I was recently going through some of my dad's stuff. I found a folder that Gabe had made for his papaw as a birthday gift. It had many different stories and pictures in it. There was one story that certainly caught my attention. These were Gabe's words written in the fourth grade.

I asked my momma one day what happens to people when they die. She said "angels come and take you to heaven." I told my mom that I did not want anyone but my papaw to take me to heaven.

Of course for those that might not know, my dad, Gabe's papaw, died just eleven weeks before Gabe did. Sounds like Gabe got his wish.

Of course Gabe and his papaw were close from the very beginning. Because of my dad's work, he was unable to come to the hospital when Gabe was born. At the time, Judy, the kids and I were living with my mom and dad. When we came home from the hospital, dad rushed out the door to get the baby. The two of them had a special bond from that day on. Dad loved holding him and spending as much time as possible with him. Dad has always been known for creating special names for everyone in the family. His special name for Gabe soon became "Bitney's." Don't ask me what the name means or why my dad came up with it, but it stuck. There will be many more Papaw and Bitney's stories, but for now I am glad the two of them are together.