December 23, 2010
2:42 a.m:

I start typing these words at 2:44, I've wasted two minutes already on what to even write here, right now. Christmas is in two days, now. But this year, it might be a little different.
You see, Monday night, the greatest man in the world passed away. Jeff Curtis Jeffreys. You know, you just hear that name and you can already begin to decipher his greatness. He was my papa. No, scratch that. He is my papa.

You want an idea of what kind of man he was? well here's the thing, I can see him right now dancing in heaven, making strange animal noises at whoever he sees passing him on those beautiful golden streets, and between noises, trying to explain to everyone what exactly a wampus cat really is. I can see him with that huge smile spread across his beautiful face, his eyes glowing in pure awe and wonder.

2:52 a.m.

This Christmas, my time has been spent a little differently. There are those classic Christmas traditions every family has. There are some traditions that are the same for each family. And each year, there are those random things that someone does in attempt to bring it up onto the tradition level. So this year, instead of traveling to my grandparents house, staying in the kitchen cooking all those wonderful Christmas desserts for my papa, I stayed around my house, ears open for anymore news on how he was doing. Instead of traveling to his house, I traveled to St. Vincents. This Christmas season, I've cried my eyes out over and over on one single person laying in a hospital bed. I watched the life being taken away from someone as the ventilator was turned lower and lower. I saw my family being brought together again. I saw us all hugging in that hospital, tears being drained from each one of us. I saw us loving each other again. And I felt the way God was with us there, every step of the way. Because that's the kind of man my papa was.

3:01 a.m.

His funeral will be held this morning, December 23 at 10:00 a.m. Though this will be such a time of tears and sorrow, it will be a moment to celebrate his life. His great life of eighty-two years. No, I might not be speaking at his funeral, but that doesn't mean I never loved him as much as he loved me.

3:03 a.m.

My papa was a great man who loved his family more than anyone I've ever known. He loved his wife with all his heart, and with her, had five wonderful children whom he cherished more than words can describe. He had 12 grandchildren. All of whom were given strangely awesome nicknames.

My papa had the most amazing memory. He could sit down and tell you his entire life story, not leaving out one single minuscule detail.

My papa taught me to never take anything or anyone for granted; to love what I have with all of my heart, because it might not last forever. He encouraged me in everything I ever did. He told me that whatever I do, make sure that I'm the best at it. He reminded me time after time how much he loved me; how much my family loves me. My papa was not a quitter; He never gave up; He was a fighter.

My papa loved animals....especially cats, I think. Considering he somehow came into the possession of a book all about them...and then passed it on to Elizabeth.

My papa can hear now, you see. He can speak with God face to face now. And he can still love us just as much as he did the moment he took his last breath.

3:12 a.m:

So you see, this Christmas might be a little bit different. There still might be those stupid, lame arguments each family ends up getting into, if you know what I mean, but this Christmas, we'll be more of a family than what we've ever been, I think. And maybe for once, we wont all be taking each other for granted.

3:15 a.m:

So where did all this time go??

It'll all be lost in space.

3:17 a.m:

Life is short.