I love Autumn!
It's my favorite season.
It's this time of the year that my Daddy would always
come visit for a week or so.
He loved Autumn too,
and he loved all the color we're so blessed with
before the trees shed their leaves
in preperation for a long Winter rest.
You all know that PINK is my favorite color but,
there's just something about those
bright reds, oranges and yellows
that beckon to me through the fresh smell of Fall.
I lost my Grandfather when I was 14 years old.
I was traumatized.
He was the sweetest man I have ever met
and he loved me so...
I was his first grand-child, and Yes, I'm spoiled.
PaPa worked on the raildroad
for some 30 years
before he suddenly passed away
from the very same heart disease
that took my Daddy from me.
The difference being,
I got to keep my Daddy for an extra 20 years...
the Lord took my PaPa in his early 50's.
He worked the night shift.
I spent alot of time at my grand-parents house
when I was young.
My Aunt and I would watch TV,
eat popcorn with milk
and wait for him to get home.
We loved him so much.
He loved all of his children
but when he passed away,
inside his wallet was found 2 pictures...
one of me and one of my Aunt.
Although she and I live 800 miles apart
and haven't seen one another in 33 years,
we still keep in touch.
I talked to her just last week
and she said she had something for me.
She shipped this treasure UPS
and I got it within 2 days!
I knew what was coming
but never imagined it was going to be so special.
It's an old oil can from the rail road my PaPa worked for!
I held it and stroked it.
All the while thinking that maybe, just maybe,
my PaPa had once held this can.
I'm not that much into primitives
but I do love to decorate with them in the Fall.
I rushed myself right out
and got some flowers for the can...
and doesn't the little visitor fit perfectly.
I think about my PaPa alot and I miss him still...
after all these years.
I miss my Daddy too.
I can still see him walking through my big side yard,
coming back from a little stroll
through the crispy leaves and hickory nuts.
I take comfort in knowing that they are together now...
looking down and smiling,
because they know this oil can brings me memories
and I'm happy
every time I look at it.
Thank you Janny.
