A Gentle Breeze

MY GENTLE BREEZE

ORGAN, TISSUE
DONOR RIBBON

GREGORY ALLEN LITTRELL
Sept. 13,1979-Sept. 25,1997

Greg loved to watch the movie,"Beaches"
"Beaches" was always one of Greg's favorite movies. He voiced his concern about who would take care of him if I died.

...They say that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. He was the loudest squeaky wheel I ever heard because Greg always made you aware of his needs immediately. The world needs more people like Greg. He didn't have a screen on his emotions. He wasn't able to contain those very well. Sometimes I think that all of us need more of that. We need to be more real. We need to be more open and we need to express ourselves more. That's one thing Greg taught me.
.. He was a child that was totally innocent in his ability to love and receive love from other people. His heart was wide open and there was no one that escaped him... Typically Greg would bring gifts. He brought me my first Spring flowers this year to plant. My greatest and most joyful gift that he brought me in terms of a tangible, physical gift was something that he called "fish bait"... He brought me this styrofoam cup one day with a lid on it. "I brought you some'n", he said. He was so excited. He loved to give things...When I looked inside it was chocolate pudding with gummy worms in it. That was typical for Greg. Things that he would think about to give you; things that he would want to say to you would be said at the top of his lungs with the most joy I have ever seen.
Physically he was beautiful to see. I don't believe that I have met a child with more obstacles physically, that I have worked with or more emotional obstacles. But he was the most beautiful child. I will never forget his eyes. I'll see them everywhere as long as I live; crystal clear, blue eyes.
...There have been many times when i've gotten up in the morning thinking about the people I need to see and I'll be tired; I don't want to get up. It's not easy work. Immediately Greg comes to my mind and I think of his energy and his enthusiasm that he has had for life; his joy. When I Think about that, I think, I have no problems. I stop feeling sorry for myself...
One of the learning things that we were able to accomplish with him was with music. Greg wanted to learn how to play the keyboard... We spent part of out time... in music therapy... One of the things we have talked about in the last couple of days is his love of singing, "Home On The Range". He would sing that whenever he got upset... We'll always hear him sing that a little off key at the top of his lungs. He learned how to play "Silent Night" on the Keyboard. His little hands would shake so much when he tried to touch the keys. But, he was so persistent, I would think gosh, how much patience it must take for him to try to play this song. We kept working and working. He was able to play that song for his mother before Christmas that year. He was so excited. When he would learn something he would immediately want to run out of the room and tell his mama. "I wanna tell mama. Let me go tell mama."
He had a wonderful love for her. He always relied on you Dottie for everything and you were always there for him. The world needs more people like Greg and like Dottie. We're a thousand times better off for having them in our lives.
At this point we are going to play a song for you. One of Greg's favorite songs was, "Wind Beneath MY Wings". I'd like for you to remember him that way. He came into our lives like a tornado, but what happened in the process of knowing he, he did become the wind, a sweet breeze. He will always be someone that we will think of that way because he did lift us higher that we normally are in our everyday routine.
Excerpts from comments made at Greg's funeral by Lynda Hargroves, Greg's mental health counselor - September 28, 1997.

Wind Beneath My Wings
George Delerue

It must have been cold there in my shadow
To never have sunlight on your face
You were content to let me shine
That’s your way
You always walked a step behind
So I was the one with all the glory
While you were the one with all the strength
A beautiful face without a name
For so long
A beautiful smile to hide the pain
Did you ever know that you're my hero
And everything I would like to be
I can fly higher than an eagle
When you are the wind beneath my wings
It might have appeared to go unnoticed
But I've got it all here in my heart
I want you to know I know the truth
Of course I know it
I would be nothing without you
Did you ever know that you're my hero
You're everything I wish I could be

I could fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings
Did I ever tell you you're my hero
You're everything, everything I wish I could be
And I, I could fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings
Cause you are the wind beneath my wings
oh the wind beneath my wings
You, you, you
You are the wind beneath my wings
Fly, fly, fly away
You let me fly so high
Oh you, you, you
You the wind beneath my wings
You you you
The wind beneath my wings
Fly, fly, fly, high against the sky
So high I almost touched the sky
Thank you, thank you
Thank god for you
The wind beneath my wings

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