My first hero

My first hero and most influential male figure would most definitely have to be my Pepaw (Thomas Richard Cole)...
When I was a little girl, we lived across from his house, in what everyone called the little house. I'd walk across the yard from my house to his and beat on the door because I couldn't open the door. He'd come to the door, scoop me up and I would ask him for a pepi (Pepsi). He'd give me a Pepsi (back in the day Pepsi's came in tall glass bottles, I remember him telling me the bottle would be half my size, lol) & I'd walk back to my house.
I remember sitting and watching my Pepaw sitting on the front porch, he & I stayed out there a lot. When I was a little girl, I didn't know the demons he had fought in his past, didn't know he'd fought in WWII.
I remember sometimes his eyes would just tear up out of no where. He had a heavy heart, but he always kept it inside. Sometimes when he thought no one was around, he'd sit outside his garage and play his guitar and sing. Maybe that's partially where my love for music comes from. He'd sing old Hank songs. Sad sad songs. He was such a wise man. He would tell me things, types of advice (like he knew he wouldn't be here when I'd need him most) I remember him telling me, "No matter what happens to you in your life, you can never give up" "Always remember that God is there for you in your darkest hours" "You will be faced with many troubles, never let them take control of you". There were so many pieces of advice he'd give on that front porch. He loved to watch me do cart wheels and hand stands and climb trees, lol. We'd watch wrestling late at night, he'd wake me up after memaw would go to bed so we could spend time alone together! He taught me to fish...He was the first to let me drive a car (at like 7) sitting in his lap. Memaw used to get so mad!! I'd drive the tractor. I spent a lot of time with my Pepaw during the summers of my childhood.
I remember I'd sneak into his garage and "work" on things. And he'd holler AIMEE MARIE, I'd smile and he would smile back shaking his head and hug me.
He was a very strong man, but he also seemed broken in a way too. We are all broken in on way or another. As we are all strong. You just have to learn to balance the two.
I loved my Pepaw.