Grandpa, I remember

I thank God for my grandfather
Walter
better known as Wally
Pap or PapPap depending on your generation...

I thank God for my grandfather
because he was my teacher.

He taught me to greet each day with the expectation of happiness.
Pap did this every morning with his singing --

loud, boisterous, enthusiastic singing
that woke the entire house.

This morning our house is quiet...

Pap often had a peculiar way of looking at the world.
By listening to his ongoing commentary
--and by trying to keep up with him--
I learned to look at the world.

When Wally looked at the world, he saw places to walk...
His favorite place to walk was in the garden.
While his garden never covered much area,
he walked across the world there.

He could do this in his garden
because his imagination and curiosity were immeasurable,
filled with information from the many books he read.

My grandfather taught me to enjoy the particularities of the place,
to look for and enjoy what makes this place unique.

When Wally looked at the world, he saw friends:

people to share a story with.
people to sit down and play a game of cards with.
people to laugh with...

My grandfather taught me to look for -- even to seek out --
what makes a person unique.
and to enjoy that.

And he taught me to enjoy the company of family and friends.

He taught us all to look for the special qualities,
to pay attention to them,
and to point them out to anyone who will listen.

Today our house is quiet
because one special person is missing

I thank you, God, for my grandfather.
He was a special man who taught us a lot about living.