Yesterday my mother gave me a pair of knives that had belonged to my father, one of them was given to my dad by my grandfather (mothers father). It is a very old piece and i will treasure it knowing where it came from. I didn't know my grandfather that well but i always had respect and admiration for him, he lived in the mountains and was bitten on the shin by a rattlesnake when he was younger, and survived, limbs intact. Since that time, when the men would go up into the mountains they would pull out the jug of homemade juice and pass it around before they wandered off looking for arrow heads. They called that juice "snake bite medicine"
As for my Dad, well it's been almost 4 years and i miss him dearly. He is always on my mind and i often wonder if he is with me, helping me, opening doors and keeping me from being a royal fuckup.
I don't know why he had to go when he did but i have done right by him in taking care of Mom the best i can. I know he would be happy with that, and she appreciates it as well. Still miss him though.