- Sitting at the table. The kitchen table. The one that my grandmother remembers the exact date and price of purchase. Its early morning you wake up and hear the dishes clinking and their quiet voices. You rub your eyes are walk out to join them. Granddad reading the paper, grandmother looking out the window towards the birdfeeders, you hear her voice say something gently a reminder, a comment on the weather, always begins with the word “David”.
Grandmother spots me first, “well grandad look who is awake”. He immediately sets down his paper, next to the empty oatmeal bowl and the old gray stoneware coffee cup. He pats my hand and I can feel the wrinkles from his hard working hands.
“Grandmother, this girl could use some oatmeal.” in his gentle voice., and through the smirk..
My grandmother hops up without hesitation and I can hear her slippers flop against the linoluem. They have spent a couple hours together chatting, but she is still in her robe. Grandmother first pours him a new cup of coffee, and begins making me a fresh batch of oatmeal. She brings me a slice of toast. I pull my legs up in my chair still rubbing sleep from my eyes.
“Granddad whose girl do you think she is today?” grandmother teases from the stove. Granddad starts slididng me over the butter and the jam.
“What else do you need girl?” he asks, I shake my head nothing. “ We will se about that grandmother, but my guess is mine.”
Today granddad I am your girl. This Fathers Day. I honor you. A sweet spirit, a gentle hardworking man. One who loved the lord, and always showed utmost integrity in every action. The one who I could make blush by calling him a stud (to which grandmother would scold and shake her finger and remind me he was taken!) This was my granddad. Today on Fathers Day, he met his Father.
This morning right after midnight he went home to be with Jesus. Nick asked me if I think the Lord greeted him by patting his hand ever so gently just as he would have done. I like to think so.
I am not there yet, I am flying to Phoenix as I write I was unable to leave sooner. I am ready to be with my family. Keep praying and thank you for your thoughts already. Throughout the next few days I will use this blog to record some very vivid memories the lord is giving me of my sweet Granddad.
*this blog entry was written on June 18th, 2006*
Field o’ Mustard. Orange County Photographer
16 hours ago
3 little notes:
Tears filling my eyes.
What a truly amazing man.
And I am very much look forward to hearing more about him.
Praying that Jesus comforts you and your Grandmother and your family with a deep and tender, lasting comfort. The kind of comfort that only He can give.
Hold on let me get a kleenex. What a beautiful memory. You have been so blessed to have such a wonderful grandfather.
This is so beautiful. Your tribute to him makes me wish that I had known him; he sounds amazing.
You and your family are in my prayers.
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