I find it incredibly ironic that my grandfather passed away the day there was a total eclipse in Texas. Fully light, then fully dark. He was here, then he wasn’t. It’s heartbreaking to know his earthly body is gone, but my heart is full of total and complete love and memories of him. The toughest, greatest man I have ever known.
May of 2019, that is when I met my very best friend. The funny part is I had known him for 35+ years at that point, but almost 5 years ago is when he and I truly became friends. Papaw was tough, we all know that. When I was little, he was a little intimidating, maybe a little scary. I know there’s plenty of people out there who also saw him throw headsets off a hauler or say choice words to nascar officials. But underneath that was the most loving, caring man I’ve ever known. There came a time when he needed some extra hands and he chose me. Me. I’d like to believe it’s because he thought I was smart and figured things out, but I also think he knew I inherited some of that famous Bob temper and I wouldn’t back down. I fought for him many times. I stayed in hospital rooms during a pandemic, well after visiting hours and fought for him. I called every hour on the hour after they’d make me leave. Yet I never did any of it without him saying thank you.
More times than not, it was just he and I. Not always glamorous times, but it was beautiful times. Driving down the road, sitting in waiting rooms, reading each others emotions. He never stopped fighting, and neither did I. I am not shy about remembering his face lighting up when I entered a room. I always joked that I would always live trying to be his favorite. It was a tough task, but I gave it my all. After all, he was my favorite too.
He was aware of this stage of my life. He knew there were times I needed to be with my family and he’d say “Kristy, go home.” He knew I was torn between being a mom, which was so hard, and being his voice, which was all-consuming. His gratitude is something I’ll never forget, but the time with him was everything. He never let me leave without saying thank you. He spent his life taking care of all of us, creating this incredible world our family lives in. It was absolutely my pleasure to return the favor, and take care of him. A man of few words but he knew I loved him, and I knew he loved me. I can go on knowing “I love you” were the last words he spoke to me.
He is in totality now. Whole, complete, a life well lived with an incredible legacy left behind.
