Still Young and Strong

My oldest memory of a man of my family was my Great-grandfather Baker. He was an immigrant from Germany. He was a hard working man. He stood strong with his family and watched the years bring children and grand children and great grand children to him.

I can only remember him in foggy snapshots of time. I was too young to understand why he could no longer speak. I would sit with Grandma Baker as she fed him soft food and watch him as he slowly chewed. He would smile with his eyes as I asked my grandma why he didn’t swallow. His old chair held him tall and thin. I remember the chirping of the wood as it rubbed against itself.

He was old… my grandfather aging and strong… my father seemed young and strong and I was still young.

My grandfather Killman was a hard working man. He raised his family and after a tragic accident, he raised his brother’s children as his own. I remember his laughter and also his stern words that confused me as a boy. He kept us guessing. He didn’t hold us tight like my grandmother did… but he told us he loved us and we knew.

Time was slow against him. I watched him grow thin. His face was smooth but time took his strength. At one time I had to reach up to hug his neck. In his last of years I would stand with him and hold him to my chest. He would tell me that he was old and he knew his time was coming.

My grandfather was old… my father aging and strong… I was young and strong and my children were still young.

My father has always been a man of men. He had the chest of a bull and the strength of two. I knew to always be on the ready… Dad would clamp his hand over my knee and make me squeal in laughter and pain. His hands were strong… his voice was strong. His opinions were strong. And when I look to the mirror, I see his face. Time is pulling on him now and we only talk about it in short conversation. He speaks of God and he speaks of forgiveness. He directs in the ways of love and patience…

My father seems old to me now… I am aging and strong… my children are still young and strong… and it continues…

                                                          Shannon R Killman