I wish Pappaw.....

As I washed dishes the other day, I could hear the kids in the dining room talking about my daddy. It was sweet to hear them talking, but of course it made me sad. Included were,

"I wish Pappaw was still able to show me magic tricks."

"I wish Pappaw would walk with me around that big yard he used to have again."

"I wish Pappaw still lived at Crossville and we could go spend the night with him and sleep on the floor and eat cereal."

"I wish Pappaw still came to our house and we would go to Dairy Queen to get red Mr. Mistys."

"I wish Pappaw could still watch movies while we snuggled up together and held hands."

"I wish Pappaw could tell me some more funny jokes."

"I wish Pappaw could listen while I read to him and tell me how good I'm doing."

"I wish Pappaw could still sing funny songs he made up while we ride in his truck."

"I wish Pappaw could see how big Atticus is now."

"I wish Pappaw could have seen us at the Christmas play."

"I wish Pappaw would have been here for Thanksgiving & Christmas."

"I wish Pappaw knew we were there when we visited him."

After each thing one of them said, it was followed by a "Don't you?" or a "Do you remember that?" A round of yesses was always heard after those questions.

As Ryan came around the corner to bring his dishes, he caught me crying, listening to them. He asked if they shouldn't talk about Pappaw because it made me sad. I assured them that, yes, it made me sad, just like it did them, but I wished all those same things with them. I told him I played that game all the time by myself.

And then I took Ryan's hand and went to join their game to relive some memories we hold dear that will never be again.