Poppy's Boy

Jack finally let me have me his speech that he gave at my dad's funeral.  It's written on a piece of paper torn from a composition book, single-spaced and in pencil, with various edits scribbled in.  He folded it into a small square and put it in my purse as we were leaving the house that morning.  When he got up to give the speech I couldn't imagine how he must have felt, barely able to see over the podium, looking out at all those masses of people who came to pay their respects.  I think the only time I've seen the church that full was on Easter Sunday.  Here are Jack's words about his Poppy:

Poppy (my grandpa) and me have always been very close.  One of our greatest adventures was when my dad and mom went on a special trip for their anniversary.  Me and Poppy walked to the park and threw the football around and it started to pour rain.  Then we walked to the firehouse and we got to go on top of a fire truck.  Then we walked into Bethesda.  Then we went into a deli-mart.  Me and Poppy ate stinky cheese and sardines.  I was drinking a creme soda and Poppy was drinking a beer.  Then he got me a Jolly Rancher and we walked home.  That was so fun!

Last Thanksgiving when Poppy had ALS he motioned me into the computer room.  Then he told me that he was going to write a speech to say before we ate - and he typed it up and told me to say it.  So at the dinner table I said the speech and could tell that Poppy was proud of me.

Right here Jack started to get a little choked up as he read his speech and had a hard time continuing.  I got up after a few seconds and went to stand beside him.  I asked him quietly if he wanted me to read the rest of the speech and he shook his head and said he wanted to finish it.  After a few moments he continued:

Poppy used to always wear black clothes so that's why I'm wearing these black clothes today and I'm not wearing black clothes because it's a funeral.  Poppy is definitely a one of a kind person . . . . . no one could take his place.

Not a dry eye in the place.  I think you can see why.  Ten years old and he was able to get up and say all of that in front of hundreds of people.  I think Poppy was smiling down on him the whole time just bursting with pride.  I know I was.



Jack with his Poppy at the ALS Walk Oct. 2010