Cracker Barrel July 2005
This is what I read at my Grandpa's memorial service
July 7, 2011
My Grandpa
I only had one Grandpa, so it’s easy to say that he was my favorite. But, I’ve always thought that because I only had one Grandpa, God gave me an extra special one. Despite living far away from us, Grandpa always made time to make sure that we knew we were loved. Sometimes that was making sure our visits were extra special, sometimes it was mailing us a newspaper article and sometimes it was buying candy bars for our school fundraisers… and letting us keep the candy.
I remember when I was about 4 years old he took me and my brothers on a bus ride to the mall, where we had lunch. To this day I have a special place in my heart for buses because of that simple trip. It wasn’t that we went anywhere great or that we did anything spectacular it was that it was just us and our Grandpa. That’s just the first memory I have of many great outings we did together, though it’s probably my favorite.
When I was five or six my Grandma taught me to tie shoes, but it was my Grandpa who endured me sitting at his feet for hours, untying and retying his giant shoes. He had endless patience when it came to us kids, it seems, even when we were endlessly underfoot, following him around while he fixed things. Grandpa could fix ANYthing, or so we thought.
When I came up to visit one year he took me out to Pompey’s Pillar to see where William Clark carved his name in to the rock. He was really excited to take me, and we had a lot of fun that day. He would often mention that visit during the past several years. In 2004 the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Stamp came out. He decided that I HAD to have that stamp, including the special envelope that was given out for the First Day of Issue. Despite the fact that he was nearly blind by this time and no longer driving it became his mission to find me this stamp. It took him a while to track it down, often asking friends who were visiting neighboring towns to go and look at the post office for him. He was so proud when he was finally able to send it to me. I have it framed in my house, a reminder of how much my Grandpa loved me and how simple acts can show a great deal of love.
He always remembered each of our birthdays. There was always a card, a birthday check and a phone call. Phone calls might not seem like such a big deal now in the days of cell phones but when we were kids that phone call was not just long distance but also only OUR call. We loved not having to share the phone with anyone, getting to talk to Grandma and Grandpa for just a little by ourselves. Grandpa continued to call us even when we were adults. When we got married he included our spouses in the card and birthday check tradition. My husband was really touched the first year we were married when a check showed up in the mail for him.
Christmases were always Grandma and Grandpa Time. They would fly or drive down and spoil us rotten. When we were kids and would dutifully troupe over to give him a thank you hug he would often quip “What’d I get you?” After my grandma passed, Grandpa never missed a Christmas. He always sent the cards and checks to my mom so that we could open them all together on Christmas Day.
It’s impossible to talk about my Grandpa without talking about my Grandma. My Grandpa adored my Grandma. When my Grandma’s paper weights were stolen, Grandpa walked around the pawn shops for months before finally finding them for her. When she got sick he was her primary caregiver for a long time. My mom would call to check on things and my Grandpa would say that he was taking care of his “Little One.” I asked Grandpa a few weeks ago how long he and Grandma were married and he replied “Forty-four years” “Wow,” I said “That’s a long time” “Not long enough,” was his response.
I think of him now, with her. He’s probably sitting on a counter, drinking his black coffee, while she stands next to him making her perfect toast. I am glad that he is with God and has been made whole and strong again, and that one day we will all be together again in heaven.
I remember when I was about 4 years old he took me and my brothers on a bus ride to the mall, where we had lunch. To this day I have a special place in my heart for buses because of that simple trip. It wasn’t that we went anywhere great or that we did anything spectacular it was that it was just us and our Grandpa. That’s just the first memory I have of many great outings we did together, though it’s probably my favorite.
When I was five or six my Grandma taught me to tie shoes, but it was my Grandpa who endured me sitting at his feet for hours, untying and retying his giant shoes. He had endless patience when it came to us kids, it seems, even when we were endlessly underfoot, following him around while he fixed things. Grandpa could fix ANYthing, or so we thought.
When I came up to visit one year he took me out to Pompey’s Pillar to see where William Clark carved his name in to the rock. He was really excited to take me, and we had a lot of fun that day. He would often mention that visit during the past several years. In 2004 the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Stamp came out. He decided that I HAD to have that stamp, including the special envelope that was given out for the First Day of Issue. Despite the fact that he was nearly blind by this time and no longer driving it became his mission to find me this stamp. It took him a while to track it down, often asking friends who were visiting neighboring towns to go and look at the post office for him. He was so proud when he was finally able to send it to me. I have it framed in my house, a reminder of how much my Grandpa loved me and how simple acts can show a great deal of love.
He always remembered each of our birthdays. There was always a card, a birthday check and a phone call. Phone calls might not seem like such a big deal now in the days of cell phones but when we were kids that phone call was not just long distance but also only OUR call. We loved not having to share the phone with anyone, getting to talk to Grandma and Grandpa for just a little by ourselves. Grandpa continued to call us even when we were adults. When we got married he included our spouses in the card and birthday check tradition. My husband was really touched the first year we were married when a check showed up in the mail for him.
Christmases were always Grandma and Grandpa Time. They would fly or drive down and spoil us rotten. When we were kids and would dutifully troupe over to give him a thank you hug he would often quip “What’d I get you?” After my grandma passed, Grandpa never missed a Christmas. He always sent the cards and checks to my mom so that we could open them all together on Christmas Day.
It’s impossible to talk about my Grandpa without talking about my Grandma. My Grandpa adored my Grandma. When my Grandma’s paper weights were stolen, Grandpa walked around the pawn shops for months before finally finding them for her. When she got sick he was her primary caregiver for a long time. My mom would call to check on things and my Grandpa would say that he was taking care of his “Little One.” I asked Grandpa a few weeks ago how long he and Grandma were married and he replied “Forty-four years” “Wow,” I said “That’s a long time” “Not long enough,” was his response.
I think of him now, with her. He’s probably sitting on a counter, drinking his black coffee, while she stands next to him making her perfect toast. I am glad that he is with God and has been made whole and strong again, and that one day we will all be together again in heaven.
That really warmed my heart, Anna. Even though I didn't know your grandpa, just reading that blessed me! You were are a very lucky granddaughter to have had him as your grandpa.May he rest in peace in the arms of the Lord.
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