Remembering Pop

Dear Sally, Emily and Lucy,

There are three big things I will always cherish and remember (about my father-in-law and your grandfather) and two smaller, but equally important things that Pop taught me. First his love of the Lord. He was a man of great faith and he used his steadfast faith to help himself overcome some challenges and to help many others find their path in life. Second, his love of his country and especially his military. And third, the way he loved his family - an unconditional love that he showed his wife (of 59 years), his children, his grandchildren, and his great grandchildren. As far the two smaller things, it was the way I watched him enjoy his post-military years. His appreciation for the little things, that in the end perhaps are more important than anything else, and his understanding of rituals. I have tried to capture both the big and small in the essay below.

A glimpse of Brig. Gen. (Ret) OC ‘Pop’ Malcom
September 5,1933 - July 5, 2012
By: G. Page Singletary

 

“Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” (From Matthew, Chapter 11 and my Bible verse to forever remember 'Pop')

 

  The Braves won in the bottom of the tenth last night, when Chipper Jones smashed a two run double to the opposite field, and with that crack of the bat his bedroom television is silenced and Pop fades to rest. He rises before the sun and makes his bed in a military fashion, corners perfectly tucked, spread pulled taut. He knows where the best sausage biscuits can be found and marches out in the green pick-up to purchase the morning breakfast, carefully considering how many it will take to feed his troops sleeping in the barracks below.

  He scours the morning paper. What else happened in the world of sports and in the bigger world of things (perhaps) more important than the Braves or the Georgia Bulldogs? “Did I tell you about the year Hershel Walker brought us the National Championship and Benjamin Franklin “Buck” Belue threw the most beautiful 97 yard touchdown pass to Lindsey Scott and we beat those damn Florida Gators? Things have never been the same between the hedges, but Hershel was a special guy. That was 1980 son, and we took it to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl for a perfect 12 and 0 season.” 

  What is going on in Macon? What is our military up to? What has our President done now? “Here son, do you want to read the paper?”
 

  We arrived the day prior, after the long ride from Virginia or Nashville or Pennsylvania or Texas, rolling our windows down as we hit Linger Longer Drive, smelling the sweet Georgia pines. As we turned into the driveway, the grass perfectly cut, the garden in full bloom, Pop, as always, is there to greet us with that big smile and huge hugs. “Who are you?,” he says to the girls. “I’m Pop’s doll baby and he loves me Lordy Lordy,” they reply in unison.
 

Pop and 'Baby' flying around the Lake

  The inner tube has been newly patched and inflated, the boat tuned and spiffed up and we are ready for some fun on Lake Oconee. The girls can drive the boat, even though they are barely able to see over the wheel and they block Pop’s view from behind. They can catch fish until the sun goes down, and then they can catch some more fish until midnight if they choose. They can fall off the dock in their pajamas, because Pop will reel them back up like a large catfish, because that is what he does and he knows they can not yet swim. He watches their every move. He gives them nicknames, like Beauty, Cutie, and Baby.

 “You don’t know?” “Yes I do.” “What do you know?” “I love you.”
 

Pop and Cutie (Beauty in the back)

  There’s Huey, Dewey and Louie waddling across the pine straw and the grass in the backyard. There’s Pop’s favorite dog of all time Misty, jumping in the boat or the truck to go for a ride, perhaps to the grocery store, a daily trip for sure. There grow the most beautiful tomatoes you have ever seen, ready to be sliced and served along side fried fish, hush puppies, and BeBe’s famous coleslaw made just right for each individual child.
 

Pop, Beauty, Misty and one of many fish

  Before we eat, we join hands and Pop prays with authority and he always makes a special request for God to remember our service men and women around the world. After multiple trips to the kitchen counter, and much discussion about the different types of fish in the pan and the different types of slaw and the carefully counted tomatoes, he speaks those famous words, “Is everyone sufficiently parinsified?”  And the ensuing debate continues as to whether parinsified is indeed a word, as Pop was told it was by his third grade teacher.
 

  Later that night, after the fried food settles in a bit, there will be moose tracks and lime sherbet. There will be stories and laughter. There will be another Braves game on the television and somewhere around the 7th inning stretch, Pop will head up to command central, kissing everyone goodnight and saying, "Sleep well my children and when I am gone, remember me in your heart."

"Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 11: 28-30 The Message)