My Best Friend, My Granddad & Most of all My Father!!!!
I stand before you today to speak briefly about a Man that meant the world to me and had a
major influence on my life. A journey that began over 22 years ago started by my grandmother
who approached him and said "I want to bring Kevin into our home and raise him". From that
point on I guess because of how adorable I was, he couldn't say no and we began to form a bond
like no other. This was a bond that no one could tear apart. Pop always had a nick name for me
whether knuckle head or old man... Old man pretty much stuck with me even though I always
thought of the fact that he was quadruple my age. As I grew older and as Pop would say he was
growing younger, he became the Father in my life that I enjoyed every day we would spend
together. We would play outside and he would pull me around in my little red wagon and would
always say this is the last time around as he would continue to go round and round.
Pop was a man of order and a stickler for the rules, if u broke them u would pay but that made
me respect him even more... U know in most households u would go to your mom to get what u
wanted but in mine Pop was the go to guy... if i asked 99% of the time even if grandma said no..
he would say yes.... well hey that just made our bond even stronger...and for some folks they became jealous because they said that Mom & Pop would let me get away with murder.
Pop was always there for me whether it was for discipline which I got rarely, teaching me how to ride my bike which we both failed multiple times....times that I thought of him as my boss and I was his lil helper because I would go with him to work...teaching me how to cut grass which he said i was the best at...I did better than my dad and especially better than grandma since she considered the cement block for the gutter to be a part of the yard that needed cutting...
Those were the days of my life that I enjoyed most and have the best memories of..As time went on I said I wanted to live life like POP.....But the thing about it was that he didn't tell me how to live..he lived and let me watch him do it..He would always give me great advice..he was my right hand man.. most of the time where ever he went i wasn't to far behind!!! I would always share my experiences with Pop and he would always say "Old man" keep of the good work or just keep working hard... Regardless of the situation, what I may have done, or how i may of acted he always had encouraging words for me...and each and every day I would say to myself where would I be if however many years ago he said no and didn't take me into his home... because it wasn't something that he had to agree to...
Fast forward time to the last year, it has been a rough road... Pop began to have some major medical issues which cause him to be in and out of the hospital and rehab... but as he did for me..I promised that I would do for him!! Each and every day regardless of what I had to do.....Because I knew deep down inside that he had done his part and now it was time for me to do mine... I would go and sit with him at the hospital and/or at rehab... we would enjoy each other's company.. we would fuss and argue because he was always not doing what he was suppose to do...even when he came home I stayed there with him all day everyday while mom was at work and of course we still fussed and argued. until she got there then it was him and her.. he said that I was his nurse but god help him if he really needed help...
When Pop was transferred to hospice It was sadness and tears in my eyes to see him like that but I continued to thank GOD everyday that I was able to still share and tlk to him about my day and my plans... there was a day that was hard for me because I talked and talked and neva got a response...and I prayed and prayed and the next day he looked at me wit those eyes... and that just brightened up my day!!! On Monday, December 5, after talking with Aunt Angela and her sharing some information with me .....I visited Pop and as always I talked to him and then I told him that I was going to have a hard time dealing with him leaving me but that I was going to get through it and so was everyone else and he had no reason to stay if he didn't want to because he did his part and we will be just fine.
Well on December 7, 2011, that was a day like no other, a thought that just continues to replay in my mind and all i can do is cry!!! I lost a friend, a granddad and a father.... All i could think is that he raised me since I was 4yrs old. took me in.. nurtured me.. guided me.. beat me.. and was a great influence on my life!! We did everything together even as i grew older.. he will always be my Pops.. Regardless of the situation he was always there for me and I told him that i would do the same for him!!!
But that day of all days when I had some good news to share about my course that I completed on the day before he had an eye slightly open.... as I continued to share i noticed a change and i knew it wasn't right ..but as I ended my story with i love you Pop he took his last breath of air and he was gone.... even tho I knew it was the end, I also knew it was the beginning of a new life soo much GREATER.... and that's when it hit me even harder.. As I have told others it was time for me to tell myself that GOD is a man of his word.. he said that one day I will come get you and that u will join me again.. And thats what he did...God saw that he was getting tired And it was not meant to be, So he put his arms around him And whispered come to me. With tearful eyes I watched you And saw you pass away, Although I love you dearly I couldn't make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, Hard working hands are now at rest .....God broke our hearts to prove to us that he only takes the best!! I know that GOD has him and he has me.. and im praying cause everything is going to be alright!!! Pop, I will always cherish our memories and your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever. You don't have to worry about Ma cause I got her back. You've done your part and now its time for me to do mine... Rest in paradise and I love you forever and always
Kevin Starlings
December 11, 2011
The Letter (this letter was read at the Homegoing Service by his grandson)
This page was last updated: January 22, 2012
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