Papa “I Love You”
“Don’t cry a tear for me now baby, there comes a time we all must say goodbye.” – Andy Griggs. On May 28th, 2009 my papa past away; I was devastated. All my closest family and friends know how close papa and I were. I loved him from the sky and back a million times. Hard work, responsibility, and truth are just a few of the things that my papa taught me in my 18 years of life.
From the first time he picked me up and held me in his arms, he knew I was going to be the best of three of us. I was my papa’s angel, always by his side when he needed help. Being at his side all the time, I learned that if you want something done, and done right, you better do it yourself. He would give me a task and it would always get done. When I moved to North Carolina he would come up and stay with us from a couple weeks to a month. He had a cabin in our backyard, the cabin had a tin roof and old rotted brown walls. It was going to fall and we had to rebuild the foundation for it. I was right there and whatever he said to do, I did it. I was the one he taught how to keep the lawnmower greased and the yard looking beautiful. He also showed me how to keep all the cars greased and oil levels right. With all this hard work came responsibility.
Accordingly when we would be working and him teaching me, I learned to be responsible. He wouldn’t let me go play with my friends until all of my work is finished and all tools are put away. He used to tell me all the time “Your work is not finished until everything is put away and clean.” I wish he was still here to help me get through college. It’s been pretty tough getting all my homework done with out him over my shoulder making sure I am actually doing all my work. I look back on our memories and the responsibility that he taught me and those memories are the ones that push me to get through school. I will always miss him; sitting in the backyard teaching me that I should value al the little things in life....