Pappo’s Memorial
It was a complicated relationship to go with this complicated man, but no matter what, two things are MOST certain:
He loved his family, I’m sure. And? Good gosh, did he blossom around animals.
Okay, maybe threeee things cuz all of his kids inherited his twisted sense of humor, his oh soooo wry way of looking at Life! From him, I learned to hope desperately that there was a pony buried beneath that heap o’ dung, and he taught me to shovel away and away at it, Hope never dying. God, how he could make me laugh. Even when he was deLIBERATEly misusing words, all because, well, he just liked the sooooound of them. Ever tried explaining why ya sound like a dolt with a poor vocabulary, but hey! doesn’t it sound nifty?!
Whether he was petting a dog or cuddling a cat, you could count on a great big smile that’d light up the room and melt a heart or two. And when he was out in the garden, tilling the soil, picking tomatoes, or stuck up in a tree, pruning it to within an inch of its life, you could just feel the peace radiate from him.
Nope, I didn’t get a green thumb from him, m’ plants all die desperately tragic deaths (Tho’ I dooo try!), but I did get a love of reading, an interest in history, particularly Military History. He was shaped by WWII, was in the Army during Korea but was disappointed to be kept stateside due to his specialized skills. And when he passed, he got his dearest wish: To be buried in a Military Cemetery, with a Military Ceremony, his ashes tended to by Military Veterans. I always thought he chose the day before the anniversary of Pearl Harbor so that he might Be There to give his thanks, to sing such praises, to the men who served and died… in person (Ahem, or in spirit!).
Behold these pics! A good man who struggled but loved…!
Rest in Peace, Caretaker of Animals, Raiser of a Fine Family, Tiller of Fertile Soil. We’ll see ya when we get there…
Oh, and? Pet all our dear ones for us!
Go to Pop’s 2021 Newsletter to read our 2021 Memorial Day memory of him!
Go to Pop's 2020 Newsletter to read our 2020 Pearl Harbor homage to him!
Audiobooks for one whose heroes were Veterans
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