Wayne, Me and the motorcycle

Wayne Martin is my 2nd cousin, son of my uncle Ross, who is the brother of my grandma Jones. Wayne and I were born 3 days apart in August of 1955. We both grew up together in Cincinnati Ohio, and its eastern country suburbs. Wayne was, and is just as a brother to me. We were a contrast in study; I was reserved and prone to think things thru, Wayne was impulsive, bold and seemingly without fear. He understood and perfected the live for today' philosophy before the new age Zen thinkers made millions in self help books proclaiming it as the new mantra for a generation. We were opposites that truly balanced, and while we may have been different when we were separated, there was a chemistry that developed when we were paired that blended us into a unique personality that mirrored each other. We were partners in all things good and bad, and I was glad to be with him all through life. We have shared much over the years, and memories of my childhood would be impossible to recall without his link to my life. We got our 1st train sets the same year, we learned to shoot and hunt together; shared a homemade go-kart; we went to church together, spent weekends together, got our first job working together at the Milford Gun Club, dated the same girls and shared the same friends. We fought and loved; we were brothers and best friends.

After I graduated from high school in Ohio, I moved to Birmingham Alabama to work for my father in his construction equipment business while attending the University of Alabama. Wayne had some mechanic skills but no job in Ohio. I missed him being so far away, so it seemed a natural to invite him to move down, come to work for my dad, and he and I would share an apartment as roommates. After a weekend visit, he was excited about the idea and the following week I drove up in a truck to help him move down.

We had an aunt, his dad's and my grandma's sister, Aunt Geneva who lived in Birmingham. She was widowed, a refined lady to the standards of a true southern belle, a lady who enjoyed having family close at hand. We were aware of her, but had never really spent any time with her growing up. Her children were not in our inner clique of cousins so the feeling of family needed to be adapted on our parts. To begin an instant relationship with someone who one year earlier was a distant relative felt a bit strange and was a novelty to us, if not pretentious on her part, however we became her projects to look after

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