Season of Thanks, Papa & Nana

Season of Thanksgiving #6, Papa & Nana

Most of my childhood, I feared my grandfather. The way a child fears a father figure or a Christian fears God. In a loving, awestruck way. He was a man’s man. Carried himself with integrity and confidence. He was taken away too soon and rather unexpectedly but my earliest memories of him invoke feelings of pure joy. When I was young, I literally thought it was his life goal to feed me as much oreos and ice cream as he could.

The more I learned about him growing up, the more I respected him. We are such a spoiled rotten, over-indulged, ungrateful generation. He came from nothing. He built a life with his bare hands. Asked for nothing, instead…worked for everything he got. Young men up and coming…take note.

I was about 17 during one of my last visits with him. At the time I was really into the Braveheart soundtrack for some reason. He put it on the stereo, sat down in his favorite chair and closed his eyes. Moments later, I saw a few tears escape down his cheeks. My whole perception of him changed that day. Real men aren’t afraid to stop, and take time to appreciate true beauty. He was moved to tears that day by a simple soundtrack, and I am now as I write this about him. He taught me a lesson that day about being a man, and he didn’t even say a word.

Thank the good Lord I still have my Nana. The best grandmother a kid could ask for. I’ve written about her before on here and I miss her now as I sit and write this (and her fried chicken). They loved each other so much, and that was always crystal clear. It still is. And I absolutely LOVE that. I love that even though he’s been gone 10 years, he still has her heart.

Some of the best times of my childhood were spent with them down in Perdido Bay. Few things got me as excited as a trip to their house. It wasn’t about the fried chicken, the ice cream & oreos, shooting fireworks off the deck,…it was about just being there. Such a warm place to be. Even Nana’s home in Blowing Rock (where it’s usually chilly) is the warmest place in the whole town.

I am so grateful for the best pair of grandparents a kid could’ve asked for.