"What Makes You Think He Doesn't Know?"

In the corner of our bedroom, there is a "nook." The room would be a rectangle if it weren't for this area, where the wall juts out and back and the extra space is approximately the size of a twin bed. The first two years we lived here, the nook was empty, except for the occasional giant pile of my dirty clothes.

After my grandfather passed away and Mama Lou moved here to town, my parents asked if I would like to have Papa Dick's desk. It fit perfectly in the nook, and Mama Lou and I went through all of her old family snap shots and I arranged them under the glass top of the desk. In the morning, I put my makeup and brush my hair at this desk, which currently houses all of my beauty products. (Some day I'll use it to write my book, I promised myself I would.) I look at all the old family pictures.... Cousin Dan and me being pulled by Papa Dick on the sled at Sugar Creek, my parents walking down the street on Wabash's campus, a picture of my grandfather's Uncle Insley, who I am named after. It always makes me nostalgic and thankful.

When I was sitting there a few mornings ago, I suddenly was very sad, knowing that our baby would never know his/ her Papa Dick. I'm jealous that my nieces and nephews got to meet him and our babies never will. I'm sad that he's gone.

When I spoke with Abby on the phone yesterday, I told her about my crying spell (yes, I think the pregnancy hormones are kicking in.) I said "I just wish he knew that we were having a baby, I just want to call him and tell him."

Abby said "What makes you think he doesn't know?"

I know my Papa Dick knows. I know he sees me. I even kind of believe he can read my blog. I am thankful for all the family photos and all of the memories.

And I know where Papa Dick is, and I know he's smiling down on me and tim and Tiny Hix and his wife the prom queen. :)

Thanks for your wisdom, Abby, and Papa Dick, the "Old wise man in the woods."