I've been feeling somewhat homesick lately. Okay, that's a bit of an understatement. It's been a little pathetic. Things remind me of home and the people back there, from songs, tv shows, movie lines... and lets face it, there's only so many movie lines you can text back and forth to your brother before you start feeling like you're a little needy.
The other day on the radio I heard the song, "Daddy Let Me Drive" recorded by Alan Jackson. It reminded me of my favorite picture of my grandpa Barney.
Grandpa and grandma Barney lived near a lake for most of what I can remember. One day he let me drive his boat. I was nervous. My grandpa was never the touchy feely type. I admit, for most of my life I was nervous around him. The fact that he would let me drive his boat was an honor to me.
Years later my grandparents came out to visit. They stayed in my room. On my wall I had a picture that my grandpa liked so I went down to the store and got him a copy of it. When I gave it to him he told me he didn't want to take it, that it should stay on my wall. I explained that I got him a new one. A look of shock came on his face that I have never seen before. He thanked me. When they left to go back to California my grandpa hugged me.
After that, when we visited again, I wanted to see more of that man who hugged me. So I followed him around and sat next to him whenever I could. He opened up and told me the best stories about his life during the war, how he decided to go to college, how he met grandma, and so on. It was a side of my grandpa I never knew.
He passed away years ago. I know I need to get those stories written down. What stops me is I feel I could never capture the man himself. But I must soon try before I forget. Rebekah needs to know.
Another picture I found was this:
Daniel is missing in this picture, otherwise it's all the kids. I'm guessing I was 10 or 12. Not sure. I love this picture for many reasons. Spencer being silly, Joseph always teasing, Michael trying to get Joseph not be tease Spencer, and me always loving on someone. Not to mention there's a beach behind us, although I just discovered my love of beaches a few years ago.
I miss my brothers tremendously. They each fill a special place in my heart. I miss them, and their children. It's hard to fill with simple phone calls, but much to their dismay, I do try. I find myself calling each of them at least once a week, and texting more often (although some of my brothers have yet to update their technology to the texting level....).
I've been blessed with good family. It's because they are good that I feel the separation so poignantly. And so I gratefully feel the separation and use the wondrous technology we have available to make it less. I live for the trips we can take out to see family. Thank heavens for cars and planes!
