The Sweetest Man I've Ever Known

I 'borrowed' this picture off of my grandmother's ancestry.com site. I just saw this picture for the first time yesterday and it got me thinking. It got me thinking a lot about my grandpa. I wanted to jot down a few memories that I have of him.



I remember laughing the hardest I ever have in my life when I was a little girl and he would tell me 'he just wants to count my ribs'.



I remember his smell. I remember he always smelled so clean and fresh. I have no idea whether it was his aftershave or cologne or what, but I know that I will never forget it.



I remember that he always carried a comb in his back pocket and he would let me comb what little hair he had left in the back.



I remember that he always wanted me to give him 'sugar'.

I remember studying his wedding ring and feeling like it was too tight. I asked him if he thought he could get it off. He said, "I've never tried, because I haven't needed to."



Mostly, I remember that he was the sweetest man I've ever known.



Jackson was born a month before my grandpa died. I was very happy to have been able to take Jackson to see him before he passed away. It makes me very sad to think that my girls will not have the chance to have their 'ribs counted'. I love my grandpa very much and still feel him with me sometimes.

Billy Burke Ryan, Sr.
June 20, 1925 - August 25, 2004