Grandpa
Allen “Gene” Claibourn
08.12.1932-08.05.2013
Grandpa showed me the way to
get things done and how to do
them right, he showed me how
to make a knot but i could
never get it quite as tight. He
showed me how to splice a
board to support a shaky beam,
he taught me how to get that
row boat easily upstream. He
showed me how to be polite
and to act with dignity, showed
me that respect and honor go
one and one with common
courtesy. He told me to have
Pride and honor in all the work
I do, do it right the first time
and it will surely repay you.
You have to sacrifice in life to
get the things you want, keep
your wants last put your family
out in front . Always take two
steps back before that one
ahead, don't stress about
material things you can't take
them when your dead. I only
started realizing how right he
was as I grew into a man,our
lives pass by so fast like air
through his homemade blower
fan. I wish I had just one more
week with him or even just one
day, maybe do his metal runs,
junk a car and maybe hear him
say, I had that once "took exlax
"then adjust his hat with his
thumb and index finger, look at
someone smile shake his head
and say "humdinger", maybe
hear him whistle an old tune
that I'd never heard, sit on the
porch in the morning with him
while he mimicked every bird,
go trim some trees, cut some
weeds, maybe dig some more,
the list of things to do never
shortened that's one thing I
know for sure ! He was a family
man who knew what life was all
about, he worked hard so his
family wouldn't have to go
without. He helped and helped
oh yeah and then he helped
some more, never turned his
back, wide open is how he kept
his door. Your hungry then
come eat we have plenty is
what he'd say, then give
someone his money for the bill
they couldn't pay. But most of
all the greatest thing my
grandpa's ever done, was ask
my Grandma Shirley if she
would be the one? I don't know
exactly how they met or where
they went on their first date,
but I know one thing for sure
this was no accident a Love like
this is Fate. I guess I
underestimated the power
LOVE can hold, I witnessed it
recently it was worth more
than any amount of Gold.
Grandpa loved You Grandma he
fought so very hard to stay, he
knew he'd get one more Eskimo
kiss if he could make it just one
more day. I'm telling you first
hand at night he laid there so
very still, but when you walked
into the room magic is all that
u could feel. I know he's up in
heaven driving through a small
ol country town, looking for the
perfect place to settle his family
down, I'm sure it'll be near
some water a quiet place where
the view is really nice, he'll
gather up those with him and
start building the second
Claibourn's Paradise. He'll have
a big jug of water filled with ice
to the brim, smiling and
working with loved ones all
surrounding him. No more pain
no more strain, no more clear
plastic pill dividers, now he's
relaxing working a crossword or
showing people how to make
those paper airplane gliders. He
loved his kids so much
endlessly I'd say, he tried his
best to be there even on the
darkest day. I could go on and
on about my Grandpa there's
so much more to say, these are
only my thoughts imagine the
countless others in this room
today. I Love you Grandpa,
Grandpolio and thank you for
being you, I hope one day I can
be a legend to my family too.
See ya when u get there....
Love ya Grandpa,
Neil Thirstrup
Copyright © Neil Thirstrup | Year Posted 2013
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