December 10th, 1926. It is a day in which I celebrate both proudly and somberly. It is a day in which I selfishly feel that if we pick and choose heroes to celebrate and commemorate on the calendar throughout the year, this is a day in which I feel all calendars should be marked. It is on this day that the good Lord above enriched the world and all of those who came in touch with him; it is my grandfathers birthday. My life has been made better by so many people that have affected it. Other than my mother, I cannot think of anybody that has meant more to me than my grandpa, Louis Barone. The lessons he taught me, and continues to teach me 8 years after after his death, are innumerable and far too great to recall them all. Some of those lessons, however, are as follows: life owes you nothing, but you owe life everything; live it to its fullest: Be honest. Treat everybody with care and respect, and love those close to you immensely. Your family is your everything; you only get one of them. Love them before everything else. Stand behind and beside them at all costs. You will not always come out on top, but give it your all...every time...whether people are watching or not. Be faithful: to God, to your family, to your country, to yourself. Be thankful in everything you have. It may not be best. It may not the newest. It may not be the latest and greatest, but its what you have. Love it. Adore it. Take care of it. He was a leader of men. He fought for our great country in several different wars in multiple branches of the military across the globe. Our country was so important to him up until his last breathing days. . He was a proud Democrat that served his community. I can only imagine how angry and disgusted he would be at the current state of affairs, both politically and militarily. He would be as he always was: outspoken, yet respectful. He would not sit on the sideline quietly, but offer his well thought out solutions, that would most certainly be a compromise among both parties. He was certainly the leader of my family. There is not a single family get together in which memories and stories are not shared. He was unquestionably the patriarch of my family, and was looked up to by all. As much as he was a leader of men, he was also a leader of women; primarily to my grandmother and to his 3 daughters: my mother, Betsy Congodn and my 2 aunts, Jeanie McLennan and Susan Gibson. He raised them with all of the same virtues I listed above, as well as instilling in them all a great sense of self-worth, unconditional love, and taught them what is needed to raise awesome families. My childhood is so rich with so many memories of him. I cannot think of one ballgame, school or church function, or awards ceremony in which he was not only present, but had the front row seat. It wasnt because I wanted him there, though I certainly did. It wasnt because he felt obligated or that he needed to be there. He was there because he loved me so much, he knew it was important to me, and in turn it was important to him. Win or lose, whether I nailed all my lines in the play or completely flubbed them, he was the first one at its conclusion to wrap his arms around me and tell me how proud he was. Games in which I fell short he was there with words of encouragement and inspired me to work harder; to get back at it tomorrow, and be thankful and grateful for the opportunity to compete. I remember how he and my grandmother would just show up, unannounced, in the evening for a visit with my parents and myself. Nothing grand; wed just sit there and chat. And laugh. Man was he funny, and what a boisterous and uplifting laugh he had. I literally called him every night, even if it was to tell him I had no news. No news is good news, pal, hed say. But more times than not our conversations were great. Wed talk sports. Wed talk about our family. Wed talk about the news of the day, or what my great friends were up to. If it was important to me, it was important to him. I would do anything in this great world of ours to have just one visit with him; one more conversation with him. I would want nothing more than to reach out to him for his advice, or for his opinion. Id do anything to hear him say, Hey pal! just one more time. It didnt really matter how he was doing, but when asked, he would always respond, Outstanding! Outstanding, you were, Grandpa! There are so many upcoming events in life that I wish he could attend, though I know hes there in spirit with a great aerial view. Every once in a while, though never often enough, Im blessed to dream about him while I sleep. Its always the same dream: just me and him on a park bench talking and catching up like long lost buddies. We just sit and talk...just like I wish more than anything I could do. I know on this day Heaven is throwing him one heck of a party, as I know hes been one heck of an addition. I know he has everybody laughing and on the edge of their seat as to what he comes up with next. I can honestly say that not a day goes by without me thinking of him. Heck, I bet not an hour goes by without a thought of him. I tell him everyday how much I love him. I tell him everyday how thankful and grateful I am for what he brought and continues to bring to my life. I tell him everyday how badly I miss him and wish he was here. But on this day, I wish him the happiest of birthdays. Happy birthday to one of the most outstanding men to ever walk this land. All who knew him were better for it and thankful for their encounters. I am better and thankful for having the opportunity to call him my grandfather. I love you, Grandpa. I miss you, Grandpa, Happy birthday, Grandpa. Until we meet again, I thank you, Grandpa.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 05:20:53 +0000
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