"To My Best Friend" Lee as I know him...89 yrs old and he just passed away today...3/19 I met him when he was 63
and I married his golden granddaughter...we hit it off from the start....and he was someone I was compelled to hang out with
every day. We worked together most of the time and managed to wet a hook now and then...today as he was leaving us..it
occurred to me that this boat was a culmination of the skills I learned and practiced while earning a living beside this old
man.He always had confidence in my abilities and would take on any carpentry job or some kind of fix. We did it all. Mostly...we
worked on residential water wells. He was actually still doing this up to a few weeks ago.
Well,old buddy...I wish I could have finished this boat in time...I was hoping to pull in your yard with it painted
all pretty...with a brush, just like you swore by. I remember how your face lit up when I bought that antique Baker Bristle
paint brush and handed it to you. I know you still have it all straight and combed in a good place. Best $5. I ever
spent.
Ok buddy,This is so long for now and i'll see you again someday....of all said and all of the stuff i left out....
You know,right? I know you do.... and I know too
You just had to know him
Your Best Buddy,
Paul
10/15/05
I was just over to his house to pick up my son who was visiting with the great grandmother and she kindly let me
retrieve the brush from the work shed. :)
5/23/06
Well, it's on this day I get to say solong to Mrs Whillock. She took such good care of me all these years, even though
I was an outsider and included by marriage. Always made sure I ate and always a kind word. At one point,after her granddaughter
and I had divorced,she thanked me for taking care of her and that she never worried about her when she was with me.Even
after that,she still treated me as always as part of the family.
Now that we become them and our children become us,I can only hope to be as monumental as they were to me and mine. Of
all these 24 years with these wonderful people in my life,never a fight,argument or instance of dysfunction. Just clean living
and good loving of what a real family should be. I really miss you two. Things just arent the same around here without you.
On her last hours here,she was reaching out. She could see her husband of 60 years and was trying to touch him. I am
relieved that in her passing,she found him and gave her a happy place to go. We can only hope when it comes our time,that
we have such a beautiful place to be. Solong Nanny,you both have been a God send to me and my boys. I will never forget you.
