Have you ever wished you had a time machine? If I did, I would go back 41 years so I could finish something that I started.
Let me explain: this timely story revolves around my parents. I’m going to start with my dad. I was older before I realized just how much he didn’t like to throw anything away. When I was a small child, we had no extra room in our small house to keep stuff in storage. We had a few closets and that was about it. I think my dad started collecting things after he was living on his own and had more room to do so. When he moved in 2010, Tim and I helped him pack up his belongings. To say that we were overwhelmed with all the stuff is an understatement. It was the same after he passed away four years ago. I didn’t want our daughter Sara to experience that, so I began to go through our accumulated things. Upon doing that, I came across some papers I had kept from high school and a little after. What I found absolutely floored me.
This is where my mom enters the story. She loves Robert Redford. Even those that don’t know her as well, are very aware of how much she likes him. Well, after my parents officially divorced in 1984, I felt very bad for my mom. So, I wanted to do something special for her that would make her feel better. At that time, I was just nineteen years old and working part-time in a local grocery store, so I had didn’t have much money. While there wasn’t anything I could afford to buy her, I thought of something I could do for her. I wrote a letter to Robert Redford and asked for an autograph picture. The letter explained why I was asking for it and her name. After I finished it, I planned on going to go to the library to see if there was an address for his fan mail. No Google back in those days. But I never did that. Why? I got super busy starting school part time and planning my wedding to Tim. I would think of it from time to time, but then something would come up and I would forgot about it again. After the wedding, I had completely forgotten about the letter.
I knew there was only one thing to do. Yep, I wrote another letter that explained everything. Then I googled the address for Robert Redford’s fan mail. On May 21, 2025, I took both letters to the post office. There I bought a large envelope and wrote my address on it and placed stamps on it. You see, I wanted to personally hand deliver that autographed picture to my mom. Then I placed it and the two letters into a bigger envelope and mailed it off in high hopes that my mom would soon have it. After a couple of weeks, I anxiously checked the mailbox each day. Nothing from Robert Redford. On September 16, 2025, He passed away. Now my mom will never have an autographed picture of him because I waited too long.
“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” Isaiah 55:6 (KJV)
While I do regret not being able to get the autographed picture, in the grand scheme of things, it’s not that important. What truly matters is the human soul. It’s so important that Jesus died for it. (John 3:16) So take care of it while you still have the time and opportunity.
One of the pictures with the articles was taken at the post office as I was getting everything organized and ready to mail. The other picture is of Paul Newman and Robert Redford from the movie: “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” It hangs in my mom’s house and has its own story. Back in ’85, I gave my mom $20 and asked her to pick up something for the wedding reception at a store in West Town Mall. When she came home that evening, she had the picture instead. “I saw it and I had to have it. Since it was $19.99, I bought it with the money you gave me. Tomorrow I will go to the bank, get more money, and I will buy to get what you need.” She did, but I now have no idea what it was that I needed.

Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.