My Papa...hanger of the moon

So, lately I've been thinking about a lot of memories...

Just an example:

Picture this: a really cute little 4 year old girl...oh, let me give you a visual:

Now, picture a Papa with legs longer than you can imagine.  To this little girl, he was the tallest person ever.  He's in his 50s...a young grandfather...and he has one granddaughter.  His #1.  This little girl follows those long legs where ever they go...to the barn, to the garden, to the back yard, to the truck...you getting the picture?

She'll go where ever he goes...even to take the trash to the dump.  In fact, riding to the dump is one of her favorite places to go with her Papa...because they get to go in the truck...just the two of them.  And her Papa sings their special song...

Papa starts: "Here we go, here we go!"

Little girl: "Here we go, here we go!"

Papa: "Down the little red road..."

Little girl: "down the little red road!"

Papa: "In the little blue truck..."

Little girl: "in the little blue truck."

Papa: "With my little Mary Anne..."

Little girl: "With my big Pop-eee."

I guess you've figured out that the little girl was me...is me.  Sometimes Papa would drive me all the way into Athens to go to Dairy Queen for a Blizzard.  They were my favorite.  My Papa still makes sure that there are cinnamon rolls at his house every time I come for a visit...cinnamon rolls without raisins...because I don't like raisins. I love Reese Cups because my Papa always made sure there were some in the refrigerator.  

There are so many memories that I have of my Papa.  He drove all the way to Rock Hill, SC to be at my high school All-State Chorus Concert.  Came all the way to Myrtle Beach when I had a lead in a musical.  Didn't miss my high school or college graduation or wedding.  My Papa drove all the way to Lexington, SC for the birth of his first great-grandson (because Samuel is in our #1 club!).  He spends hours making rice krispy treats at Christmas time - because ALL of his grandkids love them.  I can't think of anything that my Papa wouldn't do for me.

I love his blue eyes.  I love his white hair.  I love the image of him on his Farmall tractor.  I love the way he taught me to shuck corn.  I love the way he rubs his hands when he's sitting on the couch.  I love the way he answers the phone (Good morning!  Good afternoon!  Merry Christmas!).  I love the way he prays.  I love the way that his Bible is worn and tattered.  I love the way he loves my Grannie.  I love the way he walks us out to the car and waits in the driveway until he can't see our car anymore.  I love the way he loves Georgia Bulldawg football - and gives me a hard time for being a Gamecock.  I love the way that he spoils me rotten.  I love the way that he immediately recognizes my voice over the phone.  Come to think of it...I can't think about anything that I don't love about that man.

Last week, memories of my Papa flooded my mind and heart as I prayed against cancer in his colon.  Like I said, I'm pretty sure that when God created the moon, my Papa hung it in the sky.  I'm still praising God that there's no cancer because my Papa makes the world a better place...and has made me a better person.  I love you, Papa.

My Papa and Samuel

Christmas 2011 - working hard on rice krispy treats - and he told us the secret!

David Carlton holding David Brandt for the very first time...I love that smile!