Saying Goodbye...again...

This year is unarguably the toughest of our lives. After losing my mom and Scott's brother on the same day, we lost my dad just 57 days later. He tried desperately to hang on without my mom, but he just couldn't do it. On April 27, he took matters into his own hands and ended his life. To say that we are shocked and devastated is an understatement. We are trying to hang on the best we can. I had set my "retirement" day from Food Lion for June 18. I am struggling at this point to make it that long, but I am trying to honor my word and my commitment, but to get through each shift is becoming a struggle. Silas is having trouble dealing with the "how" and the "why", but is doing okay. We covet the prayers of our friends and church family. The day before Pop's funeral, I was mowing the grass, crying and praying all at the same time. I want all of Pop's friends to remember him the way he was before mom got sick, so I wrote this for the back of the program at his memorial service. It's who he is to us....

We Call you Pop...

Others know you by different names: You are "PaPaw" to Matthew, Kristina, Shelby, Shayna, Silas and Stephen; your favorite niece and nephews call you "Jake"; those who don't know you so well call you "Bobby"; but most everyone else calls you "Sonny" (except for one, who when your Nextel beeps and we hear his nickname for you, we know it's Marty!). You're pretty good at making up nicknames for others too: Sam, Slick, Stonewall, Smarty, Killer, Shayna Layna, Shelby Jane, Leroy, and Bird, just to name a few!

It's amazing how many people you know. They all love you and accept you just as you are. Our hope is that they will remember who you were before that fateful day of Mom's diagnosis. It was that day that changed you forever.

You are the one who knows every road everywhere, even the ones in the boondocks that no one else ever heard of. You are the one who always says, "All roads lead to the same place", "Take a chance, Columbus did!", "I'll bet you a fat man!", and the other many sayings you have.

Your work buddies say there's only one way to do things, YOUR WAY! Oh how we know this so well. How will we ever mow your grass to suit you? We hope there are no holes in the floor of heaven, if there are, man are we in trouble!

Although they never met you, the Panthers, the Cowboys, and your beloved Duke Blue Devils will greatly miss your fervent cheers. How on earth will your friends at The Little Country Kitchen know what time it is? We're sure they set their watches by your perfectly timed arrival each day. No doubt you made lots of new friends and the Monroe Aquatic Center these last couple of years since you retired. You're the one person who never meets a stranger. There will most certainly be a gaping hole left in many lives by your absence.

You and Mom raised us well, we're all functioning okay. Keep each other busy up there in Heaven. We hope your first meal together was Stewed Potatoes and Fried Cornbread. We will be there to join you at each of our appointed times. Meanwhile, we will carry on here, raising kids, mowing grass, and tending to all other of life's necessary chores.

Rest Well Pop, We love you,

Your Kids