It has taken me a very long time to get to where I could verbalize exactly what Melvin meant to me and what I will remember the most. it's hard to put into words.
I can remember the first time I met him...it was Lorraine's graduation from MSMS. The thing I remember the most is that he scared me to death. He was so confident and strong. I don't know why I expected anything else - knowing Lorraine as I did.
I have a special memory of Melvin that I get to relive every single day when I walk in the back door of my house. Melvin had made these wooden door mats for the Rhodes' house. When I was down to visit one time I commented on how much I liked them. He said he'd made them and they were easy to make. I started quizzing him on how he did it, the tools he used, etc. He asked me, "You wanna make one? I'll show you how." The next day, Melvin made a mat with me watching and then left me to make another. It was the first time I'd ever used a table saw or a nail gun. There were only brads in the nail gun, but that thing scared me to death. I know Poppa had to be laughing his head off at me. Thinking back, maybe that's why he left me alone outside to finish my mat - so he could watch me through the window and get a giggle.
I have so many memories of Poppa. He always talked to me like I was an adult - no matter how old I was. He made me feel smart. Every time something went wrong with my car, he was there. Every time I needed advice on a house project, he was there.
I will always remember the way that he looked at me when I held Alexandrea when she was a baby. It was one of those looks of gratitude, love and amazement at this little being that would be a part of our lives from then on.
As I got older and started looking for a husband myself, I remember consciously thinking about how strong Jan and Melvin's relationship was. How I wanted to find someone that after 35 years I still wanted to hold hands with.
I hate that I didn't get to tell Poppa goodbye, because I will truly miss him.
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