Memory Monday...

It's time for Memory Monday, and the subject for this week is to talk about the most influential person in our life.  Join the fun in this new Meme, hosted by Retired Not Tired.

I have been thinking about this one all week. It's really a hard one, because I have been blessed with so many wonderful people in my life who have influenced me. How can you not honor your parents as having the most influence in your life?  My dad's sense of humor and his love for his family.  My mom's great faith, and love for her family. I have also been influenced by my dear husband over the last 30 years. Grandparents put their stamps on my life, my brother and my sisters have influenced me. My teachers, my bosses, my co-workers, my friends, my blogging friends.  How can you care about someone and not be influenced by them?  See my dilemma?

So, to pick one, I decided to write about my step-grandfather, Robert M. James.  He and my grandma were married when my mom was a pre-teen, so he was always in my life.  He was a carpenter, an electrician, a plumber, and could fix any appliance or motor.  He bronzed baby shoes (lots of bronzed shoes around our house, when I was growing up).  But he was a master craftsman and built beautiful furniture.  He was also in the Lion's Club, and was a Christian and attended church regularly.  He ALWAYS bought his 'girls' a corsage for Easter Sunday.  I so looked forward to getting my flower to wear to church!!  On Christmas mornings, he and my grandma would rush over in time for the paper to fly (they just lived across the street), and he would stamp his feet on the porch and yell "Ho Ho Ho" as they came in. He did it every year.

I LOVED working with him in his basement shop.  He let me make furniture for my Barbie, with wood scraps and all the nails I needed.

He had this picture of me in his wallet, when he died. I was so touched when Grandma gave it to me.

This is him, in later years, from a church directory photo.

Papaw James died of a heart attack, one morning.  He got out of bed early, because he was going to help the pastor of our church, at his tree farm, do some work in the house there.  Grandma said she was getting up, putting her robe on, and heard him say something, then heard him fall to the floor. He was gone before she got to the kitchen.

I was working at Nationwide Insurance, in Columbus, Ohio, when he died.  My mom called me at work, to tell me he was gone.  It was such a shock.  Totally unexpected.   He didn't suffer, but it really hurts to not be able to say good-bye, and I love you, one more time.  Hearing those feet on the porch, and that Ho Ho Ho was really missed the next Christmas (and every Christmas).

He was a gentle, patient man who I would have loved to have more time with as an adult. I was barely 21 when he died.  I honor him in this Memory Monday post, as (one of) the most influential people in my life.

Thanks for stopping by!! I wish you a good Monday and week ahead!! Peace & blessings!