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A Man Not Forgotten

I knew a man once; he brought me donuts every Sunday morning. He wore golf clothes and socks pulled up to his knees. I knew a man that ate enough rice in a day to feed China. He had big ears and eyes that were clear as water. I knew a man so prideful that he chose to fix projects he most likely did not have a clue how to fix. He was tall and skinny, but as strong as a waterfall crashing into the lake below. I knew a man who was my mentor, my companion, my grandfather.

My grandfather was a man that I modeled my life after since I understood "life" itself. He took each step with pride and dignity. I went everywhere with him watching how the adults and children adored and admired him. It was as if he was an angel sent here from heaven. He gave so much to the community. After seeing the way he pursued life, it gave me a whole new grasp on mine. Spending one day with him, watching people drop what they were doing just to give a respectful handshake or warm embrace, made me realize how much I wanted to be just like him. My grandfather taught me how to give respect and how to earn it for myself. He also told me that you have to give a little to get a little. "That was the key to life," he said. Even though he might not have known it, through his actions he opened up a whole new world to my virgin eyes. Being with him was like experiencing life to the fullest. I perfected good morals, values, every day with my grandfather.

Walking side by side, trying to take every step identical to his, while he smiled down at me with a huge grin upon his face. I mimicked his every move as we walked to the kitchen. The way he picked up his fork to scoop the freshly cooked rice right out of the pot. Even down to every shake of the pepper shaker. I wanted to be him in every aspect.

When I was young, my mother used to let me invite a friend over, but in the end I always found myself wanting to have my grandfather. He was my companion in every sense of the word. We did everything together, from cleaning the pool to building a new fence in the backyard. My grandfather always made sure to involve me in whatever it was he was doing. He was your regular handy man. Maybe it was the way he spoke to me, with all the emotion and excitement in his voice, but I knew that he saw me not only as his grandson but his friend. He held my hand when I was scared and gave me that extra push when I was timid. He was a true grandfather. The love and care that he gave to me was unmatched by any of my siblings. He did all the normal things that average grandfathers do, but added something more each time we were together. He took me golfing and showed me how to perfect my swing and drive the ball straight. All of this just because I was his grandson. Every Sunday he would take me to his "special spot," where we would play eighteen holes. He was my grandfather and I was his grandson.

I remember the summer vacations that I used to go on with my grandfather, how we used to wake up even before the sun did, grab our poles and get out to the cold lake. Watching him load the Chevrolet pickup in the same repeated fashion as every time before. He put the poles in first, then the tackle boxes, and finally the ice chest full of the little goodies that he picked up before coming to get me that morning. Starting the truck and waiting exactly five minutes before putting it into drive and going down the same windy path. Nothing ever on our precious fishing

trips was out of the ordinary. They were always the same. The trips to the cabin will be forever missed.

I knew a man who was my mentor, my companion, my grandfather. He died on the first of December, year 2000. My grandfather was an extraordinary man that will not be forgotten. His presence will be felt for eternity in my life and the many others that he touched throughout his lifetime. He left a lasting impression in my mind, of the man that I aspire to become. A man with that much tenacity and greatness is a man that all young adolescents should aim to become. Down to the way he presented himself and the way he treated the people around him. Although he had his flaw's he more than made up for them throughout his existence on earth. Although he is not here with me now, I know that he is watching over me from the great blue ocean above. From him I have learned that life is too precious to be wasted with laying around, you must go out into the world and see where it takes you. I miss him every day. Especially when I eat rice and remember just how many times to shake the pepper shaker, and when I used to try to mimic every step while walking side by side with him to wherever it was we were going. I feel like I have learned so much from him, but in a way I feel like God cut our time short. He will be remembered for eternity in my heart, mind, and soul.