Four Score & Five Years

"Birthdays are good for you.
Studies show that the people who have the most,
live the longest."
- Unknown

Friday evening we celebrated my grandfather's 85th birthday. As I sat at my computer late that night my mind was flooded with memories. My eyes stung with happy tears. Wanting to write a post but being so tired, I began a simple list to be revisited later. Now it is later.

The majority of my happy childhood memories revolve around visits with my grandparents, Nannie & Poppie, at their home not far from where we live now. We didn't live here when I was growing up so most of our visits took place over holidays and summers - happy events to begin with.

Words on a blog could never come close to describing the deep, life-changing impact Poppie has had on my life. But, I can honor him as I share with you some glimpses into my memories of him.

These things flash through my mind when I remember being very little and being with my Poppie: hearing him pray, making oatmeal raisin cookies, listening to him tell me Meese’s stories, his Donald Duck voice, rides in the wheel barrow, and whiskery kisses. Meeses were really mice and there was always a Jenny Meese.

Later we often had long talks. Not meaning that the conversations themselves were long. They were carefully chosen words that spread over the time it took to fish, pull weeds, take a walk, plant tomatoes, pick berries or take a drive to go help a neighbor. I only remember the topics of a few of those talks but all of them left me with a sense that I was cared for; that what I had to say was valued and worth the listening.

He taught me how to, among other things: bait a hook, cast a fly, clean a fish and row a boat.

I was called Petunia, Petunia Bud, Hortence, Alice or Ol’ Bean more often than I was called by my given name. I still get Alice and Ol' Bean every once in a while.

To this day I love to see a bright orange salamander or tiny brown toads. Why? Because I can close my eyes and feel the summer sun on my face, smell cut grass and freshly tilled earth, see Poppie walking toward me in the garden saying the familiar with a smile much like the one in the picture above, "Close your eyes and hold out your hands..." then feel a wriggly, miniature reptile in my palm.

The endeavors and accomplishments of any of his offspring (blood-related or by-marriage) bring him more pride and joy than I have ever seen in one person. He is the ultimate bragger in the absolute best way possible.

He helped to care for, with tenderness and love, his mother-in-law for the many years that she lived under his roof until her peaceful home-going in 1995. I'm so thankful for that legacy given to me by both him and my Nannie. That legacy began well before I was born when they also cared for both of his parents in the same way.

It's my turn now. I can never repay what he has given to me. But I can give him unconditional love. Shower him with affection and appreciation. I can slow my pace a bit and just be there.

The ripples of time have begun to smooth out many memories for him. They aren't so quickly called to mind. Some have faded away completely. But, because he loves a good story, we re-visit those memories with him. And we are all the richer for it.