On March 16, 2016 Twitter user Kelsey Harmon posted the tweet below. The Twitter-verse blew up within hours of this post. A flood of tweets came pouring out, supporting Papaw and thanking Kelsey for tweeting this as a reminder of how we need to spend time with the "Papaws" in our lives. I couldn't agree more.
Our grandparents have been in our lives since we were born, and if you've been so blessed to grow up with them by your side, we're used to them always being there. For those other Papaw figures (like great aunts and uncles, family friends, and church family) in our lives, they're there since you met and you rely on them just the same. The popular book, "The Fault In Our Stars," describes falling in love as, "slowly, and then all at once." That's how people get older too.
As a baby and young child, my grandparents would carry me. One day, they didn't pick me up anymore. Grandma and Grandpa Smith would often drive to my house bearing Burger King chicken fries. One day, they didn't drive anymore. Grandpa Wilt would let me stand on his feet as we danced around the living room. One day, the dancing stopped. Grandma Smith used to lay on the living room floor with me watching "The Price Is Right." One day, we stopped laying on the floor together. Grandma Wilt used to play under the dinner table with my big brother and I. One day, she couldn't get under the table anymore.
The aging process happens slowly, and then all at once. But that's not to say that they're no fun after things change! Instead, I started driving to see Grandpa Smith over the past few years. Grandpa Wilt would play his fiddle for me to dance to on my own. Everyday after school during my senior year, I'd drive Grandma Smith to Dairy Queen for our chocolate ice cream cone tradition. Grandma Wilt and I stopped playing games under the table and started playing games on the table, such as Scrabble or Skip-Bo.
The old traditions and ways have changed, then you make new ones. That's how life works.
Though it may be a little sad to see old traditions go, I'm equally as happy making new ones. I adore the time spent with my grandparents and other Papaw figures!
If you're lucky enough to have "Papaws" in your life, I encourage -- no, I beg you to appreciate them while they're here. Give them a call if you're thinking of them! I don't care if you know they'll talk for an hour; I know that just about every time I give one of them a call. Write them a letter and send it via snail-mail; Grandparents love handwritten letters. Drive that hour to see them if you're missing them; it's worth it. And for goodness sakes, please eat dinner with them if they make burgers for you.
