I found that silly camel charm at a sweet gift shop in Eureka Springs the year before last. I immediately recognized it for what it would symbolize. My step-father-in-law, Richard was so dear to my heart. Kenny and I hadn't been seeing each other long when I met Richard. He and Kenny's mom had been together for 10 years or so, and Kenny and his sisters were very close to Richard. A step family that worked. Even if all the kids were grown and gone out of the house.
Richard was short and slight, with a big bushy beard and a whole lot of attitude. He had worked for the city of Springfield for a long time, and the Navy before that. He had 3 kids of his own, but relations with them were often cool. Isn't that how it is sometimes? You can't pick your family, and if you could, you'd probably not pick the ones that you got stuck with.
He took to my two daughters and me, as if he had picked us out. Once, Kenny's mom and I were feuding about something stupid. I remember going to their house and she met me at the door. Richard literally pushed her out of the way so he could come to me and hug me. I love that man as much as I love my own father. Don't get me wrong, he sure loved Patricia. His favorite opening line to a protest was "well, now, sugar.." but he always gave in to her.
Richard was a Shriner and a Mason. Not the scarey, conspiracy theory kind. The fun-loving Ray Stephens kind. Hence Richard's nickname: Coy, given to him by Patricia's sister. Some in the family still call him that. And in this family, if they give you a nickname, you know you're one of them. (Well, I don't have a nickname, at least not one they call me to my face.) That's where the camel comes in. Richard had a small collection of them, ceramic, metal, even a giant one cut from plywood and painted in Christmas colors. That one he drug out every year during the holiday and planted in the front yard.
Richard passed away about 12 years ago, and we all still feel the loss. I was going through my photo albums the other day and counted how many pictures I had of him. Not near enough. I asked Kenny's sister if she had any. When she thought about it, she realized that she didn't. She said, "No, we were always too busy fishing or doing something to stop and get the camera out." But, that means she has the best kind of pictures, the ones taken in your heart.