My Bompa

My grandfather, Bompa, passed away on Sunday evening. I got the news while we were celebrating Christmas with Kody's family. We have known it was coming for a few weeks, although that never makes it easier. It has been five years since my grandma, Nanny, passed away as well. Nan and Bomp (sounds like Bump!), lived in Fort Myers, Florida where I was born. I lived there with them for the first three months of my life. I don't remember it, but I'm sure it was a lot of fun! Fort Myers has always been one of my favorite places to visit. It is beautiful and almost all of my dad's family is in the area. We would go there every three or four years for Christmas and during the summers other years. Every Christmas Bomp would be "Santa" every night leading up to the big day. All of the grand kids would sit in front of his chair and one by one we would sit on his lap and we would get the gift for that night. It is such a great memory.

Nan and Bomp were the biggest fans of Christmas. Their house was always the best looking house on the block during Christmas. Santa and all the reindeer were on top of the roof and there was always a six foot Santa just inside the front door that waved at us as we walked through the door. So many of my favorite memories from growing up happened in their home and with both of them. I would always ride in the golf cart with Bomp while him and my dad played a few holes of golf. He always pointed out the gators to me in the lake around the golf course. One day there was a baby gator crawling onto the fairway....so neat!

Bomp was a Navy pilot and one of the biggest Gator fans you will ever meet. Every game day my dad would be on the phone with him as both of them talked about how horrible the Gators were playing. They were never satisfied! :) I guess I get that from both of them. I am going to miss Bompa so much. He was so special to me and always will be, however, I know he is in a better place now and isn't in pain anymore. My mom said she thought the first thing Nan and Bomp would do together in Heaven was play golf, but then she changed her mind. She said she thinks Nan is out Christmas shopping and Bomp is trying to figure out how he is going to pay for everything! They'll probably head out for eighteen holes after everything is under the tree. :) I love you Bompa!

Angela took this adorable picture of Bailey when she was visiting this weekend. It makes me smile!