365 Project: Day 71

Today we drove to Mt Sylvan, TX to visit my grandfather's grave. He passed away on November 19, 2009. Today, December 26th, is also my other grandfather's birthday. He passed away on November 5, 2007. Its was a day to remember two incredibly important men in my life. I miss them both terribly.

On the way back to Port Arthur, we stopped at the Mt. Sylvan Coffee House and Mercantile. I fell in love with this place, and not just because they made me an excellent latte.

The woman who owned the coffee house was so incredibly friendly, sweet, and hospitable. I love when you meet someone who is a genuine, good person. I felt like I was in her home. She took the time to tell us all about her journey in opening this place. You could feel how much of herself she had invested in her dream. Its not often that you meet someone who is excited about what they are doing in the way that she was. It was inspiring.

We got the grand tour. The building was the original Masonic Lodge in the area and had been completely restored. She even reused parts of the original building in the restoration. The cabinet doors in the cafe were made of the original windows from the front of the building. She took us to the upstairs, which she may eventually open as a bed and breakfast. It was an amazing living area. There was also an incredible office upstairs. If I could close my eyes and picture my ideal workspace, this was it. Original hard wood floors, vaulted ceilings, and huge windows with the sun streaming in. The best part was the enormous wooden work bench. I wanted to work there! I would have moved in immediately if she had let me. We all left smiling and talking about how great it was.

It was so inspiring to meet a woman who had worked really hard and made her vision a reality. She had made her dream come true.  I look up to women like her, who have the courage to not just dream, but to dedicate themselves, take a risk, and see their dream to fruition.

365 Project: Day 64

There are so many theories about what happens to us after death. Some believe nothing, that death is the end of us. Some believe reincarnation. Some believe we go to heaven or hell. Really, who knows? If you've never died before, then I guess there's no way of knowing for sure.

I watched a movie a few days ago and the characters were talking about reincarnation. I thought about it for a while. The idea that you have many lives to live over time fascinates me. Imagine how many people you could be or how many different kinds of life you could have. The possibilities are endless.

The thing about reincarnation is that people are not aware of what happened in their previous lives. If you could know that you lived before and will live again, would you live this life differently? Henry Ford believed in reincarnation and he made a very interesting point.

He said, "It (reincarnation) seems a most reasonable philosophy and explains many things. No, I have no desire to know what, or who I was once; or what, or who, I shall be in the ages to come. This belief in immortality makes present living the more attractive. It gives you all the time there is."

If reincarnation is real, there is so much to wonder about. When is a soul born? How and why is a new soul created? Is there an ending point where the soul will no longer reincarnate? What happens to the soul then? How is it decided who or what you will reincarnate as? I have an endless list of questions that have no answers or explanations.

Jack London said, "I did not begin when I was born, nor when I was conceived. I have been growing, developing, through incalculable myriads of millenniums...All my previous selves have their voices, echoes, promptings in me...Oh, incalculable times I again shall be born."

Some think its possible to be reincarnated as something other than a human. I've given this some thought and if I were to be reincarnated as something non-human, I think I'd like to be a bird. Not just any bird though, a migratory bird. Maybe a duck. A duck can walk if it choses, but it can also swim and fly. I love the water and wouldn't it be so amazing to fly? Ducks migrate south for the winter, so you get to travel and you avoid winter every year. You'd always have friends because ducks tend to stay in a flock. Plus, if you are a duck that lives in a park, people feed you all day. Then I thought, I'd rather not be an animal who has an entire hunting season dedicated to it. Duck Season would not be a pleasant time of year and I don't like the idea of being shot or eaten. So maybe a migratory bird, something similar to a duck, that no one wants to kill.

If you could be reincarnated as anything, what would you want to be and why?

My Grandfather: Edwin Norris

My grandfather is the hero of our family. Its that simple. We are all so proud of him and so proud to be a part of his family. His passing on November 19th left a huge hole in our lives. We all looked up to him as the head of our family.

Grandaddy saluting at a Veteran's Day celebration.

Growing up, I always remember him being a quiet man. I wasn't aware of his military background or his role in the church, or that so many people looked up to him. He was just my Granddaddy. The perfect combination of warmth and sternness that made him someone I respected greatly. When Grandaddy spoke, we all stopped to listen. Every once in a while I would see how charming and witty he was. He would crack a joke with a sideways smile and a chuckle and we would all laugh. Grandaddy was sarcastic.

Grandaddy joined the army in March 1941. He was only 15 years old. Three of his brothers had joined the service and he didn't want to be left behind. He was big for his age and at 6'1" and 170 lbs, the recruiter never questioned that he was 18 and he was signed up.

We found most of this when going through his things after he passed.

(I want to make sure I get the facts straight so I'm going to quote his obituary:)

"He took basic training at Doddfield and joined K-Company, 9th Regiment (Manchu) 2nd Division, at Fort Sam Houston. His infantry and commando training was at Camp Bowie, Louisiana. Then on to winter training at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, where T/SGT Norris served as recruit instructor under Colonel Jack K. Norris of the 38th Infantry.

Combat duty, for T/SGT Norris, began in Northern Ireland, Wales and England. He fought in the Normandy Invasion and was wounded by mortar shell in the Normandy breakout. He served in Normandy, Southern and Northern France and Ardennes-Alsace Campaigns.

T/SGT Norris was carried unconscious from the front lines sometime after the "Heartbreak Crossroads" battle, the north shoulder of the "Bulge", at Rocherath -Krinkkelt, to Wahlers- cheid. (Diagnosis-hypothermia) He was revived at a regimental-aid-station. Then he crossed country without boots to a division evacuation point.

From there, he was transported to Paris, France, then England, from which he was then shipped back to the states. T/SGT Norris received a medical discharge at Dewitt General Hospital, Auburn, California, August, 1945.

Technical Sergeant Norris was awarded the following medals: Combat Infantry Badge, 2 Bronze Stars w/First Oak Leaf Cluster, 2 Purple Hearts, E.A.M.E Campaign w/4 Bronze Stars w/arrowhead, Distinguished Presidential Unit Citation, Distinguished 1st Army Commander Citation Lausdell Crossroad, American Defense Medal and Good Conduct Medal."

I don't think I ever once talked to him about his experiences in WWII. But I know that he carried that with him for his entire life. I can't imagine what he went through at 15 years old. It makes his experiences even more amazing to me. Most men I know now, at 26 and older, aren't half the man he was at 15 years old.

Grandaddy met my grandmother on a blind date 2 days after leaving the service. Its so funny to hear her tell the story. She knew right away that he was the one for her. My great aunt knew of two soldiers who needed dates that night. She asked my grandmother and another girl if they would like to go out with them. My grandmother said sure and as soon as she saw him she turned to her friend and said "That one is mine."

I don't blame her. He was so handsome. This is my favorite picture of them together. They look so young and happy and in love. They were married for 63 years. She was a devoted wife and took care of him every second of their marriage, up until his very last breath.

This is my favorite picture of them.

When I think about his life, I know he lived it the way he thought was right. He was dedicated to God and was a strong Christian and a leader in the church. He worked hard and provided for his family. Grandaddy always tried his best to set an example for us. He was so incredibly hardworking, generous, thoughtful, strong, disciplined and humble. He was every good thing you could say about a person.

I was surprised at how many people said that he touched their lives through the years. So many came to pay their respects to him at the visitation and the funeral. After his funeral I heard someone say that he made her want to be a better person and live a better life. Hearing that was so powerful to me.

The preacher who officiated the funeral had only known my grandfather a year or so. In that time they had really hit it off and become very close. The preacher told a story at the grave site that really stuck with me. He said after church services one day he stopped my grandfather as he was leaving and asked if he could talk with him for a minute. My grandfather, always concerned and wanting to help, said "Of course, whatever you need." They stepped aside and the preacher told my grandfather how much he looked up to him as a person and said that he wished that he could be just like him.

My grandfather was a role model and someone to be admired. The way he lived inspired people. My whole life I don't think I understood the magnitude of him as a person and the affect he had on the world. I didn't realize any of this until I saw it in those people's faces. To me, he was always my just my Grandaddy. He was and is my hero.

365 Project: Day 36

** I'm back in town and I'm updating the last week of my 365 project as quickly as I can. I have a lot of work to catch up on. **

I feel like I haven't been home for more than a few days all month. Which, if I were traveling somewhere far away, exotic and new, that wouldn't be a problem. But I'm not. I'm going to Texas...again. Don't get me wrong, I love it there. But this time I'm going to bury my grandfather.

He passed away at home with his family on November 19th. I went to see him a couple of weeks before then and was able to say goodbye. He wasn't well, and even though he was doing much better by the time we left, I knew it was the last time I would see him.

What do you say to someone when you know its your last chance to say anything? You say only what is most important. I leaned down and hugged him while he was laying in bed and I told him I was so glad that I got to see him and how much I love him. He held onto my hand tightly for a long time. He looked at me very closely and I think we both knew we weren't saying goodbye for just a little while. We both knew it was the last time we'd see each other and we were both saying goodbye forever.

Now I'm leaving for his funeral. I can't imagine walking into their house and him not being there to greet me. I miss him terribly already.