There are times when I make ready to write this column there are many paths I can choose.

Sometimes my mind immediately goes to current events such a politics or local issues – and even sometimes local accomplishments.

Often though I am far more melancholy or philosophical than I have interest in writing about current events and today is one of those days.

In the past few weeks I have witnessed what I feel like has been an abnormal amount of deaths of those I have known or knew all or most of their families.

One of the things I have often wondered is what would my children say would be the one thing they would remember above all others about me. Not that there might not be more than one thing but I believe for everyone there is one thing that is predominate.

When I look back at my life I had few relatives but even for me I have some vivid memories.

My mother’s parents both passed away before I reached the age for 4. I do have vivid memory of my Grandpa Yoak walking up the sidewalk after a trip to the post office and sitting at the kitchen table using and then cleaning his electric razor.

There are no profound words that I remember but I at least do remember him.

My grandparents on my father’s side of the family left me with some life’s lessons, but my memories of my grandpa are most vivid. Since my parents were divorced my dad didn’t teach me much I could use as a life lesson but I do remember when my grandfather Howard Sr., took my dad Howard Jr., and Howard III (me) trout fishing at a lake in eastern West Virginia.

I will never forget my grandpa standing behind me and rooting for me to catch “that next one” so we could string the fish to take home and eat.

We spent the night in a roadside motel next to a creek and with the window open we could hear the babbling brook – it was amazing sleep.

My grandpa Bond’s mother, Myrtle, was alive for the first 20 years of my life and as my great-grandmother was able to visit and hold my oldest child Carol. She was in a nursing home in Sweet Springs, W.Va., and we went to visit. As we were leaving she called me down close to her lips and told me, “never forget to love her (Carol) every day.”

While I did love Carol every day – and even though she is gone – still do, I have a memory I’ll share in next week’s column.

Some things you never forget.

I was raised by two women. My mom, Betty Jo, and my aunt, Edyth Yoak.

They both had a profound impact on me and they both left me with some amazing memories.

For mom, it was a trip when I was 16 to Atlantic City and the many exciting things that happen on that Boardwalk. We spent a week there. We did so many things and it was such a wonderful experience. My mom didn’t do much year around but she always took a two-week vacation. Those were times I will never forget – and the amazing trips.

For my aunt, who I always referred to as Auntie, my memory is quite simple. I cannot count the number of nights we would sit on the back porch (screened in as I got a little older) and listen to the Cincinnati Reds baseball games.

I can’t recount the number of things I leaned from those deep conversations. I can say though that I will always remember those times.

Sometime, I will get around to asking my children what is something they will remember about me. But, then again, I would have to cry!

And so, for another week, thanks and thirty.