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13 Things I Loved About My Grampa

  1. He had tons of fascinating stories. He lived a fascinating life. He was our go-to guy whenever we had a report due in school. From the dust bowl, to Pearl Harbor, to Merchant Marine life, to construction and everything in between.
  2. He loved his family. No matter what, he supported us.
  3. He was well-read. You could have great debates with him on almost any topic. He was always honest and trust worthy. He was worldly and wise.
  4. Every year after Thanksgiving dinner, when we were not expecting it, he would shoot a spoonful of mashed potatoes or peas or something across the table, yell FOOD FIGHT, and then dive under the table to hide. He then always told Grama it wasn’t him.
  5. When we were kids on Christmas Eve and we couldn’t sleep, he would sneak outside and throw pine-cones on the roof so we would think Santa had arrived. I believed it for a long time, until one night he did it and tripped down the stairs and broke his ankle. My mom had to wake me up to babysit the littler ones while they took him to the hospital. I figured it out while I was sitting there waiting for them to get back. Even a slow 12 year old could deduce it….otherwise why would he be out in the snow, down the front steps, at 2am on Christmas Eve?
  6. He was very predictable when he got older and crankier. To this day us older ones will holler at our kids “Turn down that music! What are you doing having an orgy out there?” or “Shut the door! You’re letting all the cold air in!” and then giggle. The younger kids think we are crazy.
  7. He painted ceramics when he got older and made us beautiful stuff. When we would go visit he would set up all my kids, even the small ones, with paints, brushes and ceramic ornaments and help them paint.
  8. He always had our backs. I was never afraid of anything if he was around.
  9. His example during the last years of his life taught me never to give up. He was a fighter. Seven times in SIX YEARS the doctors gave him 3 months tops to live. He wasn’t ready to go and so he didn’t.
  10. He is famous in many circles for the fact that he was always falling down hills, off porches, into lakes, down stairs, through sheet-rocked walls, off boats and he never, never spilled his beer. I mean never. It was simply amazing. He also never hurt himself (except that time when he broke is ankle). He would just hop up, hoist his beer in the air and say “It’s okay.” It makes for funny stories.
  11. He was the best Canasta partner in the world. He also was an expert at crossword puzzles.
  12. He loved Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! My two faves also. And we all could yell out the answers and it was alright with him. When someone particularly slow was on Wheel, he would yell at them like he was personally offended by their stupidity.
  13. He could build anything. To say he was handy would be an understatement. He was a carpenter for 60 years and he was good with wood.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

  1. Bring Your Own Cheese
  2. Holly
  3. MamaLee
  4. Shelly
  5. Lesley
  6. Frigga
  7. Marcia
  8. Chris
  9. Homemom
  10. Dawn
  11. Linda
  12. tommiea

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!