Daws Photography

I didn’t think I would ever write this post since I honestly feel that I couldn’t top my last tribute to my Pawpaw, but I woke up today feeling like it was needed. My precious Pawpaw passed away Saturday afternoon after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The pain that we feel is deep, and it hurts, but I do find comfort in knowing that he is reunited with my Granny once again. I’m sure he is watching the Wheel of Fortune as she cooks him up whatever it is he is requesting for dinner, finishing it off with vanilla Blue Bell ice cream. Granny and Pawpaw have been apart for ten long years now and I believe she was waiting for him at Heaven’s gates; receiving a pretty wonderful Mother’s Day gift for herself – she finally has her husband back in her arms; my guardian angels.

Back in November, the nursing home that Pawpaw called home, brought him and a few others out to Larry’s French Market. Now if you remember my previous post, you remember me bragging about how all of those murals in that restaurant were done by my Pawpaw. Stepping into Larry’s with Pawpaw, watching him walk up to the murals to touch and stare at them, was a surreal moment. Before the disease progressed to where he was basically bedridden, my mom would give him a sketch pad when she went to visit and he would draw little things that resembled the pencil art that he did; he could somewhat still sign his name in the same “Don Chance” fashion that he was known for; a never failing artist.

While at Larry’s, Pawpaw didn’t want to sit down. Always known for sitting on the edge of tables, rather than in a chair, he wanted to wander around. He sat at the stage, on the barstools and watched people dance; he even got out there with my mom and cut a rug himself. My Granny and Pawpaw were regulars at Larry’s, so much so that Granny had a jacket hidden behind the front counter for when she got cold while they were out. Larry and Brenda Judice are such great people and were thrilled to see Pawpaw when he came for his last visit. He grinned a bit when Larry came up to talk to him, and enjoyed his fried fish as we sat and visited. I walked around, snapping pictures of the murals on the walls and the prints dedicated to Larry’s; such beautiful artwork. Pawpaw once painted a shrimp boat with my name on the back of it, such a proud granddaughter. I remember sitting in Pawpaw’s art room when he asked if I wanted to help him on the painting he was working on. I painted some rocks that were in a creek bed while an Indian traveled through on horseback. I do believe he won first place at an art show with that painting, I like to think that it was because of my rocks.

My Pawpaw was a wonderful man; he was Elsie’s son; Sylvia’s husband; a providing father; a loyal brother; a grandfather to grandchildren that thought the world of him; a friend to many; an artist in ‘The Groves’; a man that never followed the boat lanes in his pontoon on Toledo Bend Lake; a man that let me drive that pontoon boat to the sandbar every summer; a lover of the outdoors; a man that lived in white v-neck t-shirts and holy jeans; a PNG Indian football follower; a bullshitter; and a smartass until the end. If you knew my Pawpaw, you knew a legend, and I believe you are a better person for having known him.

The following pictures were taken during Pawpaw’s last visit to Larry’s, memories that will be forever cherished.

Rest in peace, Pawpaw; until we meet again.