My Pop-Pop was worker, a doer, a man always leaning and moving forward. I was lucky because all the men in my life were like that -my dad, both uncles, my older cousins. They all knew there were two solutions to any problem - work harder or work smarter. 

Whenever they hit an obstacle their 1st reaction was to "bear down" and work harder. While they were catching their breath or when the sun went down, that is when they would figure out the work smarter thing.

When my Pop-Pop died I was asked if I wanted any of his stuff. What I wanted was him alive, but I chose his work boots.

May seem odd, but I never remember seeing him without them. I put the shoes on a shelf and through years they have been symbolic of many things to me, but they were always Pop-Pop's shoes. 

Today, for the 1st time, I realized" those shoes" that have always been Pop-Pop's, the shoes that belong to men I admire the most - Today I realized, those shoes are mine too.

When did that happen?