Grand Dad's Smile

January 22, 2010


I can’t remember the year but amm pretty sure it was about four or five years ago. After reading a news article, the main subject being about one particular family, immediately words came to mmind that sparked a tribute.

When we’re relating the goings on of life and its end; in this instance presented to us in a dramatic fashion is the fact that it’s just the way things happen sometimes. Unfortunately a group of children really, were traveling all at the same time. They were all in the same vehicle that was rammed from behind by a big semi-trailer truck.

I was feeling pretty sad for the young family. These words giving homage to them. All the names listed in the last lines were the children who stopped for a short break; their fate was sealed.

Unfortunately, this is how things play for us sometimes. Life has a way of proving to us as many times as we’d like to look at it no matter whom, or where we are. It can be as if we’re looking at ourselves from twenty feet above a room; or we can be across a room observing our image in a mirror.

It can be a dream we dream or what have you but the fact remains that our existence is a delicate balance we experience every single day. They say we should live our lives as though each day were our last. How many times have you heard that?

In the news article, the specific carload of children; yes, all children; the oldest, the driver only fifteen years young. Her passengers included four other close relatives. The tiniest being a babe in arms and most likely being held by another.

This story is similar but unlike the fateful day story of other instances you may have heard or read about in the past; perhaps like the five Sullivan Brothers. They were much older when just after Pearl Harbor they ran to enlist together as a family; one wouldn’t go without the others.

As a team - family, they wanted to help America get back on its feet. While serving their county and all at once they too met their fate decades ago. Because of the first and last time that ever happened, many people at that time heard of it not only because of the news it made but mostly I’d image because a movie was made as well. The U.S.S. Juno was their means of transport to another place.

In this latest instance the same thing happened but no movie was made. It did make a little news. All were on their merry way for a visit before parking on the side of a not too busy road.

They were there for just a very short time before they were to meet and reach out their hearts and hands for just one more heart and hand that were to join them; their grandfather. When hearing the news he too went to meet them on their next journey together, as a family.

Like the Sullivan brothers in the real life, at that last instant while all were carrying one wounded brother off a sinking ship when they met their fate, these children because of distance to their grandfather but shortly thereafter perhaps they all held their little hands in his hand while welcoming him and his:

Grand Dad’s Smile

Nicky, Elizabeth, Johnny Mann
Heaven holds pure Anthony Lamb.

Ashley Keen, Miranda Finn
Grand Dads loves - all welcomed in.

Times before last bye - sand’s quick.
Gather youth’s - love’s spirited, picked.

Catch new clouds - speak in bliss.
Relatives - daughter, sons, cuz’ - mist.

Seeds of lives’ brief - traversed last mile.
Grabbed Grand Dads hand
Seraphs – heaven’s gait - smile.