Pod

My grandfather died yesterday. He was almost 88 years old.
My sister and I always called him 'Pod', never 'Paw-Paw' or 'Grandpa'.
When my sister was born, he was 47 and said he was too young to be a 'Grandpa'.
He asked her to call him 'Podnuh' (Cajun for 'partner', friend, goodfella, you get my drift).
She couldn't say it so she called him 'Pod'. It stuck.

I admired him more than just about anyone I can think of.
He dedicated so much of himself to his community and his church.
His family was very important to him.
He raised my dad which says so much right there b/c my dad was such a great man.

When I was little, all I can remember is him making me laugh.
He'd had Alzheimer's for the past 5 years or so.
The past couple of years, most days, he didn't know me.
Every now and then he did and that made me feel so happy.

I know that he's where he should be now.
With his wife and his son; the two people he loved more than anything else.
I'll miss him though.

Pod (1920 - 2007)