james robert

I miss my grandfather.  I miss his rugged and worn face, his large hands that were callused and rough, and his smile which would brighten a day.  I miss the feeling of watching him and wondering what he was thinking and wanting to hug him though he wasn't a touchy-feely kind of man.  When I finally did cave and hug him, he would always melt.  I miss watching his grow softer in emotion as he aged.  I miss his simple wisdom.  I miss watching him pick up pecans off the ground from his numerous pecan trees in the front yard.  I miss watching him with various strays that found themselves in his care.  I miss the grease beneath his fingernails from years and years of being a mechanic.  I miss his brown eyes, only two pair in a sea of blues and greens in the family.  I miss the conversation about his blood thinners and taking his diabetes medicine exactly at the correct time.  He never would take them even 5 minutes early or late!  I miss his quiet faith in God.  I miss hearing him argue with his mother-in-law who passed away just a handful of years prior to him.  I miss that on the outside you'd think they didn't get along at all and in the next step, he's driving his mother-in-law to shop on the weekends.  He loved her.  I miss his hushpuppies and fried catfish in the summer.  I miss Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner with him.  I miss watching him cuddle and hold babies.  He had such a soft spot for them.

This holiday season  marks another one without the "rock" of our family.  I know that one day I'll see him again, and I cannot wait!