The Charlie Bravo Story

The Story of Mom

The story of mom: many have asked for the scoop on mom’s role at the Casa; I’ve been saving it for today,  28 years of putting up with dad’s shenanigans… simply put, if there was no story of mom, there would be no story of Charlie…
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28 years ago, Dad was “encouraged” to go to North Carolina to separate himself from some bad influences that were destroying his life; unfortunately at the time, he fell into the surfing lifestyle on the coast, and the hoped-for changes  never materialized. During this time, he met this exotic half Okinawan/half German ex girlfriend of the surfer dude he was staying with, with as colorful past as his own; Marine brat, black belt in kenpo, etc, who  had decided to turn her life around. Dad wasn’t ready to straighten up and fly right just yet, and eventually returned to Arkansas, where he told his mom that he had met the girl he was going to marry.

After a series of life changing experiences, and not the good kind, dad never forgot the “different” girl out on the coast, so on a whim, loaded up his old Honda Prelude  made the 1156 mile out there to see what might be seen. She was still there, had been through some experiences if her own, but agreed to go out with this sometimes abrasive little guy from Arkansas. It was on their first date that dad suggested that they could go ahead and go through the long distance process of phone calls, letters, road trips, etc, if mom thought it necessary, but since the outcome would be the same either way, they might as well go ahead and get married. Mom thought (justfiably, and accurately as well), “who does this cocky little joker think he is?” In dad’s defense, he had let her get away the first time, and wasn’t going to risk it again. Six months later, she traded the Onslow beach for the Ozark  mountains and set up housekeeping with dad in Arkansas.

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It hasn’t always been easy, two headstrong people from different cultures, truly a yin/yang relationship; when she became pregnant with Zach, many expressed concern as to what type of mom she would be, as she has always had a dominant streak of rowdy tomboy in her. She proved them all wrong, both with Zach and then Alex, by refocusing that drive onto them, but don’t doubt for second her iron will and sometimes off kilter thought processes. After all these years including breast cancer, a thorocotomy, and various other catastrophes, she still amazes and alarms  dad with her resilience and sometimes crazy ideas, especially when it comes to animals; her rescue efforts over the years not limited to dogs, but snakes, lizards, ducks, rabbits, raccoons, turtles, even just recently, a salamander.

 I honestly think she was born in the wrong century, as she would have fit right in on the early frontier, an example: dad was bow hunting some years ago, and had lost the track of a deer that had escaped into a thicket. Even though mom was recovering from her mastectomy with four drain tubes still dangling, daylight found her crawling through the briers on her hands and knees, determined to find the blood trail; quite a sight, as you can imagine.

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Every body, whether physical, marital, corporate, parochial,  is made up of various parts working together. Dad may be the eyes and the heart,  definitely the mouth, some would say the butt as well, but mom is the brains, the hands, feet and backbone  that allows the body to move and function. She sometimes feels like she operates in the background, but she perfectly demonstrates my message that we ALL matter, and ALL have a mission; if you think a particular part is unnecessary,  try operating without it for a while.

Happy anniversary, mom; here’s to 28 more.

Join the discussion

  1. Jennifer Minard

    Mom is the foundation of the Casa!

  2. Lorre LaDunna Allen

    Happy Anniversary mom and dad!!

  3. Dianne

    Ah Charlie … you and Dad are so lucky to have Mom. Be good to her. ❤️

    • Faith kidwell

      Dad I am going to say it again we need more stories about the beautiful woman Mom. Sending my love to the Casa and an extra few hugs to mom .

  4. Red Maryann Cook Godbey

    What a nice story about mom!!!!

  5. Fran Scott

    Everybody at the Casa has a unique story…Mom is no exception. Are there tales to tell of Zach and Alex?

  6. Vickie Bellus

    Hi mom!!! Nice to meet ya

  7. Joan Inman Merrow

    Happy Anniversary and thank you for all you do for the whole tribe!

  8. Trish Roque

    Woah. I go away from Facebook for a little while and you end up with a blog?? Cool! Good job Charlie! And Moms rock don’t they?

  9. Patti Saunders

    Happy Anniversary. Mom is the glue that holds the Casa del Whacko together.

  10. Pam Miles

    Mom has to be one heck of a woman! Happy Anniversary to you both, I hope you two have another 28 years or more!

  11. Marion Osborne

    Happy Anniversary to two of my favorite people that I have never met. The work you do for CB and the others is the work of angels. Thank you

  12. Cathy Brown

    For…behind every achieving man, stands a woman..strong and steadfast.
    P.S. HAPPY and BLESSED ANNIVERSARY

  13. Debbie Vowels

    Happy anniversary, hope you both have many more!

  14. Sally attard

    Happy Anniversary!

  15. Sandra Duron

    Beautiful! Happy Anniversary!

  16. Cathy Powell Filliben

    Very nice looking couple. Happy Anniversary!

  17. Julia Sharp

    Happy Anniversary! Thank you for introducing us to Mom!!! We ladies already knew she was an important cog in the wheel that is “The Casa”! 🙂

  18. KC Hill

    Mum is beautiful inside and out. Happy anniversary.

  19. Kathleen ONeill

    Happy Anniversary. Thank you for all the good work you do.

  20. Ruth Thayer

    I’m honored to have met Mom and am happy to say we share some of the same traits, a tomboy and love for animals. Cant wait to spend more time with them

  21. Deb Reed

    Happy Anniversary may God continue to bless you both and your home

  22. Kristine

    I love this story…..

  23. Melanie Smith

    Happy anniversary! We just celebrated 16 ourselves. Here’s to many more for us all!

  24. Sue Thompson

    I always enjoy your writings. Thanks for sharing your story.

  25. Lee DeWolfe

    Two souls(Mom & Dad)in one body=Soulmates May each new sunrise breathe new light and life into you both; May each sunset and moon rise bring you both together to share cherished moments of each others day. May you both continue to walk *YOUR* path always keeping one hand entwined in the other’s, only ever separating long enough to assist other wayward souls found along *Your* path. Many blessings to you and your entire ‘family’ at the “Casa” and a very sincere thank you for all of the kindness, compassion and overwhelming love you have unconditionally given to those who have no voice (well at least not a human one anyways 😉 ) Seeing as Lucky and I are two crazy Canadians we are leaving some *virtual* maple syrup and a bottle of Crown Royal as well as our usual *virtual* dehydrated liver treats for Charlie & Company!! Would actually like to send something down your way that is uniquely Canadian, I will pm you soon!!

  26. Susan Stroda

    Beautiful lady, with strength and stamina! Happy Anniversary to you both!

  27. Carol S. Marcellus

    Lovely…a wonderful woman!

  28. Patricia

    Hi Mom it’s nice to finally meet you

  29. Nicole Pernin-quidaciolu

    beautiful story. Happy anniversary to the two of you

  30. Heather Shaw

    what a beautiful story, thanks for sharing it with us…your beautiful wife sounds like a simply amazing woman!!

  31. Julia Jones

    Happy anniversary to you both.xx

  32. Tonya Clark

    Thanks for sharing so much of yourselves with us all through Charlie and your writing… Have a great day at the Casa!

  33. Charlie Bravo - The Motorcycle Rescue Dog Story

    And dad says it’s been the best 28 years of her life (eye roll)

  34. Nikki

    Congratulations to Mom and Dad! You are truly an inspiration.

  35. Darling Nikki

    Congratulations. I met my soulmate later in life, but the first night I knew he was the one. A week later we were planning our wedding. Once you find that special someone you’ll know it. Here’s to many more years of happiness for Mom and Dad!

  36. Kathy Chambers

    Happy Anniversary, loved the blog. Now I know she is. Keep rescuing those that collection you’ve been doing. Love it!

  37. Kathy Moody

    Happy Anniversary to you both. What an amazing life you have both led.

  38. Evelyn Pretty

    Happy Anniversary you crazy kids!! Wishing you many more!

  39. Kathy West

    What a wonderful love story….

  40. Karen Ragle

    I have always known that Mom was the “silent ruler” of the Casa! She rocks!!!!

  41. Mickey Snuggs

    Wonderful story, glad you found each other

  42. Janet prew

    So enjoy reading your life stories

  43. Janet prew

    Enjoyed reading your story

  44. Eileen Connolly Hickey

    What an amazing lady and an amazing story. Congratulations to both of you and I wish many more years of adventures for you!

  45. Ginger Crowe Harper

    Blessings to all at the Casa, particularly the yin/yang founders on this day!

  46. Christine Carr Reese

    Sounds like a match made in Heaven!

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