A Grandfather's Love

So around this time of year thirteen years ago, my granny, my mama, and I were burying my grandfather, Robert James Dawson, Jr. I loved that man with ALL my heart and then some. Forget a daddy's girl, I was a granddaddy's girl. I remember everything he ever said to me as well as everything he ever did for me. My granddad and I used to do the weirdest things...one thing was that we'd sit there and smell each other's feet and "pass out" from how bad they "stank" lol. When my granddad couldn't work anymore, I stayed home with him while my mama and granny worked. We used to watch tv, build forts, and just go roam around the city. He's the one who spoiled me to the point where I am today. I could get away with murder if it were up to him. Whenever my mom or grandma would spray perfume, he'd complain about it bothering his allergies, but I could sprays tons and tons of it and it wouldn't phase him.
Even when I was a newborn baby, he spoiled me by not letting anyone touch me but him. I remember one specific day my granddaddy had to run some errands so he couldn't watch me while my mom and grandma worked. That day, I stayed with my aunt and cousins. When my mom and granny got off work, they came to pick me up, but my granddad did too. I had to pick who I would ride home with...of course I chose my granddaddy. I was hungry so we went to McDonald's to get something to eat. I got the Happy Meal and my favorite, the Happy Meal toy...the only thing was that I wanted the toy from Burger King too. My granddad drove to Burger King and ordered the kids' meal for himself just so I could have that toy along with the toy from McDonald's. That was the day I truly fell in love with that man.
Then one day, my worst nightmare happened. I woke up that morning the same as always and got ready for school. Everyday before I left, I would go in my grandparents' bedroom and give my granddaddy a hug and kiss and tell him I would see him when I came back from school. This particular morning as I was going to do so, I noticed that my granddad was still asleep. I started to wake him, but my mom stopped me and told me to let him rest because he had been so tired lately (Years later, I realized that this was a good thing). I went to school, and everything was just a normal day in Kindergarten until my mama came and checked me out of school. She then told me that my granddad had passed away. To this day, I still can't remember what was going through my head or how I responded; I believe I started to cry though.
I remember going to the hospital and sitting in the family room with all my family members. I can still see the expression on my grandma's face to this day. She was just sitting in a chair with her hand under her chin just staring off into space with glossy red eyes. I can still hear the voice of my aunt calling the rest of my relatives telling them "Dee just passed." I can still feel my mother's arms wrapped around my body as I lay my head on her shoulder. I can still feel her lift me up, look me in the eyes, and ask me "You know granddaddy's not gonna be with us anymore?" And I can still feel myself nod my head and lay my head back on her shoulder just to start back crying.
Thinking back on the end of March 1998, I can truly say that I first experienced pain, hurt, sorrow, and death. Even as I'm writing this now, I can still feel all thoe emotions coming back. My granddad was my best friend at the time...he was more like a father than my own father. Everything I do, I do to make him proud because I know he's looking down on me smiling and praising my great accomplishments. March 1998 changed my life forever and I will never forget the details of that tragic day. I loved my granddaddy; always have, always will. He will forever be in my heart and will always be my first best friend. That was the first man I've ever loved because he was the first man to love me..

R.I.P. Robert "Dee" James Dawson, Jr.

I love you dearly and you will FOREVER be in my heart.

Love your angel, CeCe