Long ago in his shaky penmanship, my Papaw ended a note to
me by saying: “thank you for being my pal and my friend - I love you,
Papaw.” I still have that. It was like handing me a million dollars, and
over the years that became the way he addressed me in notes like that one. I have been fortunate enough to have had
wonderful friends over the years and smart enough not to take the
responsibility of being a friend too lightly.
I believe good friends teach one how to be a better friend…that was one
of the many things my Papaw taught me.
Lately he has been on mind. As I
sift through my tangled mind thinking of him these ramblings come forth.
Thoughts...
Over these last few
weeks I have felt the joy of being among an old friend, although he has long
since gone away. My pal who often took
me fishing and wandering through old grave yards, the man who taught me so much
and now I still learn from him. How did
you do it Papaw? How did you make it so
far without giving up or throwing in the towel, I ask?
And before the words are out of my mouth I realize you did
this for me. For Granny, Dad and Mom,
for Shannon and all the others – it was for us that you stood so tall and
fought on foreign soil. It was for our
gain that you turned over soil and trapped all those years ago. Constantly you tried to improve for me and
you didn’t even know I would come. How
could I have deserved all you gave me, all the simple little things you did for
me.
But I did come. After
your 51st year I came into this world to bare my father’s name and yours. I wonder if you knew the ground we would
cover? Keep finding me old friend, I
still need you. And when the road before
me becomes less than the road I have behind me I will come to you again. Under the same moon and stars and sun I walk
this world you gave me. Although now the
moon and stars and sun don’t seem quite as bright since you have gone.
You will never die so long as I live my friend.
