Hello ladies and gents. The reason I titled this post the way I did, because on this particular day and year, my grandfather Fredrick Davis, Sr. departed this life.
My grandfather played a good part in my life. He always came around and visited with the fam. I know one would ask why would he come around and visit? Well, he and my grandmother separated when my mother and her siblings were still in school. Sure enough they were still legally married, but they spent a good amount of years apart. Anyway, he spent holidays with us... Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, etc. And when my grandfather came around, it was cool. Sure enough is was up in age when I was younger, because he was 13 years my grandmother's senior, and he was 63 when his last child was born.
Over the years, of course I had my first born, so he was the only baby around after my lil sister and cousin who were by this time tweens. So when I brought my first born around him, he fell in love with him. I guess you can say my grandfather had a way with children, because they would hang out with him. LOL. So there were times when my son would ask to go to my grandfather's house with one of my relatives, I didn't mind at all, because I knew my son would love to go and visit with him. And anytime I would see my grandfather, the first thing he would ask me was "Where's that lil boy?" I would crack up laughing, because he looked forward to my son coming to see him.
Over a course of time my grandfather's health began declining, but none the less he lived life and kept doing his thing. One of the last things he did before his passing was he came to my son's 5th birthday party, walker and all. He was a poor lil frail thing, but he was determined to come and see my son. Around January 2005, his health took a turn for the worst, and he was hospitalized. Me not realizing just how serious this was, it took me going to the hospital in the Intensive Care Unit just to see for myself how bad things had gotten. My lil sister and I went with our aunt, uncle and cousin to visit one night. He was so little and fragile, and just the thought alone that my grandfather was on his way out gave me a reality check and then some.
I sat down and talked with my him in the room. I told him that when he was able to come home, I would bring my son by to see him. His last words he said to me was "Okay". I gave him a kiss and left the room. That was the last I saw of him alive. Sure enough yesterday marked the 4th anniversary of his death, but none the less today it still hurts. Reason being, because my oldest son is 10 now, and he never lived to see my youngest who will be 3 pretty soon.
When his funeral service took place, there were alot of things about my grandfather that I didn't know. I didn't know he received his Bronze Campaign Star medal, Purple Heart Medal, and the fact that he was a marksman in the United States Army. He served his tour in Southeast Asia during the time of World War II. He had received a few other medals as well, none of the names of them I can remember at this time.
Here's a letter I wrote one night last year:
Dear Granddaddy,
It’s been about 3 years since you left my life, and it
hasn’t been the same. I was always used to coming to your house and waiting for
you to come walking through the hallway turning on the light, just to come into
the living room. I remember the times you looked forward to see Adrian when he
came over to visit you. I knew how much you loved children, and Adrian was the
apple of your eye. Long gone are those days.
I always said to myself and
some of the family, “As long as Granddaddy’s been around, he’s gonna outlive us
all.” That is what I had always believed. But the day I saw you in the hospital
lying in the bed looking very weak and tired, that confirmed that it was the
end. When you shared your last words with me, that memory has never gone away.
There are days when I even mention to people about your passing away, I almost
start to cry, because the fact that you are no longer here saddens me.
Granddaddy, you have played such a magnificent role in my life, and I wished
you could have lived a little longer to see your youngest great-grandchild be
born. I know you would have loved him from the very start. Just knowing that you
made quite an accomplishment in your lifetime gives me something to be proud of
, and something I can sit down one day and tell my sons about. And Grandma… I
know she really misses you, too. You know how she is… has the tough exterior,
but deep down she’s hurting. I just wish there was a way you could come down and
let us know that you are alright and that everything is peaceful wherever you
are. I just hope that if you are in Heaven, I can one day join up with you,
because I miss you so very much. I can’t even begin to explain just how much it
hurts knowing that you are gone forever.
As I sit here in my bed with tears
rolling down my face writing you this letter, I know you may never get it. But I
know you are somewhere looking down on me and the rest of the family as our
guardian angel. If you ever can, please just come through and be a comfort to
Grandma. She still loves you very much. Let her know that you will always be
with her.
Well Granddaddy, until we meet again in the next lifetime, I love
you and miss you so much. I will do all I can to take care of the boys. SEE YOU
NEXT LIFETIME.
Love,
Aungela
Aside from being a military man, a husband, a father, grand and great grandfather, all I knew was "GRANDDADDY". He was my granddaddy. And I miss him very much. I love you and hope to see you next lifetime.
Fredrick Davis, Sr.
7/27/1917-02/11/2005
No comments:
Post a Comment