4th of July

Today being the 4th of July, I, like most Americans think about the Independence of this country. It is easy to get caught up thinking about the Revolutionary War or men like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. While I love and appreciate what these men and everyone since that has fought for our freedom has done for this country. I spend a great deal of time on the 4th of July thinking of another great American, my grandpa, Archie O. Elkins. My grandpa was born July 4, 1911 and sadly died when I was quite young. I have very fond memories of the times that I spent with him. I would sit on his lap, watch sports with him, and laugh every time he called me "Wrinkly Nose." He said that whenever I smiled my nose would wrinkle up, and that is where the nickname came from. As long as I had known my grandpa he hadn't had great health. But I would love to hear stories about how he would check himself out of the hospital, thinking that he was fine or the doctors couldn't help him anymore. I always wanted to know more about when he worked in the coal mines of Kentucky, but he never really told me much, and I still don't know much about it. I am sad that I didn't get to know him more, but I am very proud to be an Elkins because of the type of man he was and the type of man he taught my father to be. He has taught my family to work hard, but enjoy life, don't take anything for granted. I hope that he is proud of the person that I have become, and I hope that my nose still wrinkles up when I smile. So every 4th of July I think of this great American that had a great impact on my life, that I only knew of a few short years. I love you Grandpa!