If I were an atheist...

If I were an atheist, why would I care that you’re dead? You’re meaningless. Why would I browse through pictures, why would I search, what would be the urgency to remember your likeness, to tell your stories, to tell of your deeds, to cry, to be lonely, to long for you, to remember your touch. If I were an atheist, why would I care?

If I were an atheist, we would just live for the moment. And the moment would be gone. I wouldn’t remember. I wouldn’t care. I wouldn’t tell other’s about you. You’d just be nothing. You’d just be gone. And I would have to live every day for today, with no hope for tomorrow, no hope of ever seeing anyone I have ever loved again.

If I were an atheist, I’d be so sad, because you would have just passed by me like a storm with a name, one that moves on, only to bring another sunny day, & another cold day. You'd be nothing, useless, meaningless. Your pictures would just rot. They would roll up in a drawer & be burnt like your body, useless, gone, meaningless, if I were an atheist and had no hope of ever seeing you again.

If I were an atheist why would I speak of you? Tell tales of your exploits, search for pictures I have never seen, thrill to find a recording of your voice, a video of the way you walk. If I were an atheist why would I be searching, looking for a tiny glimpse of your face, your arm, your leg, your finger, in every piece of celluloid or kilobyte I own.  Why would I hold your clothes close to my face, trying to convince myself that you are still here.

If I were an atheist and nothing awaited me beyond this life, why would I care. You would be gone, they would be gone, one day I will be gone. And we would never ever be heard from again. Just like a piece of cosmic trash.

But I am not an atheist, & I have the Hope, the sure Knowledge, the assurance of a Promise, that although our bodies & our things will deteriorate & disintegrate, our Souls will LIVE Forever. I know that I know that I know, because I am NOT an atheist. And one day I will sit at the feet of my Savior with you, with my son, & all the others that I have loved & who have moved on.

 JB

 KB

 (original poem by Karrel Buckingham (c) 2011, graphics by scrapgirls.com

"I know guys in my hometown that drive by feel and sound." Evel Knievel

Cousins-Buckingham boys & Durant kids

Jeff Buckingham, was born & raised in Port Huron. His class of Port Huron High was 1970. I don't know much about his life there, but maybe you do. Feel like sharing the good times. We all had bad times so no need to share those, unless it is fabulously funny.

Jeff enjoyed going back to Port Huron the few times he did after he moved to Florida, met & married me, but mostly he went back to see family & to show me his home town. He showed me a draw bridge (on the Black River???) that was permanently up, he said he used to dive off it. He said he worked at Vlasic as a pickle packer (or something, he said women did one thing & men did another). He used to paint power poles & have to carry heavy buckets up paint up the tall poles. He had the most awesome forearms & biceps.

His extended family was the Buckingham's of Port Huron & Canada, the Coops of Port Huron & Flint, and the Durant's of Port Huron. (If there are others, I don't know them). His grandparents, Nelt & Zella Buckingham & Arlie & Janet Coop lived in Port Huron & are buried there. His dad, Joe Buckingham, just passed away on January 3, 2011, was living in Richmond. His Mom, Irene Gillis (nee Coop) now lives in Florida, but until this summer she was a part time resident of Port Huron & Florida.

The Buckingham Kids

Jeff's siblings are Joe (Butch), Pat, Sara, Leila & Lori. Everyone is gone from Port Huron now, but they are all well known. Jeff attended Port Huron High and married a couple of local girls. He has 3 children. Amy Buckingham Van Alstein who still lives in Port Huron & has 2 children, Tori & Michael.  His other 2 children Debbie & Adam (Andy) are living in Florida.

When he came to Florida he met & married me, Karrel and became an awesome dad to my kids, Danny, Davey, Nicole & Vicki, a good father-in-law to Pamela, Dave & Rich and the best papa a kid could ever have to Tori & Michael and Gareth, Sebastian, Bradley, Kaitlyn, Hope, Kylie & Bryson. He is sorely missed everyday by everyone of us.

I would love to know more about Jeff's life in Port Huron. Please, if you like, share your memories. If you aren't sure about posting it, just e-mail me "jeff  buck 5 2 at yahoo dot com" & I will let you know ;-}}}}

Jeff was my hero, he came in and saved my life & showed me that there are good kind and caring men in the world. I miss him very much. Jeff Buckingham RIP 1/12/2011

Jeff & me