Remembering ...

For some reason my Papaw has been on my mind a lot lately, not that he or Chief are ever very far from my mind, but Papaw especially has been. Last night I dreamed that I was hiking through the woods with him again, one of our favorite things to do, but this time I was my 29 year old self. He and I were talking about the kids and all the mess they get into and he was chuckling and saying "Like their Momma I see". I can remember it perfectly clear. The last part of it, he turned around on the trail and said, "You're doing great Angel, you are doing just great." And then I woke up. Crying my eyes out of course! Hard to believe it has been 16 years since he left. You have to realize, in my eyes he was the greatest man that ever lived. I was Papaw's girl, always at his side, always right in step with him. He was the only man in life I had to look up too, and he left huge shoes to fill. The epitome of a man: a hard worker, provider for his family, a Godly man, honest and simple. He had the kindest of hearts, and I never saw his temper flare. Granted, when he gave you "the look" you knew he was serious. I think the thing that I remember the most is that he wasn't an emotional person, but I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that man adored me. He didn't have to say it, I just saw it in his eyes. Somethings don't need words, and the bond between he and I was just that way. He was my Papaw and I was Angel and that was all that was needed. That in itself meant more than anything. I think that when the ones we love leave us, they go up to Heaven and sit there watching over us, guiding us along the way and protecting us. They send us little messages in ways that only we understand and when we question our direction, or worry about if we got it right or not, they are there to remind us that we are going to be just fine.