Remembering Ed

Jonathan, Anna and Poppa Ed, Summer 2007.
This was when Ed laid some cement with one of his grandsons, in the middle of the day in the middle of the summer. In Florida. We gave him this washcloth to try and cool him down, and Jonathan and Anna thought it was funny.
Anna was a princess as a baby. Her feet almost never touched the ground. Ed carried her around a lot. I am glad she was always so light and dainty. 2006.
Ed was always learning. He learned to quilt. 2006
2006, Anna and Poppa.
Anna and Poppa Ed, Fall 2006
Trystan and Poppa Ed, 2005
Jonathan taking a nap with Poppa, Easter 2004
Justine and Poppa Ed, Christmas 2003
Ed holding Jonathan in the hospital, October 2003
Ed, , me and my Mom at my college graduation, May 2003. I was pregnant with Jonathan.
Justine and Poppa Ed 2002.

Last year, on this date, February 28th, my stepdad Ed and my kids' beloved Poppa left this world and went to heaven. I always see those stickers that say Rest in Peace... and I think that is definitely not what Ed is doing in heaven. He always wanted to be busy and useful. He was one of those people that squeezed every last bit out of his life. I think a lot of us leave the world with so much left that we could have done, but when Ed finally let go and went to Jesus, every last bit of what he had to give, he had given. Like a tube of toothpaste, entirely emptied out, not a drop wasted. Ed wasn't just a stepdad to me. You know that country song, that goes, I hope I'm at least half the dad, that he didn't have to be? That's how it was with Ed. He didn't have to be such a strong presence in Jonathan and Anna's lives. He didn't have to be so caring. He didn't have to be so accepting and loving of me and my kids. But he was. And when he left this world, he left a huge hole in our lives, because he had filled up such a big space while he was here. I miss him all the time, and I know my kids still do, because they still talk about him. Anna told me the other day that she was sad that we could never see Poppa, but that she was happy that he was in heaven, and that she knew he was "doing lots of work up there." She told me that he was happy because God gave him lots of work to do. She said, "but we can never drive there, because God-World is a million miles away."
I am grateful that we knew Ed for all the years we did. I am grateful to his family, his children and grandchildren, for sharing him with us so graciously. I am grateful that he was at my wedding, my college graduation, the births of Anna and Jonathan. He was always happy to see the kids, even if it was every single day. He was always willing to help take care of the Trystan and Jonathan and Anna when they were babies. He loved feeding them bottles. He taught Jonathan a lot, and made a big impact on him during his formative years. He always expected a lot of him, and it made Jonathan stronger and smarter. He always told Jonathan that it was his job to protect his sister because he was the big brother. He always let Jonathan "help" him work. Jonathan loved to just be around him and watch him. Whenever anything broke, Jonathan told me he wanted to take it to Poppa, because Poppa was "good at fixing stuff." He always took time to take them out on walks, pushing them in their strollers. He always pushed Anna so high in the swings at the park. She always said "Higher!" He would tell her he was going to push her to the moon. I think she got some of her fearlessness from him.
At Ed's funeral, there were three separate eulogies given, one by the pastor, and one from each of his sons. Others shared memories of him also. Yet there was still so much to say... Ed was not someone you could easily sum up. He had a big life, and had many adventures. He overcame so much to become who he was. He was a fighter until the end. I remember him today, not the way he was in his last few weeks, but the way he always was: vibrant and strong, and busy and brave.