Memories of Grandpa
My dad did the eulogy at my grandpa's funeral today, and he asked us to write out some memories as grandkids. This is what I gave him...
- Grandpa was a quiet and gentle person with an awesome sense of humor. He made the perfect grandfather.
-One of my first memories is when I was about three years old and he led me around the yard and neighborhood on a borrowed pony. I loved it!
-We used to tease each other about our difference of opinion on country music: he loved it and I hated it, although I think he felt a slight victory when I came around to bluegrass.
-In May, he came to my Appalachian clogging “graduation” where we did a bunch of clogging routines when I got my “bachelors in clogging.” He was grinning the whole time, and afterword said he liked it so much he wanted to sponsor my tuition of clogging classes until I got my “doctorate.” Since then he gave me the $12 a month, and a few days before the stroke he asked me if I needed the tuition money for August.
-Every now and then, a $20 bill would show up in my room with a sticky note that said “Buffer Bucks.”
-About three weeks ago, I was in the woods in the backyard and came up the trail to find Grandpa building a fire at the fire-pit. I sat out by the fire with him for awhile, and we ate some chips and talked.
-I loved making him laugh, and he loved making me laugh. That was the main way we communicated.
-He was always doing little things for me, like buying me stamps and giving me all the free stickers he got from donating to every cause under the sun. He did little things to make me comfortable at all times...if I was in the hammock, he’d ask me if I wanted a pillow. If he was in the kitchen, he’d ask if I wanted him to peel an apple—always accompanied with “Are you sure? There’s no extra charge” if I declined.
-Recently I was out on the porch studying on a fairly hot summer afternoon, and Grandpa saw me out there and figured I was probably hot, and got a fan that was out on the porch and got it all situated and plugged it in, and it wouldn’t work. He tried everything to get it to work—even went down to check the breakers. I kept telling him it was ok, that he didn’t need to worry about it. Finally we looked again in the electrical socket and noticed that the “test” button had been pushed. As soon as we got it reset, the fan came on, and we both had a good laugh.
-He loved playing pranks on Grandma, and you knew it was coming when he said, “Watch this!”
-I loved watching old Westerns or Turner Classic movies with him and we’d comment all the way through them.
-I loved talking landscape talk with him, and hearing about his latest project.
-Not too long ago, Grandpa got a new green wagon to go behind his John Deere. He was so excited about it. After he got it all put together, he put Grandma in it and took her for a little ride. :)
-Grandma and Grandpa’s marriage has been inspiring for me to watch up close over the last few years. I felt so privileged to see how they loved and interacted with each other.
- Grandpa was a quiet and gentle person with an awesome sense of humor. He made the perfect grandfather.
-One of my first memories is when I was about three years old and he led me around the yard and neighborhood on a borrowed pony. I loved it!
-We used to tease each other about our difference of opinion on country music: he loved it and I hated it, although I think he felt a slight victory when I came around to bluegrass.
-In May, he came to my Appalachian clogging “graduation” where we did a bunch of clogging routines when I got my “bachelors in clogging.” He was grinning the whole time, and afterword said he liked it so much he wanted to sponsor my tuition of clogging classes until I got my “doctorate.” Since then he gave me the $12 a month, and a few days before the stroke he asked me if I needed the tuition money for August.
-Every now and then, a $20 bill would show up in my room with a sticky note that said “Buffer Bucks.”
-About three weeks ago, I was in the woods in the backyard and came up the trail to find Grandpa building a fire at the fire-pit. I sat out by the fire with him for awhile, and we ate some chips and talked.
-I loved making him laugh, and he loved making me laugh. That was the main way we communicated.
-He was always doing little things for me, like buying me stamps and giving me all the free stickers he got from donating to every cause under the sun. He did little things to make me comfortable at all times...if I was in the hammock, he’d ask me if I wanted a pillow. If he was in the kitchen, he’d ask if I wanted him to peel an apple—always accompanied with “Are you sure? There’s no extra charge” if I declined.
-Recently I was out on the porch studying on a fairly hot summer afternoon, and Grandpa saw me out there and figured I was probably hot, and got a fan that was out on the porch and got it all situated and plugged it in, and it wouldn’t work. He tried everything to get it to work—even went down to check the breakers. I kept telling him it was ok, that he didn’t need to worry about it. Finally we looked again in the electrical socket and noticed that the “test” button had been pushed. As soon as we got it reset, the fan came on, and we both had a good laugh.
-He loved playing pranks on Grandma, and you knew it was coming when he said, “Watch this!”
-I loved watching old Westerns or Turner Classic movies with him and we’d comment all the way through them.
-I loved talking landscape talk with him, and hearing about his latest project.
-Not too long ago, Grandpa got a new green wagon to go behind his John Deere. He was so excited about it. After he got it all put together, he put Grandma in it and took her for a little ride. :)
-Grandma and Grandpa’s marriage has been inspiring for me to watch up close over the last few years. I felt so privileged to see how they loved and interacted with each other.
Thanks for sharing the memories. Although my visits with your grandfather were few I had seen the qualities talked about today. The memory I treasure is the Sabbath lunch we ate on the porch this summer. I arrived at the house before you did and your grandparents welcomed in and offered food without any question as to where you were They had finished eating before we arrived and he reclined in the hammock and your grandma sat near reading. It was tranquil. I also loved how he loved your clogging.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that memory. That was a really neat afternoon. Thanks also for coming to the funeral today. That meant a lot.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Elisa, the way they always welcomed me into their house even if you weren't there. Before I left to come out west I was at your house eating lunch with them and I spilled some soymilk on the floor in the sun room and your grandpa was so funny about it. He talked like it was nothing and made jokes which made me feel better. Plus he didn't like the new milk your grandma was trying out and probably wished he could do the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI loved his voice, it was a wise teachers voice and it was a loving voice that would always have a smile to it.
Very true. Thanks for sharing. I am passing these along to my Grandma.
ReplyDelete