I am so thankful I was able to spend time with him, kiss his cheeks and hold his hand.
He shared stories with me that will never forget. One in particular was when he was sixteen years old his little brother (age 9) accidentally died while swinging from a tree outside their home. He told me, with tears streaming down his cheeks, how that event changed his life forever and that he named his first born son, my father, after his beloved brother.
The greatest gift he gave me was when it was time for us to leave. He winked at me and said Goodbye darlin'.
If there is such a thing, I swear I felt my heart smile and I took it as his way of telling me it was all going to be okay.
I love you, Grandpa!
Matching tattoos(Grandpa (on right) with his buddy from the Coast Guard)
(This bumper sticker on my grandpa's truck made me laugh.)
(Dixie, My dad, Bud, Maxine, Harold, Mike)
(Bud holding Hunter, Zach holding Jordan)April 2007
