My grandad once told me “OJ, Our story begins long before we are born and will end long after we’re gone.”
If that’s true, my story had the holiest of beginnings when my grandfather Charles Linwood Dobbin was born on July 27th, 1932.
My grandad Charles was the type of man that was always greeted with an enthusiastic “Charles!!” whenever he entered a room. Everyone knew his presence meant someone was about to laugh at one of his many stories; someone was going to feel encouraged from the infinite wisdom he had to share, and sometimes, his presence meant someone was about to eat some good fried fish :).
There was no room he entered where people’s spirits weren’t lifted. I remember taking him to a local barbershop once - as soon as he entered the shop everyone yelled “Uncle Charles!!” - although none of them were actually his family. But as he sat in the chair and went into his normal routine of cracking jokes, sharing insight, and encouraging others, everyone in the whole room would be smiling - and we all would feel like family by the time he left. He was “Uncle Charles” to all indeed.
As I got older I started to realize how special his wisdom, insight, and jokes were - I would often feel chills when we talked, like I was talking with Jesus through him. So I began recording some of our conversations.
Some of my favorite moments from our conversations included hearing him talk about his relationship with my grandmother. Although rare at the time, my grandad believed in the importance of listening to your partner and working as a team. He said he never did anything unless there was a consensus. And that he valued her input because he believed that just because he was a man it didn’t mean he knew everything.
He was one of the wisest men I knew, but he would often finish his thoughts with the phrase, “that’s just my opinion, OJ” or “that’s just the way I think about it”… Seeming to humbly acknowledge that something he believed could be wrong and that he was always open to learning something new. A big acknowledgment for someone as wise and intelligent as my grandfather.
Unfortunately although my grandfather was one of the wisest men I knew, the color of his skin stunted his ability to achieve all that his intellect could have accomplished. He didn’t reflect on that too much though - he would often tell me “OJ, times were hard back then but we got through.” He was a Stoic in that way - having an impeccable ability to see a situation or problem for what it was and move through it instead of getting stuck in it. When I’d ask him what helped him get through such times, he’d reply “good ole common sense.”
Lastly, from our conversations I know he deeply loved me. During moments of silence between us he would often break the silence by saying “OJ, I’m proud of you.”
And I noticed in our last few conversations he would say my name - OJ - frequently as he finished his sentences. He said it as someone says another person’s name that they are trying to comfort. It was almost like he knew I’d need to hear his voice calling my name after he was gone to remind me of how important, valued, and loved I am.
My grandad was one of the best men I knew. His ability to make others laugh, share insight from heaven and lift the spirits of those around him leaves an impact that will last far past his passing on April 3rd, 2023.
And I think my grandad was right about our stories - because anytime I say something funny, share a little insight with my students or am greeted with an enthusiastic Orlandoo!!, I know people are still being touched by his story.
July 27th, 1932 - April 3rd, 2023
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