March 7, 2021: Bobby Russ
Today would have been Renee Row's 44th Birthday. I took yesterday off and today off to honor her memory. Looking back over the years, I tried to think about what all we did to celebrate her birthday. It's funny how now I can't remember any of the little gifts that I got her over the years. The stuff faded away into oblivion. I can vaguely remember bits and pieces of things we did. Often, it was something as simple as a dinner out because we both worked so hard. One year it was a cruise... She already had sights on potentially going on a cruise for her birthday this year. Unforuntately, COVID rained on that parade plus a few other things. She was determined though to go on another cruise with me. We had together over $600 in cruise credits waiting...
With this said, one memory I do have is that she wanted her hair dyed for her birthday. True, it is something she could have done at any time, but it was something that she used as a reason to do it. She had always loved the red head look. When she played characters in games she often had them as red heads. The joke was always that red heads have more fun, right?
She had dyed her hair several times at home, but she wanted to have it done professionally. So, a couple days after her birthday, she went out and had to done. She looked lovely in it and had sent pictures to me to see what I thought. She would later take a picture in front of her old store (and my current store).
One of the most ironic parts is that she had 4 things of red hair dye left in the house after the tragedy. She had planned to dye her hair again. There were a couple other colors she had talked about doing at one point. The color of her hair was never a huge point for me, but rather the color of her heart metaphorically. She was a very caring person who helped and looked out for so many people. That is something I will never forget...
So, today... I will go to a resturant chain where it all starting for us in Florida. My mother and I will go to Chilis. When Renee first came down to Florida, we went to a different one. The service was horrible. I mean... horrible. I had told her how great it would be and even then, she still didn't doubt my conviction. Years would pass and she'd have a good experience. I will raise a glass in your honor, Renee. Thanks for all of the memories!
She truly was so very proud of her daughters. They were often sprinkled in our conversations. Bragging on what one had done, or another had said. How funny, how compassionate, how helpful, how strong.
We always joked about red hair and red heads having more fun, that is my favorite go to color as well. Miss her so much 🥺