Steven Skelley is a journalist, photographer, author, singer, songwriter - all in spite of being legally disabled. Instead of focusing on his disability, he chooses to focus on the positive and to experience and share the beauty of the world through his writing, music and photography.
PAWPAW'S DIARY: MESSAGES TO MY GRANDSONS 90 - HAPPY 9TH BIRTHDAY BRYSON
Happy 9th Birthday Bryson! I am so proud of you and always will be. I cannot put into words how happy it makes me to be your Pawpaw. I miss you and will love you forever.
Someday when you are 18 years old or older, I hope that you will search for me. I have never stopped loving you even if I am not allowed to see you.
All my love,
Pawpaw
Pawpaw loves Connor Gilmer, Bryson Gilmer and Archer Gilmer.
I have named my new music album: SONGS FROM PAWPAW. I hope that you find it online and on Youtube and know your Pawpaw.
CHOOSE ME is a song about the feeling we all have about wanting to fit in. It took me decades to discover the truth that "As a grown man now, I'm no more like a bough blown in the breeze. No more do I bleed from a painful need to constantly please. I am now at peace. I've made my mind cease to want to fit it. I feel confident to simply choose me."
Also, you'll see me wearing a blue kilt. My sixth great grandfather was born in Scotland in 1720. I wear kilts to honor my Scot heritage.
Pawpaw loves Connor Gilmer, Bryson Gilmer and Archer Gilmer.
I searched the internet and found a few photos of you all. You have grown so much! You are so very handsome! You all look very happy. Seeing that makes me very happy too. At the same time, I am heartbroken that I have missed so much of your childhoods. I think about you every day.
I love you,
Pawpaw
Pawpaw loves Connor Gilmer, Bryson Gilmer and Archer Gilmer.
Since you probably won't be allowed to see me until you may choose to do so after age 18, there's a good chance I won't be alive then. I leave these messages to let you know that you were loved and missed every single day. I have loved you both since the days that you were born and I held you in my arms. (I only was able to hold Archer once and only for about an hour).
I have decided to record my songs and leave them on Youtube for you to hopefully find someday and know your Pawpaw better.
My song SEE YOU LATER is one of my favorite songs that I have written. It is about my Grandma Virginia Margaret Wheatley McWilliams. She was your maternal Great grandmother.
Grandma Mac was what we all called her. She was of Appalachian heritage and Scottish before that. Her Fourth Great Grandfather Abraham came from Scotland to Pennsylvania before the American Revolution! His son Samuel fought in the revolution for American independence. Even though she was from a northern state, Grandma had a country / southern accent as Appalachians do.
Grandma never said goodbye. She always said "Sweetie, this is not goodbye, it's just another see you later." I wrote this song for her.
Pawpaw will always love you boys!
Pawpaw loves Connor Gilmer, Bryson Gilmer and Archer Gilmer.
Since you probably won't be allowed to see me until you may choose to do so after age 18, there's a good chance I won't be alive then. I leave these messages to let you know that you were loved and missed every single day. I have loved you both since the days that you were born and I held you in my arms. (I only was able to hold Archer once and only for about an hour).
I have decided to record my songs and leave them on Youtube for you to hopefully find someday and know your Pawpaw better.
My song THINKING OF YOU SLOW DANCE is a love song that I composed I was just 20 years old. I hope that people in love will hear it and take their partner into their arms and share a special moment together.
Pawpaw will always love you all!
Pawpaw loves Connor Gilmer, Bryson Gilmer and Archer Gilmer.
Since you probably won't be allowed to see me until you may choose to do so after age 18, there's a good chance I won't be alive then. I leave these messages to let you know that you were loved and missed every single day. I have loved you both since the days that you were born and I held you in my arms. (I only was able to hold Archer once and only for about an hour).
I have decided to record my songs and leave them on Youtube for you to hopefully find someday and know your Pawpaw better.
I wrote CHOOSE ME about the feeling every human has - the desire to fit in. It took me decades to realize that loving ourselves is a big part of being healthy.
Pawpaw will always love you guys.
Pawpaw loves Connor Gilmer, Bryson Gilmer and Archer Gilmer.
When you were younger, Connor and Bryson, you used to ask me to play Pawpaw's song in the car. You both love music.
Since you probably won't be allowed to see me until you may choose to do so after age 18, there's a good chance I won't be alive then. I leave these messages to let you know that you were loved and missed every single day. I have loved you both since the days that you were born and I held you in my arms. (I only was able to hold Archer once and only for about an hour).
I have decided to record my songs and leave them on Youtube for you to hopefully find someday and know your Pawpaw better.
My song EDUCATION RUINS A SLAVE is a tribute to Frederick Douglass. His mother had been enslaved and when he was born, he was automatically a slave in a horrible time in American history. Frederick escaped and began to speak and fight against slavery. He influenced President Abraham Lincoln.
I love you all,
Pawpaw
Pawpaw loves Connor Gilmer, Bryson Gilmer and Archer Gilmer.
