of the frogs we caught or the bees we collected in a jar…course you teased me if I grimaced ….only made me try harder! Neighbourhood games of hide and seek..where you could win the game if you hid in our garage with the hearst cause no one would look in there…those were the days!
I felt the worry of adults when you were hit by a car on your bike…fortunately you were okay…
I was proud of my tall teenage brother with Auburn hair who was an avid golfer and curler gaining the esteem of his peers…wanted to golf like you but ended up just having a picnic on the course with a friend…you were not impressed. Your ten speed was your life..off to the golf course you went. I was able to match you in curling and the all night school curling bonspiels were pretty awesome !
You loved the outdoors….hunting, fishing…I watched as you cleaned many catches like partridge and ducks…of course then I had to figure out how to cook them and there was no google to check with! You were always curious about how things worked and worked hard to figure things out. I was quite amazed at your meaningful creations you made as an adult and will always treasure the ones you gave me …especially the history of the Newfs with pieces collected from very special places such as camp.
You fostered my compassion for animals as your off limits bedroom was full of different critters …I was called upon to find any escaping "teddy-bear" hamsters (your favourite) with our cats in hot pursuit. I was honoured to be asked to take a peek at stray kittens found on your way home from school and hidden in a dresser drawer. And with no hesitation brought home orphaned ducks.. Sometimes your extended family of pets caused exciting events like your dog hungry from nursing a dozen pups ate the raw Christmas turkey defrosting on the counter while we were all at midnight mass! Or getting a call to bring your beautiful Newf oundland dog Chima to the airport to be flown out to join you at a northern camp for firefighters---what a sight seeing a life jacket put on the big dog who was lifted into the plane…Ah your much loved dogs Chima and Nahanee! Later I was in awe of your dog training skill when I met your beautiful gentle giant Weiser the Rottie…felt immediate love and respect for that one. I was so proud when you later praised my Newfs and other animals. We inherited similar genes in that area as we both ended up with menageries of rescued animals from cats and dogs to goats, horses and donkeys. I wish I could have seen the raccoons you rescued and raised. I will so miss our long animal talks and the advice you always had on the care of new critters I was helping like the orphaned geese we once fostered. I will so miss you…..
You will be missed by all…we grew up knowing how special you were to Dad…his only son…how he loved you…how proud he was of you….hope you knew…..you will be forever in his thoughts…forever in mine….my strong big brother…fought so much adversity yet showed such kindness to so many people and animals alike….yes, will even miss your warped sense of humor…..
You fought the fight …now you have the higher power to guide us…make it so……give Mom a hug from me…..You leave behind a beautiful legacy in your amazing daughters... So intelligent, beautiful and caring…I know you are so proud of them and loved them to your core! If they ever need anything ….here I be….
Thank-you….I watched, I learned…thank-you
Love, your sister Maureen….yes, the co-animal lover…your neurotic middle sister!
