by Corynne Nuckols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My very first memory of him, ever I think, is of more of a feeling than anything else. He <\/p>\n\n\n\n
died when I was very little. I don\u2019t think that I was even in school yet. All I remember of <\/p>\n\n\n\n
him physically is that he was a little guy who wore black rimmed glasses. And he gave the best <\/p>\n\n\n\n
snuggles. I’d sit on his lap in his recliner while he read the paper and fall asleep. He made me <\/p>\n\n\n\n
feel warm and safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remember I asked him to pick me up one day and hug me. He carried me to the chair <\/p>\n\n\n\n
and settled me on his lap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I knew, as children do, that something was wrong with him. That something had been <\/p>\n\n\n\n
wrong with him for awhile. I just didn’t know how bad it was. Gramma came from the kitchen <\/p>\n\n\n\n
and said “George, you shouldn’t do that. You’ll hurt yourself.” Grampa just looked at her as he <\/p>\n\n\n\n
patted my back. “Maudie, I won’t be able to do this much longer. Let me enjoy this while I can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please?” I saw Gramma start to cry as she turned away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remember asking Grampa what was wrong. He smiled a sad little smile and said “I’m <\/p>\n\n\n\n
just a little sick sweetie. I’ll probably be leaving soon. Where I’m going they’ll make me all better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But I’ll have to be gone for a long time.” I remember looking up at him and asking for sure if this <\/p>\n\n\n\n
place he was going to would make him feel better. Grampa looked at me and said “Yes, I’ll <\/p>\n\n\n\n
definitely be pain free where I’m going. Why?” I looked up at him and said “I’m gonna miss you <\/p>\n\n\n\n
a whole lot while you’re gone Grampa, I don’t want you to leave, but if it means you’ll feel better <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I guess you should. I need another hug Grampa.” He swallowed and hugged me hard. “Why do <\/p>\n\n\n\n
you want so many hugs honey?” “I gotta save them up grampa. I need extra for while you’re <\/p>\n\n\n\n
gone.” He sniffed and hugged me again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He patted my back as I sat on his lap, until I fell asleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s the last time I remember seeing him. Later, when I was older, I found his blue cotton <\/p>\n\n\n\n
robe folded in the back of Gramma’s closet. I kept that robe until I married my husband. By then <\/p>\n\n\n\n
it was threadbare, but well loved. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Corynne Nuckols My very first memory of him, ever I think, is of more of a feeling than anything else. He died when I was very little. I don\u2019t think that I was even in school yet. All I remember of him physically is that he was a little guy who wore black rimmed… <\/p>\n