Celestial Grin

I’ve never met someone who could say so much without ever speaking a word Surrounded by six females he never really stood a chance We would talk, laugh, interrupt each other; he remained silent, and if we looked in his direction, we would get a flash of a grin. A grin we all would recognize and expect; a grin we now must learn to live without. One thing that I find comfort in, is imagining Debbie waiting for Steve as he entered those pearly gates just as she would wait for him to get home from work every night. Finally, Steve is home from work, and they can sit together once again; whether they are watching the latest game or arguing about what is for dinner, they are finally reunited. Regardless, of anyone’s religious beliefs, we can all find solace in knowing they are once again together. I see them walking the streets of heaven, no more pain, listening to Tupelo Honey and Dancing the Night Away on repeat without skipping a beat. That is my idea of heaven; being reunited with those we have lost and spending eternity making up for lost time. It has been three years since we lost Debbie, and Steve has braved this world without her since then. Being a father to my mother her entire life, never treating her as if she didn’t belong; because in her eyes Steve was and will always be her dad. He continued supporting Jenn all the way through getting her PHD (all while praying she will finally decide to be done with college). Steve continued to extend his support to Ali; making sure she knew that love and support would always be given, no matter what. The last thing I said to Steve was the morning that he passed; I stood by his bedside, and promised him we would all be okay, and that we would take care of each other. While we may be few in number, we are plenty in personality and strength. He could finally rest, knowing each of his children would be taken care of; they had each other and would continue to lean on one another throughout their lives. So, as we all continue with our lives, we do so by knowing Debbie and Steve are together. They are watching over all of us; hoping we make the right choices (and shaking their heads when we sometimes don’t). I can see them now…looking down on us all, Debbie strongly encouraging us the correct way to do things, and Steve just sitting there grinning ear to ear.