I’ve been putting off writing this post. My heart hurts just thinking about it.

Two weeks ago today, my Mom called a bit earlier in the morning than when we regularly talk. As soon as I answered the phone, I could hear it in her voice. She told me news that I was not prepared to hear. My Grandaddy, AT, has passed away. I can’t really put into writing my emotions in to words. I was saddened, shocked, but I felt this sense of relief. It’s really hard to explain, but I feel like since my Mema passed away in April 2003, he has been patiently waiting to be back with her.

So, on Wednesday February 19th, my parents packed up and got to Savannah as quickly as possible. I waited behind for Charles to finish up his work and we headed down, with Owen, Friday morning. Charles drove and I had some time to put my thoughts down on paper. Despite my almost painful anxiety about speaking in front of crowds, I decided to share my thoughts during his service. I wanted to share them here as well…

A little known fact about my Grandaddy….all his life, his birthday was celebrated on February 4th, when he was actually born February 3rd. The hospital printed her birth certificate wrong and it was never corrected, so everyone, even Mema, celebrated it on the 4th. I always thought he was so lucky to have TWO birthdays!

I was so blessed to have my Grandfather with me for almost thirty years. Thinking back, I had a lot of firsts in Savannah with him and my Mema. I took my first steps here, learned to ride a bike here and even learned to drive in a Ford Festive at the Bamboo Farm at the ripe old age of eleven. I’m not sure my Mema knew about that last on until after the fact. Shelby also learned to drive with my Grandaddy, but it was once he had acquired the Ford Ranger.

I learned so many life skills from my Grandaddy…to fish and crab, to throw a casting net, to rapidly scoop water out of a boat. I also learned to bake and eat delicious cakes as well as plant and harvest vegetables from the garden.

I, along with my Mom, inherited our love for animals from my Grandaddy. This backfired a few times on him. Once when he took my Mom dove hunting as a child, and a second time when her decided to clean a live fish in front of me. We were pretty much on a catch and release basis after that.

Anyone that knew my Grandaddy in the last decade knew of his partner in crime, Rusty. Whether it was on the golf cart or cruising in the truck, he took that damn dog everywhere. On a few occasions, he and I discussed where Rusty would go if something happened to him. I assured him I would make sure Rusty could some here to live with me. He even had a special “Rusty Savings Fund” hidden in the house. On more than one occasion he called to let me know where the cash envelope with Rusty’s name on it was moved too.

My Grandaddy and I had an ongoing joke that he had to make it to one-hundred years old so Willard Scott would put his picture on the Today Show. He thought that was pretty funny. Although he wasn’t with us quite that long, he has a fulfilling 88 years here. We were blessed to have Susana and his other caretakers that allowed him to stay in his own home these past few years. Susana was so amazing to my Grandfather. I can’t believe she got him to wear his hearing aid! That is itself caused many knock-down-dragouts between him and I as I inherited MY stubbornness from him.

Grandaddy, Dad, AT, Uncle AT, A-T…whatever title he went by, he sure was an amazing person. He has had such a big impact on my life. I will forever miss you Grandaddy, but I’m at peace knowing you are now with Mema. Love you forever, your Bub.