Stay cool there! Hehehe.

The one thing that hasn’t really been captured that well is what he meant to his community. I know you touched on it briefly in your previous blog, but there are so many things that he supported and was active in, that we aren’t even aware of half of them. There were certain things for which he seemed happy to receive recognition, but then other times he seemed to be almost uncomfortable with it. I never really fully understood that about him, but I’m sure he had his reasons.

I remember when you and I were sitting at the National JUCO B-ball tournament with him and he said, “You know Grace used to sing the National Anthem every year.” We both looked at each other with that WHAAT??? look. He also used to work on all sorts of organizational tasks for the tournament in his younger years as well.

But you know…that summed it up right there. There we were, sitting on one of the last few rows, behind the backboard, happy as could be. He could have affored mid courtside seats, and for all of his years of service, he probably could have gotten them for free just by asking. That simply was not his style. He wanted to support the event in every way, and that included buying tickets for every day, even though he only came for 1.

I remember at the time his book was published, I couldn’t wait to read about all of the stories we heard as kids. Then I read it, and realized that I’d only heard a few that were in the book. I just wish he would have had more than one vocal chord so that we could have heard more.

How cool is it that he wrote a book, and it will be able to be enjoyed by generation after generation of our family? I guess at the time I didn’t even think of that, but now it makes me want to suggest it from all of our relatives so that we have some great memories that will live on forever.

We shouldn’t knock ourselves too hard for our past regrets regarding funerals. Let’s just do better in the future.

He does indeed sound like a wonderful man who lived a full, rich life. It’s so great to see him pictured there with Ben. If there’s one thing grandparents love to see above all things, it’s their great-grandkids.

I read his obituary and am truly astounded at all he did. A very full life indeed.

Your words brought back tears to my eyes as I remembered my own dad’s passing just a scant 2 years ago. Remembering the playing of Taps by the military people, the folding of the flag, and Amazing Grace…. just drags the tears from your eyes.

My very best.