Paige

Paige

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Monday, January 21, 2008

Sometimes she reminds me of my Papa...



I need subtle reminders of how I remember my Papa...his actions, his body language, his scent. Paige has become a reminder of him to me. It's hard for me to write about my Papa-he died way too early in my life. He didn't get to experience any of my High School "happenings"-cheering, prom, graduation. He didn't get to meet my Stephen or attend my wedding. He didn't build me something magnificent for our home. He didn't get to see me pregnant. He didn't get to meet Paige Allison...his first great-grandchild. This may sound completely crazy to some, but I am reminded of Papa quite often through his scent. There was a certain scent on his bed sheets that I smell every so often and it literally stops me dead in my tracks. I smell it on t-shirts and my own bed sheets. No one else can smell it. Stephen thinks I'm crazy. But I know that it's my Papa-telling me it's okay, comforting me during a stressful time, or just reminding me of him. I actually remind myself of my Papa every once in a while...through body language. There was a certain way that Papa would sit at the kitchen table...with his elbow on the table and his forearm upright with his fingers holding a cigarette. While he was holding that cigarette, his hand would go limp at his wrist. I often find myself with my elbow on the table (Miss Manners would be disappointed) and my hand limp at the wrist. The only difference is that I don't have a cigarette in my hand! Most recently, my own daughter has been reminding me of my Papa...oh how I wish she could have known him. These pictures demonstrate her reminders of him to me. Papa would also sit at the kitchen table with one foot propped up on the table. If my Papa can't be here with me , it's nice to have reminders of him all around me.

And yes, she is in her high chair in the living room! She was being rewarded! She loves a little lunch and some Noggin channel!

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