Goodbye Papa

Last week, we said goodbye to our main guy: Baxter, aka Papa.  He's been a constant in my life for almost 40 years.  We lived close by and had a lot of Mimi and Papa time.  They got to come to our birthday parties and holidays and ball games and vacation together.  He was a calming patriarchal presence, and I'm so sad he's gone.  However, I'm also relieved his battle with dementia is over.  He hasn't known my name for awhile, but he always lit up with joy when we would come visit, especially when he would see my kids.  He knew we were his people; he knew that we belonged to him.  Rest now, Papa.

Some memories from my childhood:

- he always had candy dispenser gum from Reeves in his pockets for us

- Busch beer smelling kisses; mustache tickling

- always sporting Sperry top-sider shoes in the summer

- huge fluffy white stuffed ram head hanging in garage

- pink fluff from mimosa trees floating in the air at Gardenia house

- picking locust shells off of Mrs. Lambert's tree every year

- trips to Bella Vista: easter egg hunts, clubhouse mini golf and freezing cold swimming pool, paddle boats and feeding the ducks, golf course country club swimming and cart rides, fishing and feeding fish at the hatchery, horseback rides

- always seeing him at our second home, the Mannford Church of Christ

- white Buick car in gardenia driveway

- old hickory bbq sauce and homemade hamburgers (I would groan when he made these, but now I wish I could have one!)

- his laugh when he got really tickled

- eating lemons like apples; he loved spicy and sour things

- Pizza Hut supreme pizza - he was always saying those peppers and onions will put hair on your chest (!!)

- Mitzi on his lap

- snow skiing trips in borrowed RVs

- visiting him at Dean's RV and begging to eat at El Chico next door

- big family dinners at Mannford house (lots of lasagna, fried chicken, and burgers)

- Sadie dog and her tricks he taught her

Always a blessing in disguise - the funeral was a good chance to enjoy a little family reunion.  I got a lot of time with sweet P and Abby!

We love Sawyer <3

Kendyl and Syd

 Nana and Ethyn

 Blaker and JKK

 Brother Bear

 Dina, Bill, and Blaker

 Nana's girl

Lacy and Jeremy

 Syd and Lauren became fast friends!

cousins

 Kendyl is such a good sport

 Syd really took a liking to cousin Brooke...I think it was the pink high heels ;)

Jenni, Rachel, Cathy

 loving on our Mimi

 Oliver and the girls got in some play time too!

Poor Mimi...everyone is gone and I can't imagine how weird and sad she must be feeling.  It's the end of an era for her.  We plan to go see her again soon!