Wow a two part post.

85 degrees, pork ribeye, beef sirloin roast, beans, and  potato salad, one son in law and daughter, one son and daughter in law and as many grand kids as I could convince to give me a hug on the neck. Some of them still think I'm a giant and might step on them. But if you sneak up real close and quiet and don't say anything, they will slip their hand inside of yours and never say a word. I like deep respect like that. I like that kind of love.
I like that kind of respect. It goes deep and for a long time. I like putting on a pair of trunks and lounging in a pool of water with banshee children that think the best thing to do when I'm in the pool is how much weight will it take until a grampa will chuck BBQ!


I'm not a soldier with words, I'm not that educated. But I want to make sure that the ones that live past me say to their mothers and fathers, " You remember when Granpaw was in the pool with us? You remember when we did smores with him? You remember whenever he saw the flag he would make us stop and pay attention? Do you remember when we sang the Star Spangled Banner together?


These are just sprinklings and random thoughts that I had tonight.


And these little ones are the reason I want to be one of the roughest men you'll ever see. Because I don't sleep well at night, but these babies depend on you and me to protect their sleep. I'm not rough to them by no means. They are my apples, my peaches, my future gearheads, my fighters, one may become a comedian, and, alas, one may fail. But all will have taken from me all that I could teach. I did not let them down. At my age, my bride and I have each other. Those after us will go on. We did all that we could do...