Granddaddy

My precious granddaddy died this morning while on his way back from getting coffee. He was hit by an 18-wheeler and died instantly. He died at the exact same intersection where he and my grandmother had their near fatal accident exactly 34 years ago on Nov. 24th, 1974. God blessed us with another 34 years. Otherwise, I would have never known my granddaddy. The last thing he did when he left the house this morning was kiss my grandmother good-bye.

Hey Granddaddy. I'm still here. I'm still here with my heart aching so badly at the thought of not seeing you again. You. I know. You're dancing. You've pulled all the furniture out of the living room, and you're dancing! You're boot-scootin' and laughing. You're visiting with Jesus and drinking coffee with the angels. Oh, how I wish I could sit down beside you right now. You, Granddaddy, are the most wonderful granddaddy I could have ever dreamed of. You are the only granddaddy I've ever had and you were better at being a granddaddy than if I'd had a 100 other ones. You loved me. You really loved me! I always knew you loved me. There was never any doubt. I also know you loved God. So, I know with complete certainty that you're visiting with him now. That is a very good and peaceful feeling, knowing right where you're at.

I have hundreds of memories flooding my mind right now. I'm replaying them over and over in my mind because I don't want to let you go. Remember how I used to bring you lemonade on a hot summer day while you were plowing in the fields? Remember how we used to visit you at the lumberyard, and you would always break off a piece of sheetrock so I could use it as chalk? Remember how you would say the alphabet backwards faster than we could say if forwards? Remember building Richard Wayland and me that tree house? We didn't even beg for it. I think Richard just mentioned he wanted one, and you went and built an elaborate tree house. Remember how you used to pass the offering plate at church, and when you were done you always came and sat by me? I could always count on you to have a pocketful of certs and a shoulder to lay on. Remember how you and Grandmom always supported us? You were at every birthday party, every graduation, special event and holiday. You were always there. We could always count on you. Remember when you would take your coffee break from work everyday at Stenson Drug? You always sat on the same barstool, and Mom and I would visit you after my gymnastics class. We would sit by each other and visit. It was our special time, our place. Remember when you would ask me every time I came to your house if I wanted to take anything with me? Remember when you quit smoking because I would climb into your lap on a regular basis and ask you to stop? Remember when you bought a new tie to wear to Michelle's wedding, but you accidentally left it at home? We went and bought another new one in Lubbock before we got on the plane. When we got to California, you couldn't find it, so you had to go buy a 3rd new tie at the crazy expensive gift shop in that fancy hotel. Remember where we found it when we got back to Texas!? Remember how you would take us on a bear hunt?
I was just thinking the other day that I couldn't wait for you to take Noah on a bear hunt the next time we saw you. I guess that's not going to happen. My sweet Noah will never get to know you like I did. My heart hurts thinking about how much I love you and that my beautiful son will grow up without knowing you. He'll hear about you though. He'll hear about all my memories and all the wonderful things you did and said. He'll love the stories about you. Remember the first time he said Great Granddaddy?

Remember? I remember. I remember all of it.

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for knowing right where my granddaddy is. I'm thankful that God has him, has healed him and is delighting in him. I am thankful that he was mine. My granddaddy. My Granddaddy Walton.

I love you Granddaddy.