Papa

For the past 30 years I've had the privilege of working with Papa. He and I have accomplished some fairly impressive tasks. We laid a half-mile of six inch pipe line and installed a complete irrigation system in Oak Glen, California. We also installed several 10 to 40 thousand gallon water tanks as part of the system. We built a barn for Papa and a workshop for me and cut many cords of apple wood. Then in 1989 we moved from California to Maine. Every year since Papa and I have cut and split at least 8 cords of wood, that would be a total of 160 cords which would be a stack 4 feet high 4 feet wide and about 1000 feet long. Papa helped me this year, we just cut, split and stacked two big beech trees and one huge maple tree. We have also with the help of Paul, Barry, and John cleared a garden spot and built a barn from wood cleared from the garden and sawed on-site. Papa has tended the garden each year and hauled innumerable loads of seaweed from the shore to the garden. He has helped can a multitude of jars of peaches and applesauce and tomato sauce. When we remodeled our house including the removal of a large chimney and two fireplaces, Papa cleaned every brick. Papa has always been up for a trip or a new adventure. He was up on a slalom water ski on his 80th birthday. He loves to read and loves a good joke even when it is on him. When I needed help he was always there usually before I asked.
Two winters ago our neighbor called asking for help to get her husband up off the floor where he had fallen. Papa (though he was older than the man who fell) went to help, on the way slipped and fell on the ice; despite his fall he went ahead and helped the neighbor up. He never said a word about his fall. The next day I noticed he wasn't as agile as usual and on examining him found 3 fractured ribs. He never uttered a word of complaint though he was in obvious discomfort. In fact I've never heard Papa complain about anything or anyone, ever. Perhaps the greatest gift Papa has given me though is his daughter; as a wife, she has his same unfailing cheerfulness and sense of adventure. Papa is 90 now and won't be with us forever but I thank God for him and his daughter every day.