This is a unique story written by my brother Buzzy, as an autobiography assignment at age 13, two weeks before he died suddenly of acute childhood leukemia in 1957. You can imagine my amazement and wonder at finding this account of his life while cleaning out my mother’s house decades later. I shared copies of it with all the family members, who have found it immensely valuable as we continue to heal from the loss of our brother, son, cousin, nephew and grandson.
I have illustrated the text in a manner to evoke the simple creative joy of what a young boy’s adventurous life was like before there were digital devices. The story also serves to honor all children who have lost their lives too soon and to help siblings and parents of these children focus on celebrating the short and rich lives of their loved ones.