Today I would like to take a minute to say that I'm thankful for time. I know, that sounds so lame. Today has been a difficult one for me. Every year this day comes around I think about the people I have loved and lost. So let's start with my Pawpaw Bazil....
The last holiday we spent with him was Thanksgiving. I can remember that it was also the last Thanksgiving that I lived at home. Seth & I had just gotten engaged and so I knew it was going to be the last time I got up early to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in my parent's home. I got up, put in my contacts, got me something to eat and drink, and settled in to watch the parade in the living room, like I had for so many years.....I saw my parents excitement as they saw me emerge from my room. Now you have to know, my Pawpaw was a talker. He could talk for hours and never skip a beat. Well apparently he had been talking since his eyes opened sometime around 6 or 7 that morning. Mom and Dad were glad to have someone else to sit and listen to him. So I sat and listened to him talk about people I didn't know and people that were long gone. I remember how happy he was that Thanksgiving. He loved being with us. He loved my Mammaw & Pawpaw and really enjoyed being invited to have Thanksgiving with them. He just enjoyed being with us at the holidays. That was the last Thanksgiving we had with him. I'm so thankful to have had that time. When I sit down tomorrow to watch the parade with Talent, I will hear my Pawpaw's voice.....that is something I won't ever forget. I have a special something reserved for myself tomorrow in his honor. His favorite treat was cordial cherries. Mom & I always buy a box to have in his memory. We've done this since he passed away. This year is no different. I bought a box this week. I will eat them tomorrow and think of him. I will be thankful for the time I had and be greatful to God for allowing me to have so many great memories of him.
Thanksgiving is also a hard day for me because I lost my Uncle Paul on Thanksgiving Day 2 years ago. My Uncle Paul and I were very close. The year he passed away was a very hard year for me. I still struggle with it and that's why I do this "30 days of Thankfulness" during the month of November. My Uncle Paul was the sweetest, most generous, most loving man you could ever possibly meet. He'd give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was my Pawpaw's (the one I still have with me) brother. I can remember when we would go over Mammaw & Pawpaw's house and my Uncle Paul & Aunt Betty would be there....oh the stories you would hear. My Uncle Paul LOVED to tell stories. The thing about his stories is they all took an hour to tell because he talked so slow. He had this deep southern voice and he could drag a story out for an hour or longer....I loved hearing him talk though. I miss him so much. I have some things in my house that he gave me when I got married. I was redecorating my living room today because we got a new entertainment center. I was trying to figure out what things to keep and what things to get rid of. You know how you do....well, he gave me an oil lamp made out of a Kerr jar, needless to say, it stayed. My Uncle Paul always gave me neat things. I blogged a few weeks ago about a ring he gave me. I treasure that ring. Geez I miss him so much. I'm thankful I had the time I did with him. I am glad I got to go on vacations with him and spend time getting to know him as well as I did. It made me a better person to know him.
I guess as I gear up for one of the hardest days of the year for me, I just want all of you who read this to stop and look at the things & people you have in your life. Don't take time for granted. Enjoy every second you have with the people you love because you never know when that time will be up. Love fully and live your life with no regrets. Be thankful for the things you have and know that God provides exactly what we need when we need it. I'm thankful for the time I have had with the friends and family in my life. Even those friends that I no longer communicate with....they were here for a reason at some point and I'm glad for the time I had with them.