Life is just a dash...

Yesterday my family buried my dear sweet Papa... he was the best grandfather anyone could ask for. Part of my tribute to him was to speak at his funeral. Public speaking is by no means my forte, but it was fitting for me to do so. I'd love to just share with you my heart in what I said...

"There are not enough words to describe to you the unique man that was our Papa. 

He always helped us grandkids and was so proud of all our accomplishments. He and granny came to as many of our events as they possibly could, including every graduation, sport event, recital, and birthday party. It was a tradition that he and granny made each birthday special by singing, quite off key, the “Happy Birthday” song. Papa always insisted that even if they had a gift, no card should be without something in it. If you received money for your birthday, it was always a random amount because of that extra one-dollar bill they would give you in the card.

Papa was always game for any harebrained idea that us grandkids came up with – although I might have been the one that took the prize for the most random and continuous ideas.  (and my mom can attest to that) I can't tell you how many times he came over with some shelf or contraption I had thought up, and he had made. Pretty much if you could draw it out, Papa could build it!  

He would help you with anything. From checking the oil in your car to sitting with my brother to taking granny out with her “gallivanting around”. 

He wasn’t a huge talker, but when he told a story – it was always fascinating.

He loved the outdoors, and had a garden pretty much up until about 10 years ago. I remember helping him pick okra, snap & shell peas and beans, picking tomatoes. Watching him run the rototiller, and using a hoe to mold the earth into neatly shaped rows for planting. One time I had the bright idea of planting cotton. He thought I was a little crazy, but hey – we did it and low and behold I had about three cotton plants! I still have the few tufts of cotton that I picked from my plants. He could literally grow anything.

He was kind, gentle, firm, funny, ornery, stubborn, smart, wise, full of laughter and smiles, always teaching, friendly, and caring. He didn’t have a good education, but was one of the smartest men I know. His gorgeous blue eyes crinkled with love and his steady voice always said "love you", and then he’d give you a big kiss on the cheek. He was a strong man with a strong heart who knew no enemies. 


Such accolades would sometimes seem to be too much for one person to fulfill – but somehow Papa truly filled them all.

There are seven of us lucky enough to be his grandchildren, one his great-grandchild, but sometimes I feel as if I’m the luckiest of the bunch. See, I’m the oldest grandchild. I had granny and papa all to myself for six years, and for about fourteen years I was the only girl. So yes, I was a bit spoiled by my grandparents! 

But the love of grandparents doesn’t diminish with more grandkids – rather it expands and grows. We all feel special and loved by our granny and papa, so much so that we didn’t mind sharing him with many of you. He adopted so many of you into his life and truly was a Papa to you too..."