In our preteen years in Clearfield, a significant event occurred, and later Jay related to me an experience he associated with that event. Dad had been working at Hill Air Force Base as a mechanic maintaining jet aircraft. One particular day, he was extricating himself from the aircraft cockpit when someone alerted him to the fact that the canopy was beginning to drop! Clearly my father saw that the circumstance was hazardous; and he quickly endeavored to get out prior to the canopies capture of him in the cockpit. As he was attempting to get out, he was able to get himself entirely extricated except for a portion of his right thumb. As the canopy slammed onto the cockpit, it's severed Dad’s thumb just barely above the knuckle. He immediately jammed his thumb’s stub into his other palm in order to stop the bleeding; and ran into the hangar to receive first aid. Having received adequate attention to his now severed thumb (reattaching appendages had not become commonplace at that time); he headed home to care for himself. Upon arriving home, we we're alarmed at is loss and endeavored to comfort him as he displayed the large gauze covering his thumb-stump. In order to comfort him at least a little and provide some distraction, my mother took us boys up (along with Dad) to an abandoned housing area (near the end of Hill Air Force Base’s runway). Amongst the remaining house slabs, we boys would target anything that moved with our BB guns. My mother and father obviously remained in the car in order to allow my father to absorb the trauma of losing his thumb. As they sat in the car, my brother Jay approached Dad’s passenger side door, where my father sat cradling his right hand. Merely inches away, Jay observed the large gauze ball surrounding my father's stump. He was rather distraught at my father's loss of his thumb; and must have displayed such anxiety on his young face. He timidly expressed regret and concern for my father's obvious condition. At this point, my father must have attempted to protect Jay from his young anxieties and dissuade him from obvious distress. Thus, he brusquely brushed aside any visible anxiety in my brothers face and simply said, “It's just a thumb!”; attempting to minimize an otherwise traumatic event. My brother Jay was taken aback by such disregard from my father for his own thumb; and quickly retreated from his place at Dad's door! I believe my father was attempting to allay any of my brother’s tender feelings. However, his brusqueness was undoubtedly misconstrued as disregard for Jay’s sympathetic concern. Nevertheless, because Jay related this experience much, much later in his life, the effect had penetrated him deeply!

Though there occurred a distinct and difficult exchange between father and son at the traumatic loss of dad’s thumb; dad had little recourse but to ‘make the best of things’ as he soldiered forward in his life. Being a third-party to these individuals and a distant participant to their distinctly different personalities; I cautiously submit my observation of both.

Jay was a delightful brother and at times a challenging companion. Being significantly joined as twins; we were nevertheless distinct in the manner by which we approached life. While logically centered; my manner could be easily mistaken as cold and aloof from intensified situations. While such was the case; I was and am noticeably emotional regarding things that ‘strike’ me as such. Hence, while I display a recognizable ‘leaning’ toward a logical thinking and (by comparison) stoic presentation; it would be erroneous to assess me as strictly analytical and devoid of emotion.

By contrast my beloved twin brother was significantly more passionate in his approach to life and its circumstances. Jay was creatively bent to discover and embrace the less structured elements of existence. He was a superb artist and made his living by incorporating the power of language in his several talents. Likewise, however; it would be shortsighted to render Jay as only such. Rather, he was bright and deep as he shared numerous insights with me over the years.

Finally, Dad was constantly and continually aware of his offspring. Though he was wise enough to keep ‘his distance’ lest we children take advantage of his care and concern for us! Being constantly aware of his parental role; he wore a somewhat veiled ‘crust’ in order to appear disciplined to a gang of rowdy sons. Nevertheless, at sacred moments his gentle and loving demeanor would overshine that crusty outer shell and be observable to those that watched. Undoubtedly his being controlled by cataplexy (where strong emotion would render him physically helpless) exercised an influence as he wrestled with the strains of life. Nevertheless, he endured valiantly and I am privileged to know and love my father. Many times, I was blessed to observe (from afar) the depths and breadth that this man loved his sons and daughter.

Regarding the intense exchange between father and son amidst a traumatic event; it is somewhat evident to comprehend how a son’s passionate concern for his beloved father collided with a father’s heartfelt concern that his beloved son would be traumatized by an unavoidable development. Such understanding would address the dismissive “It’s just a thumb” from a father endeavoring to protect a young son from his own potentially hurtful empathy! Likewise, it is understandable how a young son might recoil from such a statement as he endeavors to express heartfelt concern for a beloved father! These two delightful beings were endeavoring to assist one another – from distinctly different (but complementary) perspectives. Though tragic in its effect; it is admirable that both intentions were righteous and passionate.

Finally, it is worth noting that dad’s life had endured years of risk inasmuch as he’d spent years only a decade earlier transporting war torn severely wounded soldiers daily from the European battlefields to badly needed hospitals in England. Flying such injured souls daily; risking his very life in the risky skies of France and England rendered a ‘mere thumb’ as minor when compared against those in his plane clinging to life itself. Such a perspective assists comprehension of perspective and understanding of the comment