Pop-pop
My Pop-pop (Maternal Grandfather) passed away yesterday. And much like when my Grandmother (Maternal) passed away it's a mixture of feelings. To be honest, I don't have a feeling of loss. I didn't really know the guy.
I know he always had smiles for little tykes:
I know he liked sweets. There were always circus peanuts and peanut m&m's around when we visited.
However, he did not like butter (but would eat shrimp scampi interestingly). He also did not like the cheddar bay biscuits at Red Lobster.
He cheated at board games with little kids. He wanted to be the winner. He would tell me he heard my grandma calling me and then would move his piece ahead on the board while I went to see her in the kitchen. Only to find out she didn't call for me. And then when you told him he cheated he blatantly would tell you he didn't. Yeah...he wasn't kidding either. He wouldn't move his piece...and apparently he did it to his own children as well.
He liked music. And he made me some nice tapes of a famous Jazz clarinetist when I was in band. He introduced me to "How Much is that Doggy in the Window" on one of his records. A song I sing to my kids now. (I mean...my parents may have sung it to me too. It's just the first recollection I have of it.)
He had Bill Cosby records. My brother and I would listen to them and laugh so hard. Our favorite was the "sketch""My Brother Russell, Whom I Slept With." Hilarious. Check it out if you've never heard it.
He served in WWII, and his picture is in a book about WWII. (Sorry...I don't remember which one. My Uncle Tom has it though. Not that that helps you any.)
He used to tell a story about being made to mine during the Great Depression that my Grandma swore was not true.
They had really cool milk jug caps at their house that I thought were fun to play with. (Not really about my Pop-pop so much, but I did always like them.)
And that's about it. It's sad really. Sad that I didn't know him more. And yet, I don't feel any regrets about it. The one thing that I associate with my mom's parents is that despite the negative things I may feel towards them...the did something really great. They created my mom. An amazing, beautiful, smart, hilarious, and loving woman. So, thank you for that Pop-Pop. I pray that you are filled with the happiness that I'm not sure you often felt during your life here on Earth.
I know he always had smiles for little tykes:
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| This is from September 2009. When Gabriel got to meet his Great Grandfather Drill. |
However, he did not like butter (but would eat shrimp scampi interestingly). He also did not like the cheddar bay biscuits at Red Lobster.
He cheated at board games with little kids. He wanted to be the winner. He would tell me he heard my grandma calling me and then would move his piece ahead on the board while I went to see her in the kitchen. Only to find out she didn't call for me. And then when you told him he cheated he blatantly would tell you he didn't. Yeah...he wasn't kidding either. He wouldn't move his piece...and apparently he did it to his own children as well.
He liked music. And he made me some nice tapes of a famous Jazz clarinetist when I was in band. He introduced me to "How Much is that Doggy in the Window" on one of his records. A song I sing to my kids now. (I mean...my parents may have sung it to me too. It's just the first recollection I have of it.)
He had Bill Cosby records. My brother and I would listen to them and laugh so hard. Our favorite was the "sketch""My Brother Russell, Whom I Slept With." Hilarious. Check it out if you've never heard it.
He served in WWII, and his picture is in a book about WWII. (Sorry...I don't remember which one. My Uncle Tom has it though. Not that that helps you any.)
He used to tell a story about being made to mine during the Great Depression that my Grandma swore was not true.
They had really cool milk jug caps at their house that I thought were fun to play with. (Not really about my Pop-pop so much, but I did always like them.)
And that's about it. It's sad really. Sad that I didn't know him more. And yet, I don't feel any regrets about it. The one thing that I associate with my mom's parents is that despite the negative things I may feel towards them...the did something really great. They created my mom. An amazing, beautiful, smart, hilarious, and loving woman. So, thank you for that Pop-Pop. I pray that you are filled with the happiness that I'm not sure you often felt during your life here on Earth.