Saturday, August 30, 2008

My Pa

1922-2005
There are no words to describe how I felt about my Pa. I lived across the street from him for 30 years. He helped raise me, then helped raise my babies. For as long as I can remember, he called me "Sis". I don't know why since I wasn't his sister. :) He and Granny did SO much for me. I can't even begin to recount all the times he bailed me out of trouble. He taught me how to garden, drive a tractor, drive a CAR (oh the memories with that one). He had us mowing the field on the riding lawn mower WAY before our parents approved of it. And always, always, always...if Mom and Dad said no....go ask Pa. Eventually, I learned to bypass Mom and Dad from the start. He thought I could do no wrong. After I went back to school to be a Respiratory Therapist...there wasn't a person he came in contact with that he didn't tell about it. He ranked me as high as a doctor. Literally sometimes...would not make a medical decision without asking me first. I was able to repay a small portion of his love the last few months of his life by taking care of him on weekends once he was bed ridden. My Mom did it during the week. Of course, Granny was there the whole time, but unable to care for him alone. I was honored to be there holding his hand at the very end. I cannot wait to see him again. I love you Pa!

Meme'e and Pepe'e

This is Chad's beloved grandparents. He was raised across the street from them, so he was extremely close to them. They passed on soon after he moved here from Massachusettes in 1993.

Rolly

This is Chad and the boys with his Dad, Roland. We vacationed together at the Fairfield Resort in Nashville right after Seth was born in August 2002. This was their last picture taken together. We have it framed and sitting on the bookshelf in our basement.