Today is my late grandfather’s birthday and he would have been 86 years old today. Even though he has been gone for nine incredibly long years, I still think his birthday should be celebrated. He was a great, honest, loving, courageous, powerful, and all-around amazing person. My late grandfather continues to inspire me because I 100% idolized him and thought he could do no wrong. I have prided myself to be as much like him as I possibly can but know without a doubt there is no chance anyone could be like him.

I will never forget his smile and voice because they could make anything going wrong in life much better. He was full of grace and honor. He was a man that never judged another person for any reason and respected people for who they were. He never wanted to change people but did want to help others the best he could. Anyone lucky enough to have known him can understand the impact he had on my life and the ways it destroyed me when lost his battle with cancer. I can say without hesitation that those that knew James “Bucky” O’Brien could always feel his love, even when he was not in the room.

On September 9, 2013, everyone that knew my grandfather lost a piece of their heart when he took his last breath. In my heart I know there will come a day when I see my grandfather again and when I do, I will get back the pieces of my heart and soul that left with him on that September day. The past nine years living in this world without my grandfather have not been easy. As I said, he had a way about him to make everything much better. I can still hear his voice when I close my eyes and I know he is watching over me. I just hope he is proud of the person I am today because I am do keep him with me no matter where I go.

I cannot help but wonder when my grandfather is looking down and seeing the way the world is today, what he must be thinking. My grandfather loved his country and even fought for this country. He did not fight to see things become what they are today. This is one of many reasons why I try being as much like him as possible. I think he would be proud of the way I treat others and how I do not judge anyone for anything more but how they treat others.

Today, just the same as every other day, I will hold my grandfather close to my heart. He lived his life as a golf pro and loved the game! I hope he is celebrating his day on the best golf course in heaven and winning every game he plays with the angels. Happy Birthday to my dear sweet Poppy!

Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope you are having a great week and you are continuing to stay safe. I appreciate your birthday wishes for my grandfather in advance. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa