I write this post with a heavy heart. I haven’t been able to post anything in a while because I suffered a major loss; On March 28, 2010 I lost my grandfather.
To all who know me and about me, they know that my Papa (as he was lovingly called) is more than my grandfather. He is my best friend, my biggest fan, and the model of everything that I ever aspired to be.
He also was one of the biggest supporters of all of my sports endeavors. Not only did he believe that I could someday become a professional golfer (I will still work on that one for you Papa) he supported every other sport I tried along the way. We would always spend at least half of the time that we spent together talking about either The Red Sox or The Pats or sometimes even the Bruins (even though he never shared my fanatic feelings toward the team). He always made sure I never forgot about the history of our local teams or of the great athletes that led the way for the athletes of today.
The one thing that he loved talking to me about more than anything was golf. Whether it was “Did you see that shot Tiger made?!” or “Did you see that hole?! How can someone play that hole and break par?!” It was always an amazing conversation that normally ended in “Stephen someday you will be playing that hole or making that shot”.
The one event that Papa always loved talking about was the Ryder Cup; that tournament was everything that Papa believed in: Twelve men representing their country and showing the world that the best golfers in the world play for the USA. I will never forget 1999 watching the great American comeback capped by the Justin Leonard Putt that sealed The Country Club’s place in history. Papa watched the putt and said before it was halfway there that it was in… I looked at him and he gave me his trademark smirk and just as I turned back there it was in the bottom of the cup. Papa actually went nuts… I had never saw him so happy about an event on TV he ran into my Nanny’s room and said “Did you see that!!!! That is what dreams are made of.”
My Papa may be gone from this world and I may be hurting worse than I ever have but I know he is still with me. He will be with me every time I go to tee off on the first tee and I pull my driver on a “non-drivable” hole. I’ll hear his voice say “Put the driver away… try to use your brain for once”, and I’ll hear him every time I go to take a stupid risk, “Stephen just play conservatively, you will get your chance in time”.
Yeah it’s true I don’t get to see him smile and I don’t get to hear him respond but he will be there… More importantly I have yet another goal in life now, if I can find some way to be half the Husband, Father, Grandfather, Best Friend, and just generally great person that my Papa was during his 82 years then I truly will have accomplished something.
Goodbye my friend, I will carry your legacy with me forever and I will strive to make you proud.
R.I.P. Edward “Papa” Harris May 31, 1927 – March 28, 2010
Edward "Papa" Harris
Great post Steve! He’s smiling down on you! 🙂
Steve, I’m so sorry for your loss. This is a beautiful post. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. <3 Kerri J.