He was my heart. My love, my friend of my teen years, my coming of age, and throughout my life.
I met Leslie when I was 15 and started attending High School in Keller. It took me a week of stopping in at Food Fare (grocery store he worked at - a dairy stocker at that) to get the courage to ask him if he was going to the Sock Hop the school was holding. I "slyly" told him I wanted to go but didn't know anyone yet.
He shyly grinned and quietly told me he had some people he was going with but he could pick me up to get me there if I wanted. I was thrilled to the end of my toes!
I thought he was so wonderful with those beautiful blue eyes and that thick golden blond hair. Leslie had a wicked sense of humor and laughed. A sweet man.
I learned so much with Leslie. He and I were our first for each other.
We were together at his last breath this morning at 10:45 AM.
I remember him and Bob Right chasing the girls around the halls at school with their overalls one. They would put their finger out the fly and chase the girls wiggling the finger and telling them that they were "coming for them!". He was a gentle practical joker. He had some very deep feelings that we would talk about and cry over.
Hours of talk. Hours of dreams. Hours of dancing, just us two. Under the stars we would lay on top of our cars until my Mom would 'flicker the porch light' as a signal to come in. A fast but lingering kiss and I would slide of the hood and sashay my butt inside. He would always whistle at me as I walked.
I would sneak him into my house after all went to sleep and we would curl up in my bed kissing and cuddling and talking for hours.
Until the sunlight started peaking in the sky. The he would quietly (as a souped up Grand Torino could be) drive away.
Other nights I would sneak into his bedroom window and we would lay in his bed with the music playing and kiss and cuddle until the sunlight would start to lighten the sky and then I would leave as quietly as a souped up GTO could.
We never fooled anyone :)
There is so much about Les that I find dances in my memories. He was the ONE Love that all girls dream of.
I was lucky to have him in my heart and in my life.
I was not brave enough to always include him totally.
This is the hardest thing that I have EVER done in my life.
Youth presents so many choices. There are paths that we take thinking it is what must be done.
I became so impatient in waiting. I never was good about that. I think I have learned though in a few areas. Leslie was a man about the details. A CPA and a fine one at that. He was always patient and tender.
I listened to tears of pain and of joy with him. He was the father of my first pregnancy just before I turned 18. We agreed to abort the pregnancy. I found out it was twins and I believe they were boys in my heart.
2 days before I turned 18 we ended the pregnancy. A choice we talked long and hard about. It was not easy. Les was so very supportive and protective of me in the gentlest of ways.
He was so upset that I carried in my Father's luggage the day after the procedure. I was not to do anything but I was hiding what had happened from my Dad. The night of my 18th birthday party I was in my room on my bed hurting and crying. A family friend came downstairs to see why I was missing. He tried to 'bounce me ' out of bed and I thought Les was going to kill the man. He shoved Dennis clear across my bedroom and told him to leave in a dangerously quiet voice. I never had fear concerning Les, until that moment. He could have killed Dennis for causing me more pain. Dennis didn't know and he 'bounced me' by pushing on my stomach. Like trying to wake a child. He didn't know.
My Momma knew what had been done but was following our wishes of silence.
I told Leslie's brother, Ferris, of the pregnancy in Sunday afternoon. I was getting ready to take Zephyr (my grandson) back to his mother and was returning the next day to spend the last hours of Leslie's life with him uninterrupted.
Ferris asked me why we never married and I told him. It was a misconception of a belief on my part. Leslie, Byron and Ferris' dad had told me to "leave Les alone.
That I was not good enough for him."
I shoved my fist through a tiled wall that day. I worked at Dairy Queen and I went into the bathroom and punched a hole through a 2x4 wooden stud and tiled wall. I paid dearly for that heart break. the broken knuckle I never had fixed and I worked with it. I paid to have the wall repaired.
I moved on and stole as much time as I could with Les.
He moved to Waco after graduation. He was Valedictorian and I was SO proud of him!
There is so much about Les that I love. Loved. Forever will love.
I cannot write it all at this time.
I have to remember first.
It is all mixed up at this time.
We always danced together. With and without music. We would sing together.
I practiced writing my name as his wife.
I have all of his letters still.
I felt abandoned and left behind.
It was all my young impatience that caused the worries instead of my trust that he was doing the best he knew how and in the proper way he thought would benefit us both.
Life has a way of working things to be the best.
I met Stephen and loved him too.
I chose to marry Stephen and thus I have the greatest gifts of my life.
Amanda and Jason.
Les has always been there through it all.
We talked of trying to be together after I divorced.
I would not move to Austin.
I wanted my kids to be near their father. I did what I felt was best for them.
All parents do that, I believe. At least I tried to believe it.
Stephen is a wonderful father and now we have a grandson.
Zephyr Hendrix has a purpose in life.
Stephen is happy in his second marriage.
I do not intend to ever marry again.
I miss Leslie deeply and with all my heart.
I have loved him totally all these 32 years.
His brothers told me he NEVER stopped loving me. Even through two "awful marriages" and divorces. The say he NEVER spoke ill of me.
I have never stopped nor ever will stop loving Les.
Sometimes in life you do not get to be with your one true love.
There are many loves in life however.
Because of Leslie I learned that I
am and was
worth loving.
I sang to him, I held him, I kissed him as his last breath left his body. I saw his eyes go out as his soul left.
Last night I felt and went through his dreams with him. I told him I was staying the night with him and I would not leave him.
He sat up in bed, opened his eyes wide, looked directly into mine and said loudly "YES". Leslie has not been to talk or sit up for a couple of weeks now.
He sat up on Sunday to look at my grandson while I changed his diaper. He wanted to meet Zephyr. He had talked with my children through the years. He had visited us and stayed with me.
I cannot think of all the things I want to write about.
I am glad I was there at the beginning and at the end of his life.
I will be busy writing more of him.
Right now I am helping by locating pictures I can share of Les with his family.
The viewing is on Wednesday. The funeral for his body is on Thursday.
Les is not gone. He lives in my heart. He lives in my dreams and in my memories.
It is not often that one has a life love that they share.
We could not be together in life. We are always together in heart and soul.
His brothers told me I was his Redheaded Flame.
He was my Golden Sun with the Sky in his eyes.
This is something we always called each other.
Leslie Glenn Bavousett, I love you. I am glad your body is at rest and that your pain has ceased.
I was there to hold you to your freedom.
You are welcome to walk into my window anytime you want.
Thank you for all you were and are at this time.
Perfectly Spiritual and Forever My Golden Sun with the Sky.
