 | keelyreeves Dec 18 | There haven't been a lot of men who have positively impacted my life. There has been one, though. My grandpa, Dean Reeves. Grandpa was an incredible man. He wasn't perfect, and he freely spoke about how he was a mean drunk. He decided to change, and he fought to do that. He was honest about not being a perfect man and about the mistakes he made. Some might think he shouldn't have been so honest, but he was. He impacted me greatly. I could talk to him about anything, whether it was about my writing or art. Grandpa always made time for his grandkids. He took us fishing. He'd take us around the pond as he took photographs. He'd let us help out in the kitchen whether he was making his famous fried fish or yellow cake with chocolate frosting. He inspired me to take up photography. He took the time to show me how to use this simple digital point-and-shoot camera. We fed squirrels and raccoons. He'd put out bird feeders, and hundreds of hummingbirds would come. He taught us to not be afraid of bumblebees as they landed on us. He taught us to be curious and to ask questions. He encouraged us to learn. When Tristan and I lived with our grandparents in Arkansas for a bit when we were younger, it was Grandpa who sat with us and helped us with our homework. He used to tell us every time we went to take out the trash to be careful of the werewolf that lived in the shed. Of course, there was no werewolf in the shed, but it was him. He was always joking around like that. Water fights. Playing in the mud. Grandpa was fun. That werewolf in the shed story inspired a novel that I want to write called What Lurks in the Woods. Towards the end of his life, it was hard to see him. He didn't always remember who we were. It was difficult to see the man he used to be. He's been gone since August 9th, 2017. I still miss him every day. He didn't get to see me graduate with two bachelors. He won't meet his great-grandchildren. Even though I know he'd teach them all the things that he taught us. But I know, wherever he is, he'd be proud of all of us. That he's looking down at us and looking out for us. In one of my classes, I made this video about him. I thought I'd share. Daily writing prompt Describe a man who has positively impacted your life. | | | |  | You can also reply to this email to leave a comment. | | | | |
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