PAWPAW'S MESSAGES TO MY GRANDSONS 100 - A message for Bryson Edward

PAWPAW'S MESSAGES TO MY GRANDSONS 100 - A message for Bryson Edward

Pawpaw loves Connor, Bryson and archer forever!

To my beloved buddy-pal Bryson,

Pawpaw loved and misses you every day. I even dreamed about you last night. In my dream, you were about 5 years old. We played cars and games and snuggled until you fell asleep in my arms just like you used to.

Bryson snuggle

Did you know that you were named after me? Your middle name is Edward - Bryson Edward Gilmer.  My middle name is Edward too - Steven Edward Skelley. Your Mom and Dad surprised me one day with the news that you and I would share a middle name. I have loved you even before you were born.

My father's middle name was also Edward. I was named after him. His name was Fred Edward Skelley. My dad was very athletic in his youth. He was a Golden Gloves boxer. He was also the Varsity Running Back for his High School football team. And, he was a Varsity Baseball player in High School.

Edward is an English male name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name Ēadweard, composed of the elements ēad "wealth, fortunate; prosperous" and weard "guardian, protector”. So, Edward means rich/wealthy protector.

Snuggle time with my buddy-pals

It is now the year 2025. I miss you every day. I hope you are having a wonderful childhood. Do you play sports? If so, I bet that you are exceptional. Do you remember bouncing and jumping on your trampoline with Pawpaw? That was a daily event when I visited once a month. Sometimes you fell asleep in my arms right on the trampoline at naptime while Connor was in school.

I love you and miss you, Bryson. Always know that. I would have never left you willingly. If I am still alive when you grow up and find these messages, I hope that you will reach out to me. I'd love to hear from you, my buddy-pal.

Love you,

Pawpaw

PAWPAW'S MESSAGES TO MY GRANDSONS 99 - A message for Connor Rudolph

PAWPAW'S MESSAGES TO MY GRANDSONS 99 - A message for Connor Rudolph

****Pawpaw will always love his buddy-pals Connor, Bryson and Archer!****

To my Buddy-pal, Connor,

This is a special message to you, Connor, I haven't been allowed to see you or speak to you since you were 9 years old. You'll be 13 this June. Luckily, someone saw news of you and shared it with me. Pawpaw is so very happy to hear that you are a musician! You play trumpet, recorder, drums and piano! Bravo!

I am also a musician. I am so delighted to learn that the art and joy of music is in your heart too. Do you remember that we used to sing a bedtime song together? I had composed that very lullabye for your Mom when she was a baby. I sang to her every night of her childgood. "Goodnight. Goodnight. Sleep well my little angel. I love you. I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight. Goodnight. Sleep well my little angel. I love you. I love you. Goodnight."

One year, I brought you and Bryson a CD of my song CHRISTMAS LOVE. You two would ask me to play "Pawpaw's song" over and over again in the car.

When I was just 17 years old, I composed this song, "JUST YOU AND ME."

When I was just 20 years old, I wrote, "THINKING OF YOU."

I hope that you have a wonderful music journey using your many talents. You have always had a beautiful and caring heart and spirit. You will create beautiful and soulful music, Connor.

Pawpaw loves and misses you more than you could ever know.

Please know that I did not abandon you, Bryson and Archer. My husband and I were no longer welcome at your home. My heart will always be broken over this.

Go, young man. Enjoy life. Share your beautiful heart and change your world for the better. Pawpaw will always be rooting for you from either earth or heaven.

I love you.

PAWPAW'S MESSAGES TO MY GRANDSONS 98 - FOR DAYS LONG AGO video and song

PAWPAW'S MESSAGES TO MY GRANDSONS 98 - FOR DAYS LONG AGO video and song

Pawpaw will always love his buddy-pals Connor, Bryson and Archer!

I think of you every single day. I often lay in bed at night missing you, your laughter, your smiles, your hugs.

Here's my latest music creation. I re-imagined the 1788 poem / song Auld Lang Syne. It's originally Scottish and uses words that are not understood today so I interpreted the words into ones we normally use in our time. It is a beautiful melody and the lyrics are about old friends remembering the good old days together.

For Days Long Ago We two have run about the hills And picked the daisies fine oh We've wandered many a weary mile Since the days long ago And you'll have your pint tankard dear I'll surely have mine oh We'll drink a cup to kind mem’ries dear For days long ago INSTRUMENTAL BREAK And here's my hand, my trusty friend, And give me your hand oh We will take a good-will drink my friend For the days of long ago Old friends should never be forgotten Should be remembered oh Old friends should never be forgotten For days long ago For days long ago, my dear For days long ago We'll drink a cup to kind mem’ries dear For days long ago Inspired by Auld Lang Syne 1788 Reimagined by Steven Skelley 2025

Pawpaw loves and misses you all. If I am still alive when you are old enough to find these messages, please reach out to me. I will never stop loving you. My heart remains broken that politics and religion drove a wedge between your parents and me and my husband.

These lyrics speak to my heart about the years that I have lost with you my beloved grandsons:

We two have run about the hills And picked the daisies fine oh We've wandered many a weary mile Since the days long ago

Pawpaw

PAWPAW'S MESSAGES TO MY GRANDSONS 97 - YOU MATTERED video and song

 Pawpaw loves and always will love Connor, Bryson and Archer.

YOU MATTERED is my song about honoring loved ones who have passed from this life. I often imagine them in my mind and then speak to them about how they blessed my life. I let them know that, "you mattered."

You Mattered By Steven Skelley I spoke with my Mom today Forty years since she passed away I wanted her to hear me say Momma I miss you I spoke with my Dad today Eighteen years since he passed away I wanted him to hear me say Dad I heard you I close my eyes How can it be You always come from wherever you are You stand or sit or walk with me As I tell you what’s in my heart You mattered, you mattered, you mattered, you mattered You mattered, you mattered, you mattered, you mattered

I spoke with my sister today Twenty two years since she passed away I wanted her to hear me say I believed in you I close my eyes How can it be You always come from wherever you are You stand or sit or walk with me As I tell you what’s in my heart You mattered, you mattered, you mattered, you mattered You mattered, you mattered, you mattered, you mattered

I spoke with my loved ones today Many years since they passed away I wanted them to hear me say You mattered Copyright 2025 Steven Skelley

PAWPAW'S MESSAGES TO MY GRANDSONS 96 - COMMON SCENTS video and song

 PAWPAW'S MESSAGES TO MY GRANDSONS 96 - COMMON SCENTS video and song

Pawpaw loves Connor, Bryson and Archer forever!

It is January 2025. I have just finished releasing my song COMMON SCENTS. As you'll see and hear, the lyrics are from a poem I wrote about how we can stumble across a certain aroma and our minds will go back in time to some forgotten but special memory,

I love you,

  Pawpaw

Common Scents (lyrics)

By Steven Skelley

 

The aroma of jasmine in the Spring air

Transports me through space and time

To my Grandma Mary's flower garden

A moment when she was all mine

 

Common scents spark my memories

Common scents bring you back to me

Common scents make me feel things that I need

How I wish I had more common scents

 

An unknown man passes by me

His cologne tingles my nose

Suddenly I am a child again

In Dad's barbershop tapping my toes

 

Common scents spark my memories

Common scents bring you back to me

Common scents make me feel things that I need

How I wish I had more common scents

 

Isn't it strange that my silly nose

Is not just two oxygen vents

It's a random access time machine

Triggered by common scents

 

I wish that I had more common scents

The ones that make me remember

Special people, places and feelings

Memories both joyous and tender

 

Common scents spark my memories

Common scents bring you back to me

Common scents make me feel things that I need

How I wish I had more common scents

 

 ©️ 2025 Steven Skelley

PAWPAW'S MESSAGES TO MY GRANDSONS 95 - Know Good

 PAWPAW'S MESSAGES TO MY GRANDSONS 95 - Know Good

Pawpaw loves Connor, Bryson and Archer! Now and forever!

Good morning, guys. I wonder where you are and what you are doing. I do this every single day. I miss you more than I can put into words.

I hope you stumble across this blog and read these messages. I love you.

Today, I'm sharing with you a song that I composed when I was a Christian singer songwriter sometime in the late 1980s or early 1990s. Your Mom used to play with her Barbie dolls while I played my guitar and wrote songs. 

This song is titled KNOW GOOD. It is based on the Bible passages 

* Matthew 25:31-46

* Luke 10:25-37

* James 4:17

Basically, what all these passages say is that it is no good just to know good if you are not going to do it.

Know Good

By Steven Skelley

Jesus told about a man who went walking down a road

That man was beaten, robbed and stripped left bleeding nude and cold

Oh that's no good

No that's no good

Then along came religious men

you'd have thought that they would help

Don't you know that they just walked on by

only thinking of themselves

Oh that's no good

No that's no good

It's no good just to know good

if you're not going to do it oh no

It's no good just to know good

you've got to put some action to it

It's no good just to know good

It's no good just to know good

Jesus said that we will stand

when we've finished our lives' roads

God will separate every woman and man

like separating sheep from goats

Oh that's no good

No that's no good

Jesus tells the women and men

separated as the goats

Your faith was worthless helping no one

As far as heaven you've missed the boat

Oh that's no good

No that's no good

It's no good just to know good if you're not going to do it oh no

It's no good just to know good you've got to put some action to it

It's no good just to know good. It's no good just to know good

Copyright 2024 Steven Skelley

I hope that by now you know that I did not leave you. We loved each other from the days you were born. My husband Tom and I were banned from your lives after your parents adopted a new religion and political view. I have tried repeatedly to reach your Mon and Dad but they will not return my messages. Please know that Pawpaw didn't abandon you. My heart is broken and I think about you every day. If I'm not still alive when you stumble across these messages, please know that you were loved.

Love always,

Pawpaw