A Soul Came to Be

 

On April 25, 1956 a soul came to be. Well, many souls, I'm sure, but one soul in particular stands out to me. Terry Frank Jameson Macrae's path came to fruition on that day and changed my soul's journey years later. 

Terry shared his love of life with others as he grew. He lived a happy childhood in Las Vegas, after moving at the age of one from Baltimore, Maryland, his birthplace. His mother met up with her mom, who lived in Vegas and worked in the Desert Inn Hotel gift shop. 

Terry's Leave it to Beaver lifestyle was great. He grew up watching shows such as Star Trek, McHale's Navy, Hogan's Heroes, and Lost in Space. One of his all-time favorites was Flipper, growing his interest in animals and how beautiful they can be. Another show called, Daktari helped develop the love of animals too. 

The Nevada Test Site was where Terry's dad worked and this gave Terry all sorts of fun things to explore. His dad brought home random items such as electrical switches and small lights. Using some of the pieces his dad gifted him, he crafted control panels of cardboard to be used as the dashboard for all the lights and switches. The Gemini spacecraft (before the Apollo program) dashboard became perfect for playtime fun. But the fun didn't stop there. 

McHale's Navy gave Terry the perfect idea for yet another type of fantasy in crafting the inside of a PT boat such as the one on the show. Terry's crowning achievement was his Star Trek shuttlecraft that he created out of wood. Terry and a couple of friends spent hours working on this project that was about seven feet long and three feet wide. 

The control panel for the shuttlecraft was also made from wood and the parts from work his dad had given him. But what is a shuttlecraft without a front window to see all the beautiful planets and stars in space? His dad came through with an additional sheet of Plexiglass for the shuttlecraft window. Even the door slid open and closed inside the tracks built to accommodate the movement. This made the perfect place for young boys to dream their dreams of space and to investigate all that space had to offer in the minds of the dreamers.

Terry's love for computers came from watching Spock on one of his favorite shows; Star Trek. From 1978 to 1982, Terry began his career as a Data Processing Technician in the US Navy, bringing his love in the field of working with computers to fruition.  

 He was always fascinated by programming computers to do what they needed them to do. His love for assembly language, COBOL, Fortran, and flowcharting assured that he was promoted as soon as he was eligible. 

Eventually Terry became an E-5 during his naval duties, until he found he was asthmatic. His asthma eventually became bad enough that he was honorably discharged, sending him back into civilian life. He loved that time though and had proudly served in the United States Navy. 

Veteran's Day 2017, Terry still fit in his uniform after 35 years. 

After discharge from the navy, he drew his first paycheck as a computer output microfiche operator. Yes, say that three times, real fast. 

Less than a year later, he was promoted to Associate Systems Programmer,  where he wrote diagnostic programs for the computer output microfiche products. Yes, he did. No idea what that means, but he did it. I'm sure he did it well too, as his love was definitely there for this type of work. 

Then by 1987, our birthday boy was promoted to Senior Systems Programmer until 1993 when he left the position. Terry then worked as an EKG/telemetry technician. Eventually he made it back into the work he loved when he was offered a position as a senior software engineer with a consulting company in '95. 

Terry felt his duties as an telemetry technician on a 42-bed telemetry floor in a hospital in San Diego was more important in society than programming. But the offer he received from the computer consulting firm was more than quadrupled over what he was making as a telemetry tech. He simply couldn't turn it down with a young family to support.  

Even while the EKG technician was an important, helpful career choice to help mankind, Terry did return to his love of programming and has never looked back on his life with any regrets in the career choice he made. 

Leaving behind the work as a tech, Terry felt there was something missing in his life. He still had a desire to help others in some way. He finally found the opening to that path in becoming a hospice volunteer. Hospice gave Terry that feeling of assisting others the way we all should or could and after 28 years, he is still going strong.  

The volunteer work began in California and he signed up again after moving to Oregon, about five years ago. Terry has helped many a soul cross over to the other side with love and compassion and grace. His heart is big and his intentions loving. 

I would also like to mention Terry's hobby of writing poetry. He is a published poet with poems found in the San Diego Poetry Annual and a few other platforms as well. Terry has shared a few poems and haiku on the blog too, showing his talents as a poet. 

For those who follow the blog, I'm sure you have read a couple of his offerings. Not many, as he doesn't want them floating out in space when they may be published, but at least he has shared with us the beautiful words he puts together to create an imaginary world in our minds.  

Terry has lost his hearing along life's way, with a hearing aid in one ear and a cochlear implant in the other. The ear with the hearing aid in it is failing, with another cochlear implant surgery coming. Loss of hearing has never given him any reason not to enjoy life the way he wants. Another reason why I am in love with this guy. Terry shoots for the stars in all that he does. 

Terry and I met in August of 2022. It was August 8, 2022 that our paths crossed on Plenty of Fish, believe it or not. I drove to Roseburg to meet him a couple of days later and we hit if off immediately. 

Our relationship began with a few simple sentences over texts, getting to know each other as people do. Neither of us were certain if the other was a "real" person in a relationship kind of way, as there are so many scammers on POF and other dating sites, as most everywhere anymore. But, this one became what we all search for in a genuine love and devotion for each other. 

When I scrolled back to read the first lines of our conversation that began it all, I giggled. It was a real strange feeling chatting with someone I had never met, but had only seen a photo of. I had dated a couple of other possible suitors along the POF journey, but none were this involved, and especially this quickly.  

Me: You here? 

Terry: Yes, who's this? 

Me: Vicki. Eugene girl.

Terry: Oh, hi Vicki. How r u tonite? 

****** 

Now that we are married and I look back, I'm so glad I followed my gut and continued our conversations. Our chats took us late into the night hours, avoiding necessary sleep to be aware enough to work the following day. But it was difficult to break it off each night. It didn't take long before we shared the space we call "home."  

Best choice ever. 

 Now here we are, celebrating sweet man's 68th birthday tomorrow! A cake to bake tonight and then our fun begins on Thursday, April 25, the day my sweet man's light began to shine on this planet.  

We were engaged on Thanksgiving day in 2022. Our wedding was on June 17, 2023. This June it will be exactly one year. His beautiful soul has blended with mine to create a warm, loving life. Our families have joined as well and it's like we have been together forever. It was moving so quickly to me, yet felt like we had known each other for years. 

 I feel as though I am blessed in so many ways and Terry is one of my blessings. My heart had room for more in the acceptance of a new grandson, Hayden, and lovely daughter, Mallory. With their coming, it made it all complete. 

Happy birthday, my sweet man. Today is filled with the hope that you continue along your path for many healthy years to come. Keep shining that beautiful light to brighten our paths as your family. Please guide us as we walk alongside you, through those darkened spaces life gives us periodically, as without darkness, there is no light. Know that we love you. You are our blessing and our love, for all eternity. Thank you for being in our lives and for sharing your life with us. Most of all, thank you for being you.

With deepest love and gratitude, 

Your family.

Shortly after meeting, Terry and I took up writing in this blog to keep our memories fresh, with words, poems, and pictures. This is another great memory for us and why it is in the blog. As our bodies age, we will still have the memories that are us, the blending of his soul and mine, covered by the written words of us both and pictures galore.  

Tomorrow is the celebration of Terry. We will be spending the day doing what we do, with plenty of pictures! We know there will be laughter, jokes, and a good time had by us. Here's to Terry, my husband, my forever love, and my partner in crime. To his birthday, his life, and what he means to us. We hope you join us for tomorrow's post as we bring his day to life. 

I love you, sweet man! Happy birthday, with love and many, many more happy birthdays to come!