I also considered not doing this page, and have only
done so with the full consent and editing rights of Arlene Marine
(Our Grand Matriarch and Lovely Mother). This is a painful subject
for her, but one that has given the Marine family a gift beyond compare.
We have our own Family Gaurdian Angel.

Arlene's pregnancy with John was a rough one, but lasted
full term. One day before he was due to be born, Arlene
experienced placenta previa, and John was stillborn.
The date was May the nineteenth in nineteen sixty six.
Sixteen months before I was even born. The doctors
said  that perhaps it was for the best because
John would have been blind. In a rage, Arlene's
husband went home and cut down every tree in
their yard in an attempt to disperse his anger at
the world. Arlene bore this loss as stoically as
she could, later adding Mark, Nancy, and Edward Jr.
to the family, but never, as she quotes,

"Making up for the one that was lost".

I came on the scene much later, that is, into the lives of this
wonderful family, and was told all about this because I
was having a difficult pregnancy and Arlene wished me to know that
what was God's choice can not be reversed, nor should I feel it were
a punishment. I did not know, until after the birth of that healthy baby
boy, and then the one following that, that our family had something
that others did not. I had stumbled into a life where no
matter what the difficulty I was facing, there was always
this sense that all would be well in the end, as if there was someone
or something tenderly cradling my fate at their bosom and sheltering
me from harm. I thought that I would have no other child then the
one that came into  my life through marriage, and the one that I gave
birth to against all odds. I was wrong.

In nineteen ninety six, I was pregnant again, this time it was the
smoothest, most easy pregnancy I believe any
woman has ever had. This child was another miracle in my life,
and I tenderly looked forward to meeting him or her.
This was when John made his presence known to me.
I had gone to stay with my Mother-in-Law (Arlene) for
the last two weeks of my pregnancy because our first
son was a very large child, and still being a baby
wanted and needed lots of care, cuddling, and lifting wich I
could no longer do at this late stage of my pregnancy.
My new baby was due to be born by Cesaerean Section
one week before his due date to ensure I would not go
into labor and risk trying to deliver another huge baby.
The day before the surgery date, I fell down the stairs. Remarkably,
both the baby and I were uninjured. I did however, go into labor
that night. Our son, Brian Stanley Marine, having been conceived
against all odds and surviving a fall down the stairs, was born on
May the nineteenth nineteen ninety seven.
This would have been John's thirty first birthday.
I firmly believe that John was there, protecting Brian and I
from harm, and blessing his way into the world by sharing a birthday
with him. After all, I share birthday's with John's mother, why shouldn't
my son share one with her's?

Thus, in gratitude for John, our Gaurdian Angel,
I put forth this page. May all who visit understand that
sometimes what the Lord takes away, he gives back
ten-fold, and in some very mysterious and wondrous ways.

When Angels Cry

When someone who was too young to die,
Is taken away without reason why.
The Angels sing, The Angels Cry.
The tears that fall
Are not tears at all,
But memories that will never die.

When Angels cry,
There is no pain.
Just a never-ending constant rain.
Suffering there is no more.
Just glory and saftey to all.

When Angels cry,
The whole world knows.
They gather the tears, like
petals from a rose.
The scent of each one destroys
all fears.

When Angels cry,
People try to understand,
How someone so young could be
placed under our great Creators
Hand.
The answer to this question may never
be known.

When Angels cry crystal tears,
We glance up and have no fears.
For that person who was too young
too die,

Is now an Angel.
Singing their songs of mourning,
and crying their tears of memory,
up in the sky.

~Author, Witchery.

For John