Papaw is still with us

It has been over a year since Papaw died, but he is still with us.
He goes with us nearly everywhere, actually.
I daresay he has gone more places after death than he went for at least the last 10 years of his life.

This is Papaw.

It is M's Papaw pillow that my MIL made for him after Papaw died.
We just call it Papaw.

M sleeps with Papaw.
M often takes Papaw to the basement after school to play video games.
At least a few times a week someone in the house will say,
"Where's Papaw?"
or
"Do you know where Papaw is?"
or
"I gotta get Papaw."
Every morning when he comes downstairs, M is holding Papaw.
Papaw often sits with M at the breakfast table.
M always leaves Papaw on the table beside the front door when he leaves for school.

Papaw went to Hilton Head with us this past summer.
Papaw often goes to music class and drama class and the store, although he sits and waits in the car until we come back out.

The rest of us--me, D, N, and G--also have Papaw pillows, but they stay in our rooms.

Only M keeps his right by his side.

M was the only one who didn't cry at Papaw's funeral, and he is the one who clings to this pillow like a little lifeline or security blanket.
This is how he grieves, and it makes me smile.