Bury me with a gallon of water...Ode to Bob continued

Thanks to many of you for you comments and encouragement regarding the loss of Bob.

Today Denise and the crew will lay Bob to rest in beautiful Charleston, SC. Be curious to see who all will be there. I hate that I will not be there to celebrate the life of such a great man. Bob lived a very vivid yet quite life. As I thought about what to say today about Bob, I am lead to tell you about a conversation that we had regarding dying. One day we were in one of our many conversations about something crazy and I said, "But when you die, don't you want to go to heaven?" and I will never forget what came out of his mouth. He said, "No! I know I am going to hell so when you all bury me, bury me with a gallon of water so I can sell it in hell!" I looked at him in total amazement and said, "what did you say?" I was floored. I mean, I am a young 18 year old traditional grounded baptist Christian ( that's a lot, thank you for deliverance Lord) and I had never heard anyone say that with such confidence. He said, " I know I have done so much stuff that Jesus will not let me in heaven." I said, "BOB"! He said, "Yeah man!" With that one of a kind smirk on his face. I never forgot that and I have told that story many times. Who would have thought that I would become a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ 10 years later and have an opportunity to pray for and with Bob. He always made fun that Denise was Catholic and in his own fashion crafted funny jokes. But, he always acknowledge that his mother was a devout baptist! We laughed about religion alot.

As they lay him to rest today, I thought about the Samaratian lady at the well who came to fetch natural water but ended up meeting Jesus and recieving eternal life. Though at that season in Bob's life he thought that God would not accept him because of his past, which by the way wasn't that bad. But as Bob got older and Denise mellowed him a lot, I think he reflected alot on life and just how good God had been to him. He had a generous heart and he gave, he loved unconditionally and if he liked you, he really liked you! Two years ago, I was in Charleston to eulogize a former employee and dear friend, I went by the house to see Bob. I still had my clergy collar on and to see the gleam in his eye. The strokes had limited his speech. He did not say much but I knew he was proud of me. I prayed for him and he said thank you. In my heart, I honestly feel Bob is in heaven like I said previously arguing with St. Peter about where the best fish are. Though we will never understand why God chose this path for Bob in the later years of his life, I do know this! Bob gave to the poor, comforted the widow, and helped the orphaned. Those were tenants that Jesus commanded us to do before he left. So Big Bob you want need that gallon after all. Jesus have given you an eternal portion! Rest in peace...

Biscuits and Peaches...An Ode to Bob continued

I appreciate your comments and encouragement yesterday. Denise and the crew are fine and the plans for Bob's homegoing are set. One of the most memorable things about Bob and there are many is that he was a phenomenal cook. Being college athletes and always starving it seemed like Denise and Bob always made sure we had plenty of food. They became instant parents to a bunch of 6 ft, 200 plus pound boys. Our duties that summer on Kiawah became quite taxing but no one complained because we were on the inside most of the day making beds for the "real housekeepers". Flossie was the lead and she was a pro and could work circles around anyone. I will talk more about her later. As we cleaned these private villas and homes which were people's second home or investment properties many people would leave tons of food as they departed on their way home from summer vacation. As a college student on his on this free grocery store was a God send. The rules were that any alcohol was to be poured out and bottles destroyed. Humm.... So as we tugged dirty linens up and down stairs and throwing them into vans, we worked up quite an appetite. Though the majority of our work was inside when you walked outside in the humidity and heat of Charleston would knock you off your feet and drench you in sweat! Our first day, Bob made the call for everyone to come to the office for lunch and we were ready because those powdered eggs from the Citadel had worn off. They had prepared an amazing sandwich buffet with all the trimmings. He made fun of how much we ate but he also kept asking if we had enough. As the summer progressed Bob and I had many conversations about growing up in the country though he did not. Being from the Upstate, we talked about peaches and how much he loved preparing a special perserve. I teased him and said no such thing. The one thing about Bob was he loved a challenge. So one night they invited us over for dinner and Bob prepared his now famous biscuits and peaches. All I can say is they were out of this world and certainly a special request whenever I came into town. I learned a lot from Bob! He introduced me to some of the finer things in life and I will always be grateful. Man such great memories. Really going to miss him!

I Cried Myself To Sleep...

Last night I cried myself to sleep. The overwhelmness of the moment was far greater than even I could anticipate or want to admit. As I was in a meeti. . ng yesterday, I received a call from a Charleston area number. Saying I would let it go to voicemail. I received another call and another. On the third one I answered and it was from Denise Callahan someone like a second mother to me informing me that Bob, her husband had passed. I have dreaded that call for some time because Bob's health had been declining over the past 10 years. The news moved me to tears. As she explained in her calm and gracious tone that thanksgiving was good because he was home from the VA Hospital where he was receiving therapy because Denise could not care for him by herself and to know Bob you would agree. So why cry over Bob?

I should make this a two or three part post but for now I will just unload my raw and emotional feelings.

It was the spring of my freshman year at the Citadel and I was looking for a summer job so that I could stay in my beloved Charleston for the summer. The Athletic department knew that some of the team would be looking for jobs and so they kept their eye out for us. Ray Whitman called me one day and said they had a company interested in hiring cadets in the summer to make beds at a local resort. My thoughts were making beds equal being inside and plus all cadets could make beds..right? I agreed and that Saturday morning I signed out of the battalion and was picked up in what I thought was a snazzy ride...an Isuzu Trooper! Denise was driving and greeted us with her beautiful and assuring smile. We departed the city and crossed over the Ashley river and then the Wappoo cut on to James Island and headed South. I had never been further than the Piggly Wiggly on Maybank highway so the adventure begin. As we drove over beautiful prestine estuaries and under regal Oak canopies, I wondered where in the world were we going but it was so beautiful. The lushness of the foliage and those oak trees canopying over Bohicket road was something this upstate country boy had never seen . Finally the shade of the canopy disappeared and the sun beamed through as I saw fields of tomatoes and other crops, roadside stands of local vegetables and hand made woven baskets being manned by the world friendliest people.

As the car slowed down, we approached a sign on the left as we crossed another estuary that said, Kiawah Island. We drove further and crossed over a bridge and made a right before the security gate and pulled into Beachwalker park...and there is where I met Richard Callahan,Jr. aka Bob and my life would never be the same! Bob was a character and came off as a hardnose, actually I have a better word than that but you get the picture. He was busy lining things up and getting assignments. He assigned us to a crew and off we went. Bob and Denise had just started this company on the resort. He was a veteran and former supervisor at a local chemical plant and she was working at a dentist office. They were a blended family, Bob's two daughters, Dawn and Wendy and Denise's two daughters, Mandy and Carlie, and son, Mark. They ranged from teenagers to the smallest cutest, Carlie who had to be around 6 or 7!

This day would turn out to be an amazing day.

/////As I type this, I realize that this is a book! Anyway...as you will later read Bob became a driving force in my life and taught me tons about business! He beleived in me when no one else would or could and I am forever grateful! Honestly, if you want to hear more of this storied life...please leave me a comment. I will make me commit to writing this unbelievable tribute! I promise you, it gets better and even humorous!