Papaw

For those of you who know me pretty well, you know that February of 2010 was a very bittersweet month for me.  I got to marry my best friend and celebrate that with both our families and our close friends which was amazing.  We took our honeymoon to Disney World (and Matt got to experience it for the first time).  While we were there, however, my grandfather passed away. 

He had open heart surgery a few months before and had came through it really well.  The surgeon even told us that his heart came back like an 18 year old kid.  At first, Papaw had a great attitude and was prepared to work hard.  He was released out of the hospital into the care of a nursing home on the mountain to help him get back to his normal self.  Things didn't go as well or as quickly as he thought and he got very frustrated.  He couldn't walk or even get out of bed somedays and for a very independent man, this was heartbreaking for him.  Then we got the news that he had contracted MRSA.  After that, things went downhill pretty quickly. 

He was not able to go to my wedding, but I went to see him the day before and my grandmother went to see him right after.  She showed off her brand new outfit and told him all about it.  That was on Saturday.  He started getting much worse the day after that.

We called home almost everyday while we were gone, just to tell our families what we had done and share our experiences.  For some reason, Wednesday, we didn't call home.  Looking back, I have to wonder if God was just looking out for me that day.  When I called Thursday, my mom said "are you back at the room?".  I immediately knew something was wrong.  She said, "I have some bad news" and I knew he was gone.  We had plans to go back to the park and see some fireworks that night, but needless to say, I was a wreck and we didn't.  Matt was amazing.  He went to the food court at the resort and brought us back a pizza and held me while I cried.  After I cried for a few hours, I realized how mad Papaw would have been at me if he had known I was spending my honeymoon crying for him.  I mean he would have been FURIOUS.  He was an incredibly selfless man.  I made the decision to put it in a drawer and deal with it when we got back, and I did a pretty good job.  I hope he would have been proud. 

My Papaw was an amazing man.  He loved Kentucky basketball and Tennessee football with all his heart, and I have inherited both those traits.  When Kentucky lost their final game in the NCAA tournament last year, I cried.  It would have been so fitting if they had won it all.  I still miss him every day.  I'll be in Disney World again on the anniversary of his death and it will be hard to be in a magical Disney mood, but I know that's what he will want.

Papaw, I love you and I miss you so much, but I know you're with God and so much happier, and not in any pain.  For that I thank God.  This picture was taken in December of 2007 and it's my favorite of us.

I LOVE YOU PAPAW!!!!