Thankful today for my Grandfather’s home movies and the memories of happy days.

Just by chance yesterday, I ran across a one of those videos. Before my grandfather died in 1999, he had taken all the old silent 16mm home movies he had taken of all his grandchildren in the 50’s and 60’s and recorded them onto VHS. You can hear the click, click, click of his huge reel-to-reel projector. Although there was no sound to the original video itself, he narrated the scenes as he recorded.

It warms my heart to hear his voice. In one place he says… “Ain’t she a cute little girl? That’s a sweet little ol’ girl, Patty-Watty (his pet name for me). You ought to see Patty-Watty now”

This video was likely taken at my uncles house on Thanksgiving… Houston, Texas. A warm November day in the south. My brother Howard and I were “fishing” in Uncle William’s pond. The interaction between me and my brother made me smile.

Hidden behind this happy day there are some sad memories. Thankfully there are no recordings of those, only the ones I relive in my mind. Sadly, over the years due to past abuse, alcohol and mental decline, we had very little contact after we left home and virtually none the last 15+ years.

But really, I needed to find this video yesterday. It healed my heart a little. Watching it reminded me that our relationship didn’t start out like things are today.

I got a call last week and this brother is in his last days…this comes just months after my oldest brother left this world.

It’s complicated, but seeing this video and some others has helped me sort out some of my feelings. For that I am very grateful.