Sunday night as I was watering the jungle the Misses and I call our garden. I started thinking back to when my Auntie C used to watch me while my parents were at work. My Grandpa Eddy use to plant a garden in their back yard. Most everyday he could be found with a wide brimmed hat and long sleeves bent over picking weeds. He always had a smile and a pleasantness about him you don't find in most people anymore. As I sat there watering I remember the trips we took with him. We (the three musketeers, better known now as the drunk cousins) took a couple trips up to his property to "help" fix up the place. I say "help" because we mostly spent our days shooting our BB Guns at whatever poor unfortunate critter came by. Grandpa didn't approve all the destruction we caused, but couldn't really tell us no.
Earlier in the day I was out to Grandma's to have a barbecue (I think this is why he was on my mind so much that night). The barbecue wasn't as big as they used to be. It used to be that any reason we could come up with was a good one to go out to their house to have some food and hang out. You could always see it in Grandpa's eyes, he was proud of what he created. A huge family with lots of love. Now days his kids have grand kids of their own. They are busy sitting being proud of what they created at their homes. Now Grandpa's house is reserved for Mothers Day and Christmas Eve.
Some of my fondest memories of Grandma and Grandpa was when me and my Cousin "The Cutie" would head out to their house on a Friday evening. Sometimes we would take a pie, sometimes flowers, or sometimes nothing at all. It was such a great way to spend an evening sitting and listen to the stories of how Deon fell in love with her Eddy. They would always tell stories of the church dances they attended and how good of a dancer each of them were. I can still see him when I shut my eyes sipping on a coke. At the end of ever sip he would say "AAaahhhhh. A coke and a smile is all you need." And it really was.
After the barbecue I excused myself. I made an excuse about my stomach and told everyone I had to leave. Truthfully I was sitting there thinking about Grandpa and how much I missed seeing him in his chair. I have never dealt well with death. I can remember very well my Great Grandma in her final resting bed. And everyone that was there remembers the painstaking time I had trying to speak at Grandma B's funeral. I wish I had closure when it came to the great man that was Grandpa Eddy.
I was fortunate enough to come home for leave the two weeks prior to him passing away. I spent a lot of time with him. At that point it was hard for him to talk and get around. I am so thankful I had that time with him. He passed away the day I flew back to the Army. In my little world I like to think he waited for me to see him one last time.
As I finished up watering and looking at all the plants. I know I couldn't have done it without him. Sure I was far to young to remember any words of wisdom he had for me on gardening. But I have my pops and I am sure a good deal of what he tells me came from Grandpa.
To be honest I couldn't tell you where he was placed to rest. The tape with his funeral recorded on has never been played. I just hope when me and the Misses are old, our grand kids will stop by like The Cutie and I did (even if it is just for a coke and a smile).
