Mr. Robert

Today once again Joey and I are experiencing another loss.  Mr. Robert is a gentleman from church who took to Joey like a proud Dad.  He was 86 years old, never married and  took care of so many people.  He retired from Navy and Air Force, he use to tell us some stories, he traveled everywhere.  He was in military with JR Ewing (Larry Hagman)  he use to laugh and say he really was a wimp. He traveled all over the world. He would tell us stories of selling gold years ago and having to hire security to go to Louisiana  with him.  He owned race horses for a while. He lived a very full life. He would drive all the way from Linwood at least 4 times a week and go out to eat with Joey for lunch, he would bring me bagels, donuts, and tons and tons of fresh fruit in season.  He didn't know how to give a little he always over indulged. I use to tell him, you know I need to lose weight then you go and bring me 7 bagels from Panera. He use to tell everybody Joey was the best person I know, and would get mad at me if I told him any different.  Joey laughed the other day and said I never got to enjoy having a dad in my older years since Joe passed away a month after we married, and here God sent  Robert, one of the most out going, giving men we have ever met. He has not been feeling well the last couple of months but kept telling me and Joey he was fine but we knew something was up because he had lost about 20 lbs. and started getting sick pretty regularly. He had a heart attack and God knew this was the way to go for him because he was a hard headed, strong willed man who would not have been able to lay down easy. I know that's why he had such a full life, he never thought he couldn't do something, He had plans (in his mind) to drive out west next year with his 84 year old brother, he told us every week, we are leaving this spring for a 3 week trip.
Joey has the responsibility of taking care of everything for Robert, there are circumstances that will make this a tricky and delicate situation, so we have now added to our new stress level around here. He  was a man who loved big, thought Audrey and a girl name Katie Lanier were just wonderful bought them gifts all the time.  Couldn't give two cents for Josh, we use to laugh because Josh never got a thing from him.  We really think he was jealous of Josh and Joeys relationship and didn't know what to do about it.  Loved our Pastor but worried about him exercising, wanted to buy him a gym membership.  Loved a man named Jimmy who was in military also, so he thought they were kindred spirits.  Went to lunch regularly with a lady from Davie who's Dad was his friend.  Robert burnt up the roads going to North Wilkesboro to visit family, King to visit sister-in-law, Greensboro to see old military buddies, at 86 years of age you could not slow him down.  What a role model for us. He will be missed, Joeys is now going to have to eat lunch with me.