My thoughts about Gramp

I didn't realize I didn't put these up yet, but I wanted to say a few things about my grandpa.

Gramp was a character; to explain him, I would always mention his "Fraternal Order of Geezers", which had three rules for membership:
1. you have to be at least somewhat interesting
2. you have to be at least somewhat intelligent
3. you have to be able to pay for your own lunch

He always had that sort of dry but warm-hearted sense of humor about everything he did. Sometimes I feel like that I've got that sense of humor myself, so I started thinking about other aspects that I hope I inherited from him:
- a healthy dose of denial of bad things in life
- a love of skiing
- a very logical mind (as I follow in his footsteps a little bit by starting a career in engineering)
- the ability to cut through nonsense and do whatever the hell he decides to do. My mom wrote a poem about him at one point that ended with the line "he taught us we can do anything."
- incredible money managing skills. He never made a ton, but he invested well. I remember one time he counted up everything he owned (including his dog, which he valued at $300) and found out that he was quite literally a millionaire. A $1.3 millionaire, in fact. Although, in his words, "having a million dollars isn't what it used to be."
- creativity! He wrote a novel! It never got published (I don't think) but it was close. He also made great Halloween costumes, and a remote-controlled dinosaur.
- adventurousness, both in terms of travel (I'm not sure where all he traveled to, but he traveled a bit) and life in general. Even in his old age, he would buy computers and stuff.
- ability to function despite handicaps (like not being able to see very well)
- probably most importantly, a sense of happiness with life. My mom recalls how he always whistled while he worked, quite literally.

If I've got half of these, I'd be thrilled. He was quite a renaissance guy, loving, and happy, and there's not much higher praise in my mind.

Poem from Cheryl 5-24-08

Gramp,
It was beautiful the day you died.
The sky was more magnificent than usual
I knew you were all around us.

We almost shared a birthday-
Yours was one day after mine, on August 23rd.
Sometimes I was lucky enough to be in Cincinnati to share a birthday cake.
It was always vacation to visit you.
You greeted me with a big, firm hug and said “How’s my babydoll?” even when I was 17.
Colorful jellybeans, chocolate raisins, Graeter’s ice cream.
Long-anticipated trips to LaRosa’s pizza, sometimes followed by ice cream next door.
Walks with Ruffie, and then Cutie in the park.
Swims in your backyard pool- from floaties to swimming laps.

Skiing was always the best when you and Grandma joined us.
You taught me to ski at Peak n’ Peak,
Where we would take breaks and eat cheese and crackers at the cabin,
Sometimes dancing in our ski boots on the porch.
Later we were lucky enough to go to Boyne in Michigan.
You skied like a pro, even just a decade ago.
I remember you around the holidays, sharing happy Christmas Eve dinners and Christmas mornings with us.
You always made the holidays complete.

When you moved to Florida, we would go out for lunch, looking at clear skies and puffy clouds over the golf courses.
We shared a golf cart ride, in which you asked if I had plans for a future career yet.
I shyly replied that I didn’t know yet, and you suggested being a permanent McDonald’s employee.
I always enjoyed your sense of humor, as did everyone you met.
Goodbye photos in front of your garage,
Took time then, but I make time now to look at them.

I am so proud of you.
You were such an amazing man and I am so lucky you were my grandfather.
Your incredible tenacity in fighting cancer was awe-inspiring; you never made anyone else feel your pain.
We did though, and we know it was very hard for you.
You are in each of our hearts. You touched us and we will never forget you.
The greatest lesson you taught me was to seize life and appreciate every moment, never losing a sense of humor along the way.

It was beautiful the day you died, just as I see now it is always a beautiful day.
I know you’re all around us.
Cheryl