We Lost Our Dear Papa Harold This Week : (

My girls have grown up with basically only one grandparent. My dad died when I was in high school, and my mother died when C was only 2 months old. Their dad's mother died last year, but was never in their lives. However, their dad's father has been always been there for the girls. Papa Harold ALWAYS brought laughter to our lives with his never-ending supply of one-liner jokes, and he ALWAYS was concerned about us all. I never had a conversation with him where he didn't ask, "Do the girls have enough to eat?" "Do the dogs have enough to eat?" "Do you need anything?" There was never a time we stopped and saw him where he didn't give the girls a dollar or two, or five. Papa loved to fish, or even just to go sit out by the river enjoying nature. He loved to make people smile and laugh. He loved his grandchildren.

Little E especially loved him, and wrote him a letter Monday afternoon. Not an hour after we had mailed it, Danny called, and told me he was taking Papa to the doctor. The doctor sent him via ambulance to the local hospital, and the local hospital transferred him to a larger hospital. His condition continued worsening as Monday evening progressed. The girls and I decided to cancel school Tuesday so we could go see him, but sadly, Papa Harold died at 3:32 Tuesday morning.

Although this man was my EX father-in-law, he was a father to me the past 15 years. Not only will the girls miss him, but I will too. The last time I spoke to him was just 6 days ago, and as always, we finished by saying, "I love you." I DID love him, and he will be missed by all of us!

This photo is the most recent one taken of him....only a couple of weeks ago. It is typical of Harold....he is wearing a silly St. Patrick's day hat, while waiting in line at the store.