Johnny Lee Acker.
You are one month old today.
You are the namesake of my baby brother Johnny and my Daddy John L. Acker.
I knew your Grandfather John Lee Acker, Great Grandfather John Lewis Acker and Great Great Grandfather Glen Vance Acker.
You come from a long line of hard headed and tender hearted men.
Tough as nails.
But known to shed a tear.
And that’s okay.
That is what I miss about all of them. Feeling loved. Protected. And proud of their sons.
Daddy once cried after we lost Johnny and said, “I don’t know if he knew how much I loved him.”
He knew.
We all knew.
Johnny was everyone’s favorite.
Mischievous. Charming. And maddening.
No one could make so much fun of me and make me madder and laugh at the same time.
When I miss him, I try to close my eyes and feel the sunshine on my face.
I try to laugh when it rains.
And I try my best to live out loud. Love so strong that it takes your breath.
Just like his hugs. He gave the best. Just like his Daddy.
Joah, I would give anything for you to have memories of your own.
I promise to do my best to give you mine.
Johnny would have been the best granddaddy. Ever.
I owe him that.
I miss how no one calls me Sister anymore.
But Aunt Cheryl sounds poetic when I hear you and Luke echo the sound of your Daddy.
I see your Daddy in every move you both make. And you don’t even know it.
But he is there. And he always will be. He is in your love.
For each other. Your children now and those to come. For your wife and your family.
Your laughter. Your mistakes.
And in the mirror.
Let the Johnny stories begin.
All my love,
Aunt Cheryl
cherylsuzette 