Today, I have to buy a plane ticket to go home to Texas. Normally, it would be a celebrated event because ever since I left for the Army 7 years ago I never ever really get to go home. I do have to go home though very soon and spend some time with my grandfather that is dying of cancer.
My grandfather is one of my biggest heroes. He has been deemed that ever since my grade school teacher Mrs. Moore made us write a story about our heroes in the third grade.
This chokes me up even writing about it.
I really dont know what to expect when I get home. I do know that we will go fishing because well thats what you do with Grandpa. We jump in his boat and we jet off to some far and obscure corner of the lake in hopes of catching a bass so big that it would make any avid fisherman giggle like a schoolgirl. We will probably at some point discuss his garden and when all the younger kids are out of ear-shot he will probably tell me a few war stories because lately hes been telling those. He doesnt tell those to all of the grandkids, but he tells me. Maybe its because we were both soldiers or maybe he has a reason ill never know. He'll tell me though and i'll understand more and more why he has all of those purple hearts and other medals he keeps stashed away. Like every soldier I know he will never ever tell you he is a hero.
Hes is though.
Today, I bought a plane ticket for 290.39 dollars.
And thats a small price to pay to go fishing with a hero.
© girlpunch 2004
