My friend, Steve.

When I entered (Satellite) High School, I was very short. I'm short now, but believe it or not, I was shorter in High School. I think I was 4' 4" and was constantly being called "short stuff" and "midget".

I guess it irritated me. Mostly, I was irritated by things the other kids took for granted. While the other kids vied and envied "top lockers",  I actually got one, that I couldn't reach. I had to suffer the indignity of going back to the office and after our maintenance man looked up the combination and said "Yeah , that's it. It's not opening?"...and I said "No that's the combination." (and he said) "What's the problem?"..I said "I can't reach it." and he broke out in paroxysms of laughter.

Anyway, during my first year in Satellite High, through circumstances I don't exactly remember, I met a giant of a man. His name was (Frank) Steve Scoggins. He was a senior. He was a photographer. He was 6' 3" (or 4) . with black wavy hair and Buddy Holly glasses. He was a friend of a chorus mate named Randy, and I think that's how we met.

 Early in the year there was an "event" where a lot of the clubs had tables and we had an open period to walk through the halls of the school and get acquainted with some of the other activities.  Exchanging books out of my, then, locker, which was near the ROTC room...and here begins my story. I had met Steve prior to this event. He emerged and, I don't really know how long he'd been there, so I don't know if he'd seen me dodging the barrage of feet and shoulders to get in and out of my locker.

He walked up to me and said "Hi, Kim" and gently took my hand. He walked me through the halls of Satellite that day. There was lots of laughing and jeering and snide remarks.  Mostly like "That's never going to work!" and other tasteless remarks.

I was "shrinking" at the remarks and being jeered at, but Steve was intrepid and like a man on a mission.

He was careful with his strides , so I didn't look like a munchkin trying to keep up with him. Everyone who made a remark, Steve spoke to. He didn't return tit for tat. He said "Hi" or "We'll see", nothing really confrontational.

Several things changed that day.  The first was...nearly miraculous for me. After that day, I was not stepped on, ignored or harassed for my size again (by people who didn't know me). The second was, I had a new friend, Steve.

 People did see us together sometimes.  Before school, we would run into one another and I would hear about his photographing adventures. We'd meet at a dance, and he would dance with me.  Every so-often I would get a ride home from school.  I didn't understand, then, that Steve had become used to looking out for people, because of someone in his family.

I remember , he snuck into our principals' office and got a picture of a controversial stereo system that our principal had purchased with school funds . I think the picture never actually made it to the school newspaper , due to some authorative intervention. Knowing Steve's work as a photographer, I'm sure the picture was crisp and slightly angled for that beautiful data look.

Over the years, I wondered how he did and I offer my thanks to Facebook for reconnecting with him.

He had been in the Marines (looks fabulous in his dress blues) . He got married to a sweet and pretty woman, named Rhonda and had a son, Roy.  We actually met with them  for breakfast during one of his trips to Florida to visit family.

I don't think he was very surprised that my husband, who is one of my heros, is actually 6' 8" tall.

 Imprints last a long time.

Over the last three years, Steve's contact and updates were consistent and worrying me. He had cancer. He had liver problems. He had lung cancer. Walt and I prayed for him, alot and sent cards and encouragement.

He was grateful and humble in his expressions of thanks.

I was informed , this week, that Steve passed into that good night.

If there is an eternal reward for someone, surely Steve has it.

I love you, Steve,

I miss you.

you'll always be "my giant"