(I know this is long, but this is my edited down version so forgive me but I think it’s worth the read)
It’s totally fascinating! This journal just popped up. We didn’t even know it existed until now. I just read a good portion of the last 10 years of my Grandfather’s life. From 1976-1986 he wrote in this journal somewhat regularly. So many of his entries were about how beautiful my Grandmother was and how much he loved her. He talked about the good times and bad times with his 5 children, then mostly grown. And where I come in, he gushed about how much he loved his grandkids and how much he cherished every moment with us.
(My brother, Papa, me)
He discussed how insanely nervous he was in 1976 when he took his test to get his private pilots license. He then goes into the close call he had in the air while flying with one of his sons. The engine cut out over Lake Texoma and they were luckily able to glide back to Grayson County Airport and land safely.
He has an entry on 8/16/1977 that says, Elvis Presley died today at 3:30pm. When he wrote about the newspaper and TV coverage of Elvis’ death a few days later, he says, "I didn’t know he was that popular." (hehe) It’s also fascinating to see him mention things such as, Jimmy Carter was inaugurated today, as well as mention of Ronald Regan.
He wrote about how my Grandmother got cancer in 1979 and how she battled for 2 years to beat it. He also described his own fight with cancer and other medical problems.
(My Papa and Granny, 1950's)
I remember my Papa well and he was my favorite person in the world. He was the perfect Grandfather to all of us. He was funny as all get out and he loved to get dirty and play with us. We listened to old country music cassette tapes that he recorded himself off the radio. We played lots of cards. He loved playing cards. We felt like he did truly love spending time with us. And to read in his own words that he lived for the times when he was with his Grandkids just warms my heart and strengthens my memories of him.
His last journal entry was on June 1, 1986. He says “I just had one of the biggest surprises of my life. My wife and kids just gave me a surprise birthday party at El Rio Restaurant. Everyone was there… all our kids and grandkids.”
He died 5 months later from cancer at the age of 55, when I was 11 years old. My Grandmother, who he loved so much, died 3 years later at the age of 55, also from cancer.
I just learned so much more about that wonderful man, 25 years later.
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