Jesie you are so special!!!! What a sacred role you hold in so many lives!! I never thought of our work this way, but it makes it feel all that more important 🫶
My Granddaddy's name was Donald. He was called Don by most and Granddaddy by his 13 grandchildren.
He moved at the pace of a snail and I loved it. He was gentle, steady, and had the heart of a servant. When I once asked him what was the most important lesson he'd learned in life, he replied, "Life is short".
He loved all things horticulture and landscaping. He had a huge garden every year and gave away 98% of it.
To the end of his life he never owned a smartphone. He had a flip phone but most of the time he forgot to turn it on.
Food he called “groceries” (no matter what it was). Fried chicken was always “dead chicken”. Young children whose name he didn’t know were either called Junior (boys) or Petunia (girls). He loved the Br’er Rabbit stories from Uncle Remus and playing Rummy.
And he loved to laugh. His laughter was contagious. He’d start with a gentle chuckling “hehehe” and end in a full blown guffaw. You couldn’t help joining right in.
He didn't like to talk about himself but he loved to tell stories. He especially loved to tell them from the front porch or around the dinner table. He never spoke an ill word against anyone. The worst thing you could be called was a “rascal”.
There were never problems, only opportunities.
He waged a life-long war against squirrels and would warn anyone who would listen about their dangers. In his later years he lived in the city suburbs and, though it was illegal to shoot guns, would dispatch squirrels from the shelter of his garage any chance he got. He would shoot, return indoors for a bit to settle any suspicion of his neighbors, then go bury the body under his blueberry bushes.
He was a faithful husband for 55 years, a father, grandfather, brother, uncle, deacon, and more.
What a beautiful and vivid tribute to your Granddaddy. Thank you so much for sharing him with us, Gwendolyn. What a presence he must have been, and how deeply loved.
I can feel his gentleness and humor in your words - the way he moved slowly through the world with intention, how he gave so much of what he grew, and how he renamed things in ways that probably made everyone around him laugh (“dead chicken” and “Petunia” are going to stay with me). That blend of simplicity and warmth, of humor and service...it feels like his steady, loving energy still ripples outward through everyone who knew him, and now through all of us who get to read about him. Thank YOU for letting us meet him.
I wrote the tribute with dry eyes and a grateful heart but I sobbed reading your response and then re-reading what I wrote. Simplicity, warmth, humor, and service, yes, that is Granddaddy. I'm glad you got to meet him in this way.
Something that never fails to amaze me is the continuation of stories, memories, and lessons we can continue to learn about a person after they have passed.
My grandma, Donald “Donny or Don” Gohman.
While he was alive, I never knew he was fluent in German. Now that he’s passed and I’m aware, it makes me sad that I never got to learn any from him (but instead decided to teach myself)!
While he was alive, his love for his family, card games, food, afternoon naps, and his willingness to help me better understand math (despite not finishing middle school) is always remembered and cherished.
What a beautiful picture you pain of him! He sounds like our kind of pace of life. And how beautiful that as you learn, his language will literally flow through you! Thanks for sharing Grandpa with us.
I’m so grateful for your inspiration for this piece, Kate. I imagine when you get there, crowds of people will line up to thank you for helping their loved ones. ❤️
Jesie you are so special!!!! What a sacred role you hold in so many lives!! I never thought of our work this way, but it makes it feel all that more important 🫶
Thank you, Azie!! You're such a light. I know all who have the opportunity to be in healing spaces with you are better for it.
Damn. This one made me cry, girl 💞 thank you for bringing this into form 🙏
Oh I’m so glad it found a home in your heart! Thank you for being here! ❤️
My Granddaddy's name was Donald. He was called Don by most and Granddaddy by his 13 grandchildren.
He moved at the pace of a snail and I loved it. He was gentle, steady, and had the heart of a servant. When I once asked him what was the most important lesson he'd learned in life, he replied, "Life is short".
He loved all things horticulture and landscaping. He had a huge garden every year and gave away 98% of it.
To the end of his life he never owned a smartphone. He had a flip phone but most of the time he forgot to turn it on.
Food he called “groceries” (no matter what it was). Fried chicken was always “dead chicken”. Young children whose name he didn’t know were either called Junior (boys) or Petunia (girls). He loved the Br’er Rabbit stories from Uncle Remus and playing Rummy.
And he loved to laugh. His laughter was contagious. He’d start with a gentle chuckling “hehehe” and end in a full blown guffaw. You couldn’t help joining right in.
He didn't like to talk about himself but he loved to tell stories. He especially loved to tell them from the front porch or around the dinner table. He never spoke an ill word against anyone. The worst thing you could be called was a “rascal”.
There were never problems, only opportunities.
He waged a life-long war against squirrels and would warn anyone who would listen about their dangers. In his later years he lived in the city suburbs and, though it was illegal to shoot guns, would dispatch squirrels from the shelter of his garage any chance he got. He would shoot, return indoors for a bit to settle any suspicion of his neighbors, then go bury the body under his blueberry bushes.
He was a faithful husband for 55 years, a father, grandfather, brother, uncle, deacon, and more.
Most of all I miss his hugs.
Thank you for the prompt, Jesie. My Granddaddy passed away last October but I haven't taken the time to sit down and really think about his life.
What a beautiful and vivid tribute to your Granddaddy. Thank you so much for sharing him with us, Gwendolyn. What a presence he must have been, and how deeply loved.
I can feel his gentleness and humor in your words - the way he moved slowly through the world with intention, how he gave so much of what he grew, and how he renamed things in ways that probably made everyone around him laugh (“dead chicken” and “Petunia” are going to stay with me). That blend of simplicity and warmth, of humor and service...it feels like his steady, loving energy still ripples outward through everyone who knew him, and now through all of us who get to read about him. Thank YOU for letting us meet him.
I wrote the tribute with dry eyes and a grateful heart but I sobbed reading your response and then re-reading what I wrote. Simplicity, warmth, humor, and service, yes, that is Granddaddy. I'm glad you got to meet him in this way.
Something that never fails to amaze me is the continuation of stories, memories, and lessons we can continue to learn about a person after they have passed.
My grandma, Donald “Donny or Don” Gohman.
While he was alive, I never knew he was fluent in German. Now that he’s passed and I’m aware, it makes me sad that I never got to learn any from him (but instead decided to teach myself)!
While he was alive, his love for his family, card games, food, afternoon naps, and his willingness to help me better understand math (despite not finishing middle school) is always remembered and cherished.
What a beautiful picture you pain of him! He sounds like our kind of pace of life. And how beautiful that as you learn, his language will literally flow through you! Thanks for sharing Grandpa with us.
This truly is such a beautiful thing to consider. I have so many people I can’t wait to meet someday on the other side ❤️
I’m so grateful for your inspiration for this piece, Kate. I imagine when you get there, crowds of people will line up to thank you for helping their loved ones. ❤️