Growing up I have many fond memories of my grandfather. I am just going to brainstorm a few.
-the smell of his pipe tobacco
-spending the night listening to his tv shows from the upstairs room my mother slept in as a child
-walking downstairs to his workshop and smelling the fresh sawdust of his latest project
-watching him whittle away creating spoons, bud vases, and many more useful items
-watching him study over different articles on his desk that only he could navigate through
-listening to him chuckle as he read books that had as much dry humor as he did
-curling up on the couch on a summer evening watching a classic movie (anything with Audrey Hepburn, Katherine Hepburn, Bing Crosby, and Shirley Temple to name a few)
-enjoying the classic movie "The Sound of Music" around Christmas time
-ginger snap cookies. I still think the grocery store only sold them for the Pearsall family.
-feeling special because he has shown me where his secret stash of Oreos are located (only to find out years later my mom knows where they are too)
-interviewing him in college about his experiences in the World War and with the Merchant Marines
-watching him pat "Isabell" on the behind as she passes his chair
-listening to him tell their dating story over and over
-watching him keep the fire burning in the fire place (at times I always wondered if you really needed to poke the fire as much as he did, but he always seemed to enjoy tending to it)
-wondering how comfortable his chair really was (it was not very comfortable, but it was HIS chair and his work area)
-secretly wishing I could explore the drawers of the side table next to his chairs (he had a secret stash of something in there I am sure).
-Lollipop (my name to him since June 11, 1977)
-feeling proud to have my son carry his name on in our family (Hunter is only known as "Sambo" to him.)
-enjoying his fun creations in the yard -the largest tree swing EVER and the trolley in the woods
-helping him wind the 20 clocks in their house (what seemed to be)
-the taste of Baker's Bread in the toaster oven
-sneaking sausage balls in Christmas morning
-helping him taste the carvings of the ham as he sliced it
-his homemade pizza was one of a kind
There are so many more. Brainstorming these memories has made me realize even more how special of a man he was. He was one of a kind and made a huge mark on this world. Now he is making his mark in a place that is more glorious than anyone can imagine.
