Tomorrow is my paternal granddad's bday. He passed 7 yrs ago come October. I can remember the phone call like it was yesterday. I was 15. My aunt called me; her words "Granddaddy died" still ring in my head. Im not a big crier but the tears immediately came. I called my mom and she rushed home to me.
At the funeral, I didnt sit up front with the family. I couldnt. I was too hysterical. I didnt even say goodbye really. It was surreal. The first time anybody immediately related to my had passed.
In 15 yrs, you think you would have plenty of memories that keep a person going. Only a few things stand out abt my granddad. 1. He loved to fish and garden. 2. He was tall and solid. 3. Whenever he burped, he never said excuse me, he just said "ow" repeatedly. 4. He wasnt overwhelmingly loving but he was smart and a strong man. 5. He believed in me. 6. He called me "The Girl".
I would go visit him and we would have conversations for hours about nothing. I mean, they were about things but nothing really. He would tell me about his experiences as a teacher for DC Public schools, about his days in college, about his military days. He had soo many experiences during his lifetime and he shared them all with me but the only thing I can remember are the 6 things above. I remember he would come back from fishing and we would gut fish together. He my grandmother and I would go grocery shopping and I would sit in the front seat between them, never in the back seat. All I know is that, one of the reasons I am who I am is because of this man. And while I know that as he has looked over me and the life I have lived for these 7 years, I may have done a lot that he didnt necessarily approve of, I have also done alot that I know he has approve of.
Next week, when I walk across that stage to get my Bachelors, I will think of my grandad and how he always knew I would get there. Thx. Granddaddy. Happy Birthday.
