11 years ago

At 620am 11 years ago, a very big piece of my life went to be with the Lord after a 13 year battle with cancer. Pop (my grandfather) was a great person. I remember fishing with him and my father on the banks of the Shenandoah River. I remember learning how to cut grass with the riding lawnmower. I remember when Pop and Ma (my grandmother -- gee, can ya tell we's SOUTHERN?) would come to my little league baseball games. I remember when Pop would let me change the gears in his Rabbit while he drove on the back country roads. I remember going to get YooHoo's at the country store.
I remember that day like it was yesterday. I used to drive truck for the same company I work for still to this day (Schneider National Carriers)...and I made it a habit to call home to both my Dad and my grandparents on Tuesdays and Saturdays just to let them know I was OK....that particular Tuesday (23rd) I had blown a tire and had to get it fixed. By the time I was done that night, and parked at the truck stop, it was 11pm. I just thought I would call first thing in the morning. I didnt want to wake them up. I was in Rock Springs, Wyoming that night. Whenever I was on the road, my dad would always send messages to my truck's computer to call home, and he always made sure to ask that "non-emergency" be put on the message. When I woke up on the morning of the 24th, to the beeping of the computer. I read the message that said "Call Home"...and I knew something was wrong. So I walk into the restaurant, and asked the waitress to be seated in the farthest most part of the restaurant, and she did. I was away from everyone. I made that call home from my table, and found out that Pop had passed away. I spent the next 90 mins trying to compose myself, take a shower, and try to make arrangements. The waitress was so kind. She kept asking if there was anything she could do. At the end of the meal, I went to pay, and she said that the manager will be picking up my tab and to drive safely home to my family.
As I walked back out to my truck, I happened to see another Schneider truck pulling out of the truck stop. I didnt think twice about that truck until a short time later. I received a message from my manager that I was going to be swapping loads with another driver so that I could get home to Dallas to fly home and to meet him at the Flying J truck stop in Laramie, WY. A short while later I met the other driver at the truck stop and swapped loads. I offered him a coffee for his trouble. As we walked back out from the store, he told me that this was the 2nd time in three days he had swapped loads with another Schneider driver to get them home for a family emergency. I appreciated his gesture, shook his hand, and he just asked that if anyone ever needed something that I would hopefully return the gesture someday. I never had a problem swapping loads with someone to get them home.
So I took off from Laramie, bound for Dallas TX. From that point, I was still about 1000 miles from home. I pretty much drove straight through to get home, only stopping for 4 hours in Amarillo for a quick nap, food, shower, and then proceeded to lock my keys in my truck...When I got to Dallas, I parked my truck, drove over to the airport in my personal vehicle, and got my tickets home.
I remember the sermon from Brother Keith...it was 1 Thessalonias 5:4-11. If you have a chance, read these words. Brother Keith's words I can still here being spoken today. I can hear his powerful voice as he sang that morning. I can remember the fellowship afterwards. A rememberance of a beautiful life.
Today is about remembering :) I miss you Pop. I wish you could see me now!

Love
#1 Grandson