Heaven became an even better place today

There are many reasons for families to gather. There are holidays, weddings, birthdays and reunions. And there are also funerals.

The Swartz clan recently got together to bury a great man … our Pappy.

When I look around at my family, it’s easy to tell I belong. When family members look and act alike, they call it “passing down traits.” When I think of Pappy Garold, I remember how strong he was. He was a farmer in central Pennsylvania for as long as any of us can remember. He grew corn, fruit trees … raised cows and maintained a campground. All that dusk-til- dawn hard work made him as strong as an ox.

His strength was never more apparent than when he gave you a big hug. He hugged like a bear. Whenever I’d first walk into his house, he be there at the door waiting. He’s draw me in with his enormous hands, and wrap both arms around me. Then he’d give me a scruffy, day-old-beard kiss on the cheek.

It’s easy to tell we’re a family. Those are the exact same hugs I get from my grandpa Kenny, Gerald’s son. It’s so great to see this family trait passed on. I know my father will give the same hug to my sons, and I can’t wait until the day that I finally get to pass on this wonderful family trait to my grandsons.

This post in memory of Garold “Pappy” Swartz, July 6, 1915 - Sept. 25, 2006.

--- Archived Comments ---

1. Randy

   Sep 30th, 2006 at 10:52 pm

   John,

   So sorry to hear about your loss. These are the things that make us think a whole lot about life. If you need anything, don’t sweat to ask…

   Randy

2. Stacy

   Oct 1st, 2006 at 12:15 pm

   oh John, Im sorry to hear about your loss. But your story about him is marvelous. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

   Love you!
   Stacy

3. Julianne

   Oct 2nd, 2006 at 4:41 pm

   hey John, I wish I would have read this sooner. I hardly check bulletins, but I am glad I clicked long enough to find this one. I want you to know that this entry is beautiful and heartfelt. I know he is proud of you and ya know what?? you already do give those hugs. (thanks)

Put it in the space, please

So, I’ve gotten a new neighbor recently, and it seems as if she and her friends never learned how to park. I swear, I’ve never before seen one group of poeple lack the ability to confine their vehicles to the space alloted between two painted white lines. After about the 10th time I had to park further away from my apartment door than I should, I was forced to become THAT guy. I never wanted to be THAT guy, but now I’m that angry neighbor guy who complains about dumb shit. But this is ridiculous. Last night, as one of my neighbor’s friend’s cars was a good two feet over the parking-space line, and I was forced to leave the following note on the windshield.

— START —
Would you, and your friend who drives the Cadillac, please try to park within the confines of a single spot in the future. This taking up two spaces nonsense is already getting quite old.

Thank you,
A neighbor
— END —

We’ll see if it works, or if there is some witty, written retaliation left on my door in the morning.

There are two way people would react to such a note. One way would be to inwardly say, “Wow, I’ve been aggravating people with something as simple to correct as the way I park. I don’t want people to think I’m an ass or a dummy. I’d better park correctly in the future.” Or, they could think, “Wow, what a dick. So I parked over the line. Who cares? I’ll park any way I want, because, damn it, I can.”

In this case, however, I’m afraid I might get the latter reaction. Someone who would react sensibly, as in the first example, would most likely be able to park in the first place … or would at least make the attempt to park correctly, oh, 80 percent of the time. I tell you, with this set of people (and I’ve not met any of them; I only know my actual neighbor is female), the correct parking percentage is somewhere near 20 percent. It’s quite pathetic, actually.