It ’ s been over thirty-five years . Neither of us had a clue as to all of the whats , whys , hows , or whens that was merging into our existences as we left the Bug Tussle parking lot . We became a ready-made far flung family with five children . One of the ready mades , not too long after the Bug Tussle deal maker , informed her Mother that she was now with child .
It took more than a few minutes for me to realize we were talking about myself being part of a grandparent consortium . Concerns about how cool I could look leaning on my pick-up ’ s fender in front of the Holiday Inn evaporated as a heretofore unknowable “ Bigger Picture of Life ” eased into my cellular structure . Wanda was ready for the change . I was not . That ’ s why the process takes nine months , to get the grandparents all on the same page .
Once I got my new name ( Papaw ) I was all in . I realized all of those practice hours my children had put in teaching me how to be a parent could now be put to use . Then of course as life has its way , there are the great grandchildren . And so far I get to keep the same name ! Looking back these many decades I see that I have not been moving through life . Life has been moving through me . Sitting under my giant red oak tree I ponder my pen across one of my yellow legal pads spread around my table top . My favorite Pilot G-2 Medium Point Gel Pens accurately reflect back to me the horrors of handwriting so illegible that I now print all that I write . The table and a set of matching chairs look old enough to be the first lawn furniture combo ever sold by Cullman ’ s first Walmart location . The red oak tree and two more just like it that dump shade all over me and the lawn furniture , occupy a spot against a fence line on a high knoll . The high knoll overlooks two of Holly Pond ’ s finest hayfields . This year ’ s second crop is stylishly done up in giant round bales scattered throughout seventy or so acres of lush pastures . I feel I do my best thinking here . Wanda likes for me to do my best thinking up here on my hill , away from the house .
We strive to make every moment count for our residents and patients at NHC HealthCare Moulton because we believe in celebrating life at all stages .
300 Hospital Street Moulton , AL 35650 ( 256 ) 974-1146 • nhcmoulton . com
CULLMAN COUNTY SENIOR MAGAZINE
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