LM, Episode 1098, 12/19/22, Papaw Griff

Once my wife, Twyla, was putting our grandson in his car seat, he asks, “Mamaw Twyla, when you were a little girl, did you ride in a car seat?”

Twyla replies, “Oh, yes, honey, all the time.”

“You did not. You and your brothers rode in the bed of your dad’s pickup like you were migrant, farm workers and twice your dad got home with just two kids and had to go back to find the one that bounced out.”

Twyla’s dad passed away recently. I was very close to Twyla’s mom, but it was difficult to get to know her dad because he was so quiet, but, then again,I only knew him for forty years. He did love when I’d tell him stories about Twyla putting me in my place. He didn’t really laugh out loud, but he had a smile on his face.

He had a dry sense of humor. Once said his three children got all of their stubbornness from him because Twyla’s mom hadn’t lost any of hers

He had his ways. He loved Twyla’s home baked cookies. When he was running low, he’d tell her he was savoring the last one. He cut the whole cookie in half and only eat half that day. The next day he’d cut the half that remained in half and only eat a fourth. The third day he’d cut the fourth that remained in half and only eat an eighth. That way it would, theoretically, last forever. This was his way of asking her to bake him more cookies.

Once Twyla’s mom wondered out loud how two good Republicans could raise three Democrats for children. What they raised were three intelligent, thoughtful people who were always there for their parents. I can’t think of a better legacy. Rest in peace Papaw Griff.

Thank you for listening and always remember laughter matters.