I'm a Grandpa, Not a Doctor!

My grandpa, Roger, was a cool guy. He passed away a few years ago; today would have been his birthday. Every year my family would get together around this time and throw a party for him. He was cool that way, getting a birthday party every year.

I miss him. He had a way of making you feel like the most important, special person, even if you were one of 30 people in the house or one of the grandkids vying for his attention. When he was with you, he focused his attention on you.

I think we all had something we enjoyed doing with Papaw that we felt was "our" thing -- whether playing a game, watching a movie, or listening to music. The thing I enjoyed doing with him was drinking coffee and watching Star Trek, preferably The Original Series. He loved it, and so did I. Usually we sat watching and sipping coffee in silence. You really didn't have to say anything when you were with him. Just being around him was comforting somehow.

I don't recall when it was, but at some point I was watching TOS on my own and it hit me: Papaw WAS Leonard McCoy. His humor, his sarcasm, even the wrinkles on his face. Not the actor (DeForest Kelley), but the character. They were so similar! It was actually quite eerie once I realized it.

Well, I won't go into details about how Papaw passed away. It was sudden. I'm glad I got to talk to him before his surgery when he was still more himself.

Months afterwards, I was given a couple of his old Star Trek TOS novels.

One of them was one of the first ones written -- the story of how the crew got together in the first place. The maiden voyage of the Enterprise under Kirk's command. Very cool book. In the beginning as they're introducing characters, I received quite a shock.

As McCoy is introduced, they reveal that he is from Macon, GA.

Papaw was from Macon, GA.
(Interesting side note -- DeForest Kelley is also from Georgia!)

I couldn't read past that part for a long time. I held the book and cried. I'm not one to believe anything silly or superstitious, but what a crazy random coincidence! And badly needed at the time. It made me so happy.

So happy birthday to my Papaw. You weren't a doctor, but you were an awesome grandpa.

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