My Grandfather

As I was sitting around with my family the week that my uncle passed away, I caught myself just listening to them tell stories about other family members, past/present. One of those stories involved my Grandfather (my mom's dad). My grandfather passed away just over a year before I was born, so I never got a chance to meet him. I had heard really good things about him, but as I told Leslie no one really told me many stories about him. Some have said that I look just like him (we have the same nose), and it kind of makes me proud to hear that (One lady told me I looked like him the day my uncle passed). I've always wanted to meet him, and I know that someday I will. The story I overheard a couple of weeks ago made me look forward to meeting him even more.

My Grandfather's name was Durrell and he loved to play baseball and did even as an adult. This story is as my Great Uncle told it (sort of):

Durrell was playing ball one day and he hit a ball to the outfield and the outfielder tried to throw him out at first (Apparently my Grandfather was really slow-another way I favor him). Durrell beat the throw by two or three steps and it was obvious. Well, an umpire wearing overalls looked at him and said "You're out!", as he clutched his overalls with both hands. Durrell ran up to him and said "What do you mean, 'I'm out?'". The umpire proceeded to pull a switch blade out of his pocket. I asked Durrell, "Well, what did you do?" to which he replied, "Nothing!... Hell, I was out!"

That story made me laugh really hard. Grandaddy, I can't wait to meet you.