"Pop"

Friday morning we lost Matthew's grandpa, Pop. His name was J.W. Greenwood and he was technically his step-grandpa, but he was probably more family that some of the blood relatives. I've been around a while, and I met Pop when I was 14. He was a very sweet, goofy, loving man. So much so that he built me a cedar chest for my high school graduation. It is and will forever be one of my most prized possesions because not only did he think enough of me to get me a nice gift, but he put so much work into making it so beautiful and I'm sure that he worked until he got it just the way he wanted.

After Matthew and I got married in Nov. 2002, Pop (and Mom) were the first visitors we had down in Del Rio. They hopped on an Amtrak train in February and spent 24 hours making the trip that took us only 12 hours driving. They stayed for a week and at first that seemed like it would be a LONG time, at least to me, who was having to entertain my grandparents-inlaw. We had alot of fun. I didn't have an iron skillet, so we went all over town looking in second hand shops and antique stores for one that was already seasoned. We found one for $5 in an antique store and Pop got it for me, cleaned all the rust off of it, and it is to this day a wonderful skillet for cornbread and doesn't even stick! We ate with our good friends, Kelly and Norma, while they were visiting and Norma taught Pop how to make pico de gallo which he loved so much that he made more and carried it back on the train with him.

I remember once, when Matthew and I were dating years ago, he (Matthew) asked me if I'd get him a Coke from the fridge. I stood up to go and get it and Pop said, "if you go get it, I'll break your leg." It was a typical Pop statement. He waited on Mom hand and foot and apparently expected Matthew to treat me the same. Then there was the time when I was the only girl left at the deer camp and we were all sitting around the fire one night. Well, Pop farted, and I mean....FARTED. He had this goofy smile on his face as he looked around waiting for someone to congratulate him, but Matthew said, "POP, BRANDY IS RIGHT HERE!!!!" He was so very embarrassed, but it was hilarious.

About three weeks after they spent that week with us, Pop was going to have open heart surgery. During his surgery, something went wrong and he lost oxygen to his brain for a few minutes. He has never been the same. We have watched the man we all knew and loved deteriorate over the last 7 years. Our kids never got to meet the real Pop. They only knew the Pop who rode in a motorized wheelchair and lived at Wagnon Place. That in itself is heartbreaking to me. He was a special man. He took care of his brother, Sonny, until a couple of years ago. He helped Mom care for her parents when they were in the nursing home. He was a dad to three boys who weren't really his own, although I'm not sure he ever thought about that fact. He was a terrific grandpa to eight grandchildren and I have seen that with my own eyes. I wish that he'd had the opportunity to be that for his five great-grandchildren. He will be missed greatly.

Love you, Pop