Passing of A Grandfather
Jordan doesn't even know it yet, but she has lost her Grandfather. I was thinking of all the things that Don Rudd was and none of them seemed adequate as a single word description; but to my little girl he is grandpa, and he made the whole world an adventure. He was a Father To Jenny, Andy and Brittany; A Husband to Phylis; A father in law to me. He was a Scout leader to many; a friend to others, a boss to some, and employee to others. He has done so many things that affect so many people. He has helped raise an entire generation of young men in Winterville.
I don't even begin to know how I will explain to my little girl why her Grandpa isn't here. I know she will be sad; I don't know how much she will understand. I don't remember anything from when I was 2 or 3. But whether she understands or not; I know she will miss her Grandpa; His big strong hand and arms could lift her up, pull her along; or just swing her. She had him twisted around her little finger, if she wanted to sit in the car and watch DVDs, well then they sat in the car and watched DVDs. For everyone else Don had good and bad traits; but for Jordan, he was perfect; he could be seen through a child's eyes of wonderment.
I remember my camping trips with Don, we had been planning on doing one sometime this spring, but hadn't yet gotten around to it. Sometimes after getting tired out on a particularly steep portion of trail, he would take a break, sit down on a rock and just stare out onto the valley bellow; his face would split into a huge boyish grin; He loved the wonder God created in this world.
I'm not a great writer, and I don't know what to say; There are so many things that have ... and have not been. Don was all these things and so much more. We will miss him ... Jordan will miss her Grandpa.
He always sang this song to his daughter, my Wife, Jenny. Its become somewhat of a tradition in our household... So this is for you Don...
Happy trails to you, until we meet again. Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then. Who cares about the clouds when we're together? Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather. Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again. Some trails are happy ones, Others are blue. It's the way you ride the trail that counts, Here's a happy one for you. Happy trails to you, until we meet again. Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then. Who cares about the clouds when we're together? Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather. Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.