Extended Time in Louisiana with Grandpa

…All of a sudden there was excited motion all around me! Cheryl was headed out to sea, and my uncle, along with about seven little people were piling into a pontoon boat to go save her. By the time they reached her, she had already figured out the whole turning thing and was shore bound…whew!

Later on that day we spent more precious time with my grandfather, and at one point, he even got up from his chair to join us at the table for some cake.

As weak as he was, he made the effort to come and spend time with all of us that were still there. We all sat there, looking at each other, and we all understood the significance of the moment. It was at that moment that I decided that we were going to stay for a few more days.

(Sang to a pop beat) “I’M A GUMMY BEAR, YES I’M A GUMMY BEAR, I’M A YUMMY, TUMMY, FUNNY, LIKE A GUMMY BEAR…GUMMY, GUMMY, GUMMY, GUMMY, GUMMY BEAR.”

We got back to my cousin’s house and the younger kids pulled out the kids version of WII Dance Kids. And what song do they fall in love with? GUMMY BEAR!!! Which only means that I had to sit there and listen to the Gummy Bear song for hours as they danced to the thing.

I swear…I’ll never eat another gummy bear as long as I live! The sad thing is that I actually got to the point where I kinda like the stupid song. The other day I was sitting in the living room reading and humming a little tune, and Julieann came walking through the room. She stopped, looked at me, and says…” Are you singing Gummy Bear?” I lied, spurted out something parental to change the subject, and went back to my reading.

On Christmas day, which was Sunday, we went back to my aunt’s house to spend another day with Grandpa. It was an awesome day. As we were preparing to leave that night, my Grandpa did something that I will never forget.

He was sitting in his recliner facing away from the door we were preparing to leave out of. As the children were putting on their coats and walking out the door, my Grandfather, who is normally unemotional, struggled to muster up any strength that was left in his delicate frame to turn around and watch his great-grandchildren leave.

He stood, holding on to the chair, and turned around to sit on the foot stool that was at his left. As he watched our children walk outside to the van, I went over to him and hugged his neck for a long while; please understand… I was under the impression that this was the last time that I would see him alive, and I did not know how to walk out of it. At some point I just let go, told him I loved him, and walked out…I guess that’s how to do it, I’m still not too sure.

Christian had a camping trip scheduled for the next week, but chose to stay in Louisiana for a chance to see Grandpa again, and all of the kids shared their desire to stay as well. Somehow, and without any prompting from Cheryl and me, our children grasped hold of the importance of these opportunities spent with family. They understood, and they took full advantage of each and every moment.

We were fortunate to see him again on Tuesday, and I was so relieved to hear on Wednesday that he had gotten stronger. When I was sure that he was going to be ok, which was on the following Friday, we headed back to Georgia.

As we drove home, we were all so glad that we were able to spend another day, together, in the life of my Granddad.

Jason, father of six