Papaws

In the South, you do not have a 'grandpa,' you have a 'papaw' or 'pepaw.'  And maybe there are a few other Southern grandfather pet names I am unaware of.  I have two papaws, one is my blood papaw (sadly, I never met him) and the other is my papaw by choice.  He is my mom's best friend Sookie's father (got that one? lol).

My papaw by blood was a great man.  I have heard so many stories about him.  My granny was a little off her rocker and apparently my papaw kept her in line.  Sorry granny! :)

He was a cotton farmer.  My mom has told us that one of her favorite memories with him are the times he'd take her out into his fields.  They'd sit on the bed of pickup and he'd crack open a watermelon he grew in the fields.  The watermelons were warm and juicy and messy.  They sat and visited (you don't talk in the South, you visit) and just spent time together covered in watermelon juice.

He was also funny.  He was missing one arm.  He had accidentaly blown it off in some sort of accident.  From time to time, he would have to drive my mom and her best friend, Sookie, somewhere.  My mom would tell Sookie to get in the middle seat of the pickup truck.  Sookie would fight her on this but usually lost.  I'm sure his truck had a manual transmission.  He would ask Sookie, "Do you know what it feels like when a horse bites an apple?" She would scream because at that moment he took his one hand and grabbed on to her knee.  No hands on the stick shift or the steering wheel.  He and mom would just laugh and laugh but Sookie was terrified. 

My papaw by choice, Sookie's dad, is also a great man.  When a grown man tells you to call him 'Papaw' like the other kids that makes him a great man.  My papaw doesn't speak a lot of his mind but he shows who he is in his actions.  He walks to church on Sundays instead of riding with my mamaw so he can think and pray.  I always wondered why he did that but now that I'm older, I understand.  I love the way he says in his deep Southern voice, "Well, hey girl!" whenever he sees me.

I'm so blessed to have such great men in my life.  Hope you have some great men in your life too.