INTRODUCTION

     This is the story of a family, the Holms'.  It's the story of five kid's struggle to cope with loss, heartache and tragedy.  It's the story of how, in an instant, unexpected events can change everything you know to be true and good and right and how your whole world can be turned upside down, changing everything about who you are or ever were going to be.  It is my story as seen through my eyes.  It is a story that is in my heart desiring to be told.  As the title suggests there were five of us kids; Me (Debbie), Jill, Rick, Dean and Reisa in that order.  The story at times is different as seen through their eyes but theirs is not my story to tell.  I only have my own version of things.  Whether it is interesting to anyone else or not remains to be seen.  It is written in memory of my mother and father, both now deceased and in honoring my brothers and sisters who have traveled this journey too in their own way.  I love you all.  This is a picture of our family in 1973:

All the Holms' June 1973

Back Row: Reisa, Sue, Dean, Richard

.  Front Row: Jill, Debbie, Richy,

A MEMOIR

My mother died when I was 17 yrs old.  She was 35.  She was killed in a car accident.  She fell asleep driving one night and ran into the back of an 18 wheeler and was killed instantly.   That night she had a special job she was doing.  She had been picked as the hostess from her Steak and Ale to go to a job in Houston to represent her Steak and Ale from the Clear Lake area. So, she got off late and was tired and that's how she ended up dying in a car accident.  At home there were 5 kids asleep.  I was the oldest and that night I left a note for her on the kitchen table asking her to wake me up when she got home and let me know she got home safely.  She never did.