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My great-granddaughter, Charlie, is named after her great-grandfather, Charlie Michel. If ever a child is like her namesake, it’s her.

Last year, Charlie joined the Larayo swim team with her sister, Olivia, and her cousins, Addi, Blakely and Dylan. At the first swim meet of the year, her coach, Michelle Jenkins, (a great coach) spoke to the team before the meet. After a short briefing of what was to take place, she asked if there were any questions. Charlie was the only one to raise her hand.

“Yes, Charlie. What’s the problem?”

“I’m just swimming one race tonight – freestyle. I don’t like the backstroke.” (Keep in mind – all swimmers are asked to swim in two events, and sometimes three.)

Charlie swam freestyle, came in last, but finished the race. For her that was it.

The next week there was another swim meet and Charlie said she wanted to swim in two events. In the breaststroke, she came in second to last and her first words were, “It feels good not to be last.” In the backstroke, she finished the race, but came in last.

You can imagine our excitement when, this year, she tied for the most points scored in her age group at the Invitational.

Charlie’s great-grandfather and great-grandmother, Claire, died before she was born. When people die, most people, except family members, don’t mention their names after a short period.  But believe me, Charlie will see to it that the name “Charlie Michel” lives on for years with many unforgettable memories and rightfully so. He was a veteran of World War II, truly a hero, and a member of a generation that Tom Brokaw referred to in his book as “The Greatest Generation.”  He was a credit to his country, his community and, especially, to his family.

 

            If you have any questions, or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, or e-mail hkeller@comcast.net.