Vicki Pepper
Granddad, From the time my memories began... You were there! I can remember during the Vietnam War when we came to live with you while dad was away... you were there for us. I could hear you getting ready for work, I asked you "what time is it?" You replied "it's the crack of dawn... Now go back to sleep!" You worked so hard, yet still had time to bounce us on your knee, or push us in the tire swing outback. Years later when I was all grown up and visiting you with my kids... I would hear you as you were getting up... My son once asked "is it time to get up?" " I said "no sweetheart... This is the time that grandpa gets up... It's the crack of dawn!" Until your last days granddad... You rose early in the morning, sharing a special time with Phil, though sometimes you spoke little between you at the table.... Volumes unspoken were shared! You always made me feel special, so appreciated and loved. You taught me, and later all of my children, to tie their shoes. I don't know why it didn't work for me when I tried... Once or twice with you and it stuck! You showed me what unconditional love and commitment was. I was in awe of all you and grandma did for Aunt Flor and Aunt Evey, selflessly. To say you were an example of how life should be lived is understating my feelings. Granddad, often you finished telling us something and you would end with "it's just one of those things!" I didn't really appreciate what that meant until now... a lesson so valuable... To look at life and realize that we cannot always predict an outcome, or change what will happen... To truly appreciate life and not get caught up in self pity... and realize sometimes it truly is just something out of our control...it is...."just one of those things!" All my love Granddad!
Vicki