Granddan:

I wrote a letter to my grandpa in December “just in case” I didn’t make it home in time. ⁣

Just in-case my flight wasn’t fast enough,⁣

Time passed too quickly,⁣

Or just in case he wished to hear Elvis sing live in the heavens that Christmas.⁣

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Thankfully, I was blessed with 5 weeks at home with my “Granddan” before he went to be with Jesus. ⁣

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Pieces of this letter were read at his funeral today - a small glimpse at what his life meant to mine - and so many others. ⁣

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Until we meet again, Granddan:⁣

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“...you showed me what it was to dream – to chase a goal, to work hard and to run like hell after a fly ball or opportunity.⁣ ⁣

You taught me what it was to be scared, but still do it anyway.⁣

And to walk boldly into every new season of life, learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.⁣ ⁣

Ya know, you’re the only grandpa I had the privileged to meet. Not only that, but the only “Granddan” I’ve ever met in my entire life – In fact, my teachers could never quite understand my unfamiliarity or rather, discomfort with the word “grandpa.” You weren’t my grandpa, you were my Granddan. And strangely enough by the way, “Granddan” doesn’t deliver any results in the Yellow Pages either – a true frustration to a younger version of myself.⁣ ⁣

All in all, thinking back, you were the perfect Granddan.⁣ ⁣

You were the one I’d go running to the moment we reached your front door step – if only for a second to catch your Lazy Boy left without a willing occupant.⁣ ⁣

You were the one I’d look for in the stands, knowing if I could find you, I could also find grandma’s tiny velour track-suited self sitting nearby.⁣

(Despite numerous drives from Bolivar and back, you were always there.⁣

And for that, I can’t thank you enough. I know all of us, can’t thank you enough.)⁣ ⁣

To me,⁣

you were endless circles made together on the lawnmower in the summer heat,⁣

you were long drives with Elvis singing through the radio,⁣

you were apple butter,⁣

ice-creamed sandwiches⁣

and the golf channel on repeat.⁣ ⁣

You were emails to let me know you were tracking my flights,⁣

You were afternoons on the patio,⁣

Newspaper mornings⁣ and baskets of popcorn before bed.⁣

You were the stories of my childhood I could recite in my sleep,

You were Texas summers,

Christmas mornings,

And the biggest hugs I’ve ever known.

You were all that I needed, Granddan. All of that in more.

You were memories in the making, all of the time.

You and grandma could not have made a better team.

You were the perfect example of what love should look like, even after 60+ years.

I see that love in my parents – the way they serve and care for one another – the way they laugh at and with one-another – even after a long day.

And for that, I think you can be thanked. ... I just wanted you to know you are today -and always will be - the greatest gift.

Know this for sure, you will live on as a piece of me long after the Lord calls you home.

You’ll be my walk-off homerun at the bottom of the 9th,

my putt to seal the deal.

You’ll be the stories I share over generous scoops of ice cream (with chocolate syrup of course) and the face I’ll always look for in the crowd.

You’ll be there in every new season,

Just like the last.

You’ll always be with me,

Forever and only - my Granddan.” 💗