I completely understand how easy it is to dismiss my brother; I did it for years. For most of my life, his existence consisted of a couple of dates, an occasional sad story and a photo of a small, teddy bear engraved stone in a distant cemetery. However, over time I came to realize that the tiniest hands often steer the rudder of many destinies. Charles Edward Noel is a life that deserves to be remembered. Of the billions of potential people that have never existed, my brother beat them all in the lottery of life and secured the trophy of a beating heart. He found himself in a family with a hard working father and a dedicated mother, both striving together with their four other children towards that great California dream . News of my brother's pending arrival was greatly celebrated and many were hoping for a second boy to join the cast of little maniacs running around the Noel house.
No one knew better than Mom that his innocent life started long before his tragically early birthday. For months, Charles felt the warmth of our mother surrounding his tiny body. She cradled him in her womb, lulled him to sleep with her heartbeat and woke him with her voice. Her songs made his little heart swell and his world swirled as she danced in the kitchen to music from the radio. He felt her sorrow when she cried and he bounced when she laughed. The weight of my Dad’s hand on her belly made Charles feel safe and he loved the sound of them talking sweetly and lovingly to each other. Noise from his siblings echoed almost constantly around him and he knew their individual little voices extremely well. He loved the familiarity of those shrill screams, raucous laughs, loud shouts and pitiful cries. When Mom held his siblings, he felt them close and her words of comfort soothed his little heart as well as theirs. Charles marveled at the mysterious sounds emanating from the television that he would never see. Gunsmoke, Bugs Bunny, Bonanza, Yogi Bear, The Price is Right, Captain Kangaroo… He knew those and more but Lawrence Welk was Mom’s favorite, so of course it was his favorite, too. Nights would wind down with talk of the new, young President on the news and conclude with laughter on the Tonight Show.
Charles didn’t understand the circumstances that caused him to be thrust into a strange, bright and cold place. Despite the weakness of his little body, his heart leapt for joy when he first looked up to see the face of his Mommy that he loved so very, very much. For two long, hard days he battled for each breath while my parents tenderly comforted him with soft words and sweet songs. When his little body could fight no more, he closed his beautiful blue eyes and quietly slipped from my mothers, cradling embrace and gently glided into the arms of a loving God.
I may never have known him but I have felt my brother's influence and presence throughout my life. His little hands held our parents' hearts and the blessing of his short life and the tragedy of his loss changed the very fabric and character of our family forever. Because of him, we love deeper and we cherish life more dearly. Charles Edward Noel is a life that deserves to be remembered.
Charles Edward Noel
1961 - 1961
