Everyone knows how much I love my Papa, but I want to tell you why I love my papa so much.
Papa touched many lives by being a great friend, and giving great advice. The greatest thing, was that he could make someone laugh or smile on a sad day. He would propbably be making me laugh if he was here right now. He changed many lives, especially mine. He has shaped me into who I am today. He taught me so much, as I look back on the things he taught me, I try to be as much like him as I can, because Papa was nothing but good.
We were the same people. We shared the same thoughts, loved the same movies, and shared the same dreams. We could make any day a special day and I will continue to do that now. We would put a movie on and then start a discussion and before we knew it the movie would be over and we'd still be talking.
When my dad died, Papa was not only Papa but also like my dad. When my dad came along, Papa was able to be Papa again but also my best friend.. Now that Papa is gone no one will be able to replace him.
There is a million things I will miss doing with my Papa like, watching war movies, going to car shows, making home made pizza's, our long talks, trips to EP for lottery tickets, the way he put chips in our popcorn, the smell of his clothes when he hugged me, the way he would sneak veggies off my plate when mom wasn't looking, watching old cartoons which he preferred over my modern day ones, And going through old records, medals, and old family pictures.
I heard once that when someone dies you don't bury them because burying means you will never see them again. I will be planting my Papa so that I will see him agian. I'm happy for my papa because he has been re-united with his loved ones, his sister, mom, dad, grandma and my dad and one day we will be re-united again.
In my eyes I have always seen Papa as an angel. I've talked to papa more the last few days than I've been able to the last 9 months. Sometimes he laughs at me, sometimes he just smiles, and the night he died I received the best hug from him.
I was lucky to have 11 great years full of wonderful memories with my Papa. My brother, sister, and cousins were not as fortunate as I was. But I promise to you guys that I will teach you who he was, through me you will know Papa as well as I did. I love my Papa so much and through me he will continue to live on.
~ Ryan Crose
