My dear neighbor, Kermit Grayson, passed away early this morning.
Kermit has been a focus of my photo-a-day blog before.
He was also the star of one of my homemade videos. I captured footage of him one Ham Days afternoon, with him telling how he was able to grow such great tomatoes. It is such a sweet little interview.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x84f77GgpCg
I'm thinking of Kermit's family now. There were things I know about Kermit, being a neighbor, that perhaps some of the family didn't get a chance to know, at least from my perspective. Of course, the family knows many many things about Kermit that I don't know. But tonight, I am all about trying to find a few extra pictures of Kermit for his family.
He was such a unique person - and a great person. All his relatives should really be proud to have a little Kermit in the blood line.
I never knew Kermit in his younger days. I only knew him as my elderly, retired neighbor. I always loved seeing him out on his front porch. Kermit just sitting in his chair reading the newspaper in the early morning was a regular sight that made me glad. It was the epitome of small town America, to me.
Kermit hasn't been home for a long time now, but I still to this dayl find myself looking over to his front porch when I pass by, and I miss his presence there so much. There was just something about seeing Kermit there that helped me believe that all was right with the world, somehow.
PLUS, Kermit really helped a lot of people, and I have a feeling his family might not fully realize the extent of Kermit's influence with his neighbors and friends. Even though Kermit's family is a very loving family and visited him very often, there are just certain things the neighbors know more about. There were many many times that I passed by and saw Kermit counseling someone in trouble there on his porch. I would get a bit concerned at times, because I worked at the County Attorney's Office for a while and recognized some of Kermit's visitors, and I was concerned. But Kermit seemed always able to handle even the most 'savage beast'. I'll bet that more than just a few lives have been changed for the better from those heart to heart conferences on Kermit's front porch.
Kermit was a special delight for the kids around. He always had plenty of time to spend with the youngsters, and many were drawn to him for his great prices on bicycles. But he didn't just trade with those kids - he spent time with them and really got to know them. He taught them things. They came for the bicycles, but stayed for Kermit's kindness to them.
There is so much more I could say about Kermit Grayson, but for now I will just say REST IN PEACE, KERMIT! I loved you as a neighbor and friend. I think you are awesome. I wish your loving family all the peace in the world as you are laid to rest. You've left a legacy that your family can be most proud of.
Goodbye, Kermit. See ya later, alligator.
