There is a great generation that is existing here in our lifetime. A generation that was very hard working and knew what it meant to earn life and love and reward. A generation that was loyal and daring--a generation where romance was still priority and love was fought, so strongly, for. That great generation is unfortunately, dying out...while new generations are coming in, with all of those values....it seems...lost.

I want to share something about a man named Bob. That sounds funny to me b.c I do not know him as BOB. He is "Papa Bob." Actually, most everyone that met him knew him as that. Papa Bob is that stock market kinda guy and knows everyone. Seeming so high class, but is so completely down to earth. PB has been so amazing to so many people that have come in contact with him. EVERY one that met him fell for him. A gem--a jewel--a survivor--a sweet man. He so easily touched my life as he has tons of others. I know that every time we have seen each other he was always been so interested in me, my career, and offering some sort of encouragement and advice. He was so kind to me at points where I was really having a hard time and always reminded me of who I am and what I have to offer. He always saw something in me that I feel, we all want people to see in us. He ended a lot of his sentences when he got in those advice talks with,"ok?" Always caring....always just lovely and charming, wanting to know you understand just what he means. A true gentleman and really, the youngest 81 year old ever!

I met PB through my dear friend, who was actually my high school chorus teacher, Kristen. (yes we became friends, yes I love her family and hang out with them.) PB somehow came into her family's life (husband and 4 children) years ago and just stayed. I guess you could sorta call him an adopted grandfather. :) PB was with them a lot. I believe that is what kept him so young and healthy-- 4 crrrazy kids jumping on him and playing with him. PB has loved that!!! He's been a man that just makes you smile. I smile when I think of how he had to get USE to being around those kids without using four letter words...so funny!! That was something he was just use to...anyway. Papa Bob. He has been part of a generation that has instilled those stong American values that keep getting overlooked.

Kristen contacted me a week ago saying that PB was not doing well and to pray for them. I immediately thought that there was no way he wasn't going to be ok, b.c Papa Bob has been one of those people that you never think about being gone. 81 yes....but so young, so free and so happy. I went to the hospital with her that afternoon to see him. His blood pressure up...finally! but his heart rate still irregular. He was hooked up to a few machines and completely asleep. One day, he was swimming at the YMCA and the next having to go into the hospital for a Quadruple BiPass. He had gotten pneumonia after surgery and then ended up with Dimmensia. He was out the majority of being in the hospital.

Yesterday....they were going to finally take him off the ventilator and leave it up to the Lord. I went up immediately, fearing he would be gone before I got there. I arrived at about 5:45. What a great time. We sang a little bit for him and joked with him. I held his hand for almost the 3 and a half hours i was there. Unfortunately, still not conscience. I just really would have loved to hear him speak again. I stood there and couldn't help but wonder what he would say if he could speak. Then, I couldn't help but wonder what he was dreaming about....and I prayed that he could really hear us as we spoke to him. We just talked and talked about how we couldn't imagine what he was about to see....and how we would see him again soon--that the angel's were all ready rejoicing for him and awaiting him to come home. God is so powerful you guys. He just is. Being there with a sweet dying old man and just waiting....it made me think of how real God is and how real Heaven is and his promise he has made for all of us.

PB---He's was such a real smart guy...VERY intelligent. He fought in the war and met his wife who was a nurse in the Philippines. It was such a fairy tale type meeting. He saw her at some sort of military gathering and told the guy next to him as he pointed to her across the room, "you see that girl? I'm going to marry her." The gentleman he was speaking to said,"what??? She's here with me, you know!" and Papa Bob's response was, "well you just might as well go ahead and move out of the way." His wife passed on years ago and he will be buried right next to her. That story I learned last night as those in the room couldn't help but talk of how great PB was and and how vibrant he's been.....I was holding his hand as Kristen just talked to him and rubbed her hands through his hair. This whole time his heartrate was all over the place and his breathing very slow. Kristen had said that the whole time he had been asleep he had not had a frown or movement at his brow and as it got down to the 20's...his brow started to move...almost as if he was seeing something and had questions. Just minutes later I noticed his hands felt cool and the machine showed his heart had stopped....he was gone. Papa Bob...seeing the Lord...that just...got me. I then just watched his heart beat in his neck as it was slowly finishing...and then stopped.

I have never experienced that. I have never been in a room with someone dying....and here I was holding this great man's hand. I felt unworthy of that. To witness The Lord take a soul...it was an honor...yet something I will not forget and I know will leave some type of effect within me. My only regret with Papa Bob is that I barely saw him as much as I would have liked. He was someone that even though we didn't see each other a lot, we had friendship...I am thankful for the fact of him being my (along with everyone else's)... biggest fan. He was genuine and that's something admirable, in itself.

Here's to Papa Bob and a generation that may not be here for much longer, but will always be remembered for the honor, strength and courage they held and have atleast tried to leave behind.