We remember.

We remember.  I remember.  Memories are shared.  Tears are shed.  

November 24,1932--May 10,2003

Papa was a loving son, who was a brother to 4 girls.  On July 10, 1956 he became a loving husband to Mum.  And then was a loving father to 4 girls.  He was blessed with 8 grandchildren, with the first one being a little boy.  Papa never met a stranger and always had something nice to say to everyone.  

This is a picture from Sunset beach.  Mum and Papa loved that beach and we all still do, our family has gone to Sunset beach since 1984.  So many memories were made with Papa at the beach, and many continue to be made. I love this picture.  It is a beautiful sunset and a picture of Mum and Papa.

Papa was a strong man, he fought cancer.  But something about Papa, even when he was sick he always made sure that his grandchildren were happy.  I remember going for ice cream, and of course to the the grocery store.  My uncle Mike shared a story about Papa.  Papa had a love for grocery stores.  "Sometimes we even went 2 or 3 times a day, and got a shopping cart every time," son-in-law Mike.    Another memory that was shared on facebook was from Matthew.  Matthew was sharing,"I remember when he would leave change in his chair and then when he got up, we would race to see who would get the most of it."  Papa was a joyful individual.  "Daddy had enough kid in him that he always made things fun and he made things exciting to look forward to, his daughter Carol Ann.

I was looking through pictures on my computer and found these.  James and I were the 3rd and 4th grandchildren born.  When we were young Mum and Papa lived in Macon, GA, while Kelly, Mike and James were in Boone and then moved to Raleigh.  And Carol Ann, Jeff and Elizabeth lived in Lenoir.  I am not sure where this picture was taken, but it looks like it was chilly.  I wish I had the time to go look for other pictures of Papa with his daughters and his grandchildren, but I don't.  Papa loved each one of us, and we all have special memories.  James shared, "I remember sitting on his lap and we would play solitaire.  And I would saw, 'Papa there are no more moves we lost they are no more moves' and he would calmly reply 'just simmer down now'.  

Papa, I love you.  I have so many memories.  I remember playing card games with you, and going to the grocery stores.  I have funny memories of playing mariocart and you always running into the walls, and then when out driving normally to the store you joking that you could run into the stone walls.  I remember going out and getting fresh baked donuts and not wanting them to get cold so turning the heat all the way up in the car and then leaning on the windows to cool down.  I remember your love for cooking.  I remember you teaching me how to roll coins.  I remember the morning of your 70th birthday birthday and putting 70 balloons in your front yard.  I remember the days when I would sit with you while you were filling up your weekly medicine containers.  I remember giving me the grape juice + pineapple juice + ginger ale when I was sick.  I remember the days of going to see you at dialysis.  I remember your love of your green chair.  I remember going to Disney. I remember so much about you.  I remember you.  

This final photo fits this day well.  Happy Birthday Papa, today is your day!  You are missed, but we love you dearly and you are with the heavenly Lord Jesus now.  Heres to you, do you remember this, receiving your birthday spankings.   Papa you made such an impact in so many peoples lives.  You were an amazing man, and I love you.