I also have the good fortune of owning a clear voice and image in my head of all of my grand-folks.

I’ve thought it before, but wanted to put it down this is a treasure.

Grandma Rockwell:  What can I say about Baby?  –>  Generous and warm.  A Mom all the way.  I loved her garden and her food.  In her style she was stubborn. Forever part of my journey, I lived with her for about a year just us.  To be honest, it was chaotic and confusing time for me, and in retrospect I think Baby was a stable and trusted source during an era I had one foot stuck in childhood and another trying to jump to manhood.  When I find myself feeling sorry for myself, my mind leans on her.  Mind never is able to find a single instance when I heard her complain.  Seems to have been a theme with her, and it’s damn admirable given her story(s).

Grandpa Rockwell:  He made his own way.  A family legacy has grown out of his path.  People say “thanks for sharing” way too often, but Dan sure could share a story, thanks. He could also be stubborn.  Dan had real magic in his eyes, I can still see them, and  I can still feel the strong grip he had all his days.  Strong like his faith.  I often reference him when I’m playing Backgammon or Fathering.

Grandpa Withrow:   Funny.  Playful.  Stubborn.  Len’s in my mind every time I pick up an axe to chop wood.  He’s in my mind when I define work ethic.  He was a gamer, had a family of gamers, now I’m a gamer raising more gamers. One epic day we went to a Mariner’s game then a Sonics game together.  He was up for it, he was up for family.  You know that hypothetical–> if you could go to dinner with anyone from all time/history, who would you choose?  With apologies to Abe Lincoln and Gary Payton, I’d choose Len Withrow.

Grandma Withrow:  Joy is still around being stubborn, and being a part of so many lives. Given that, I’ve got great memories of Joy from childhood to now-hood.  She has gotten to see her family grow and grow and is living out being a great grandMother.   A strong family name continues to get stronger. These things represent success to me. In the moments I’ve got to witness my daughter interacting with Joy I’ve felt pure gold satisfaction. Though miles separate us, she’s always around me.  Before anyone ever got credit for being a soccer mom, Joy was out there keeping the team going (and sometimes even the ref’s).  I challenge you to find anyone who’s been a bigger fan of their family team.  Challenge over, I win.  When I think of her it’s strong family and laughter around a table, mostly laughing at each other.  She kept a scorecard at Giants games ya’ll.

Lucky

Wesley Withrow