Eulogy for Poppy Pittman - August 29,1911 - May 30, 2006

One of my earliest childhood memories is waking up in Renews really early in the morning just to be able to raise the flags with poppy. Hoist away, hoist away he’d say, as I pulled with all of my might to get them all of the way to the top. I couldn’t tie the knot all by myself but I remember watching paying great attention to how he did it, in hopes that one day I’d do it all by myself. Well I’m all grown up now. I’m 20 years old; I haven’t raised a flag in ages. But I think its time I tie that knot for my grandfather. How can I put into just a few minutes words what a man had become and accomplished over 95 years of life? For most of us seeing that age is unfathomable. But if he felt his age he rarely showed it. No matter what the occasion optimism, health and humor was always retained by my grandfather. Not once did I ever hear him complain of aches or pain and he thanked god every time I saw him that he still had his health and strength, He realized, even up until last time we spoke that he was so lucky to have lived life the way he did. His life was so fulfilled; to have traveled the world, survived world wars and to have seen things change so drastically over the course of his lifetime. He lived a life many can only wish for and few are blessed with having; A huge loving and supportive family and an endless network of friends and loved ones. As one can imagine a lot of things have been said between these four walls over the past number of days about my Poppy Pittman, and one of those certainly cannot be denied. What a legacy for a man to leave behind; 11 children, 32 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and a great-great grand child. The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it, and to live to see his family continued on for five generations is something spectacular. Seeing death as the end of life is like seeing the horizon as the end of the ocean. His strong spirit, wisdom and most certainly his sense of humor is shown in each of his children and has been passed down into all of us, and I am so thankful to have had such a positive role model in my life for the past twenty years. What he left behind is not what will be engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. Providing all of us not only with warm meals and a place to lay our heads whenever the need should arise but leaving this amazing circle of love and hope in our family, people who mirror his image, courage and adventuresome nature is something I will always be thankful for. I will never have to worry about forgetting the lessons and the memories because each of them is alive in all of us and they will never die as long as we keep them in our hearts. I would also like to take this opportunity extend my sincere gratitude to the staff of Kelly’s Personal Care home in the Goulds. I think I speak for all of us when I say Thank you for giving Poppy a HOME for six wonderful years in his life. I didn’t think it would ever be possible for him to call a place without my Grandmother home but through your love, care and attention he received that and you will always hold a special place in our hearts. My Grandfather was a very bright light in my life, someone I could look to for wisdom and strength. To quote a song written by Wayne Chaulk “He learned the lessons and took the pills that we find hard to swallow, and his memory now will guide me as I sail the stormy seas, no, I won’t forget my old granddad, he’s a part of me.” When I look for my wisdom now I’ll think of that light that my grandfather brought to my life, the way he cheered me up when everything seemed dark. He was always the lamp that lit the darkest of corners in life. With that being said I’ll finish by saying something only those who spent a good bit of time at the house in Renews would understand.. Duck your head mudder, the lamp is coming. Hoist away poppy, I love you.