Flashback Friday~Bapo

Memorial Day weekend makes me think of my grandpa; my mom's dad. We called him Bapo (pronounced Bop-o) and he was the best grandpa anyone could ever ask for. Bapo passed away in August 2005, and we've missed him dearly everyday since.

This is me with Bapo and my older brother, Brian

Me with Mamo & Bapo

In my family, Memorial Day weekend means FAMILY REUNION! Our reunion is a golf tournament and family picnic in Bartlesville, OK. This tradition has been going on for over 20 years, and it was started by Bapo. He loved to golf and he loved family, so he combined the two and made a reunion that people actually enjoy going to! He was always so happy on that day! I can still picture him standing at the first tee box, waiting for his team to tee off...wearing a golf polo tucked into his shorts, golf hat, and his tan legs! AND if you couldn't tell he was an Oklahoma State fan by his golf bag & head covers, you were blind!

After the tournament and picnic, Mamo (my grandma) & Bapo, my family, and my aunts, uncles and cousins would all caravan to Grand Lake. This is where my best memories of the holiday weekend are! Mamo & Bapo had a place on the lake. It was a cozy little 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom lakehouse, but when our family of 17 plus would move in for the weekend it became very cozy!! It was right on the lake, with a deck that looked out across the water, and you could watch the sunset behind Sailboat bridge. Bapo had his own fishing dock and boat. We would spend all weekend eating incredible meals prepared by Mamo, my mom and my aunts...we would fish off the boat, the dock and the point; ski; swim in the pool; ride around on the golf cart; and love every minute of it!

We sold the lakehouse a few years ago, and every Memorial Day since, it makes me a little sad to think about how much I miss it and how much I miss my Bapo! I'd give anything to have just one more weekend at the lake with him! He was always excited to take you fishing, bait your hook for you and even clean the fish you caught! I'm sure I'll share some of my lake pictures and memories here soon. With Summer around the corner, I'll be thinking of the lake often!

I miss you Bapo, and I know you'll be at the tournament this weekend...you wouldn't miss it for anything!

All of the grandkids at last year's reunion...we now have three great-grandkids and three, almost four married into the family grandkids :)