Hickey Theology

When we moved from Corpus Christi to Pasadena, Texas in 1962, we left all our family behind. The fourth Christmas in 1964 was like all the others. Chris, Tim and I would ride our bikes down to the south end of Dewberry Lane to watch for that very familiar aqua blue 1958 Chevrolet station wagon. Uncle Ed and Aunt Jo would fill it full of our Christmas gifts.

When we saw their car coming down Strawberry Road, we would get excited. We would wait until they turned on our street waving frantically and following behind their car until we all arrived at the house.

Uncle Ed and Aunt Jo always had our presents covered so we were unable to see them. At the age of 10 I still believed in Santa Claus or if I am honest, I had my doubts, so I threw up a request up to God just to make sure all my bases were covered.

I just knew I was getting a new bike not a hand me down or secondhand one. My memory of the first secondhand bike is not a very good one. Mom and Dad found secondhand one that had been cleaned up, repaired and repainted, but it had one defect that was not known, the chain would unexpectedly come off.

I took off riding down Dewberry. I got down to the end of the street and turned around peddling as fast as I could. I got in front of the Cayton’s house, and the chain came off. I was not able to stop, I was heading towards Pasadena Blvd. which was a busy street so in order to stop I had to turn so I would hit a curve, in doings so the bike stop but I continue to flip over a fire hydrant.

When I looked back the bike was sitting upright but the wheel was bent. So, as I stood in front of our Christmas tree, I began to envision a new bike under the tree for all my new adventures, but it wasn’t to be. On Christmas morning we did what all kids do, we looked for all our presents. It was obvious I wasn’t getting a bike, but I did have the biggest present.

When it was my turn to open THE GIFT, I took my time. I am sure I had a look of disappointment on my face. Opening the box, it revealed a record player. I had no I idea why Uncle Ed and Aunt Jo would buy we this gift. In getting it set up I found within the box one lone 45 record, Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison. After all the presents were open each one of us retired to play with our new toys.

Little did I know that the moment I played that record that my life would be changed forever. On that day it was Roy Orbison, but it wasn’t long I was listening and singing to Mario Lanza, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Eddie Arnold, Jim Reeves and so many others, that record player became the gift that would carry me through some of the most difficult times in my life.

As I felt the pain of all those hurtful words, all those names I was called in school, listening and singing with those songs I was able to heal, I was able to release the anger, and find peace. I would stand on a chair in front of the record player for hours singing as loud as I could with tears streaming down my face. The gift I did not want was the gift that brought light into my life. Music is and will always be important to me. It touches my soul and lifts my spirit. I thank God every day for THE GIFT. Until Next Time…

Grace and Peace