Dick [William Bergquist]
MY JOURNEY WITH DICK
Dick is my brother. We have traveled many miles together, not only in childhood, but also in early adulthood, when we went to college together and later attended the same university for graduate studies. While as adults we have often lost touch with one another, living in different regions of the United States, there has always been a special connection between the two of us.
Maybe it started with our sharing of a large bedroom in Sycamore Illinois as children. We would play together, constructing Ferris wheels with our Erector Set and forts with our building blocks. We listened to afternoon radio programs featuring Superman, Sergeant Preston, Sky King and Bobby Benson.
I was the on
e who spent most of my time playing in this bedroom. Dick was out there with his friends. Yet, he would return home from the “outside” world and join me in joint fantasizing. I think that is what our special relationship is all about—our joint fantasies.
As older children, this would often show up in the books about pioneers and brave dogs we would share (Dick took the lead). As young adults this would show up in the parties we held during our college and graduate school years.
Now there is only one side to this special relationship. The Dick I have known for more than 80 years has left. My parents and my sister have passed away. Am I now truly an orphan without a “living” brother as a co-fantasizer . . .
