This is the one I originally began to write tonight.... But The Big Eskimo took first place.... So now it is down to business.. This one comes with a warning though, you most likely will need a whole box of kleenex or puffs or hell just get the hand towel from the bathroom.. Smooches..........Oh and I apologize in advance to my wonderful, loving husband it is about you sweet but he came first.....
Oh they say little girls marry their dads. That is true for some but others not so true. In my case it was my grandfather. I married the third time my grandfather, I just did not know it but I am slowly finding it out. There is no other love like grandpas love. It is strong, and fun like ice cream. So this is the true story of how I have come to realize I married my grandfather. There are vast differences but so many things like him it is amazing.
We moved to the lake with Grandpa and Granny when I was about 4. In essence if you question me I will tell you that they raised me. Oh sure Mom was here and there but for the most part I was left to design with Granny and Grandpa. It was fun. I got away with things that most kids would not have. And most times, I had Grandpa's undivided attention. He taught me to ride a bike. Oh lord there were many a skinned knee and he had to hold his stomach in to keep the vomit back from the blood. He would scoop me up and bring me to Granny to doctor. Then we were right back at it. He helped me learn to roller skate down the big hill in the back driveway. Oh it is not so much of a hill now that I am older but back then it was a mountain compared to now. He taught me how to fish, and bait a hook although I refuse to touch the slim of the minnows or worms.Many nights were spent at the kitchen table, he beer in hand and me root beer in hand listening to the Rangers.I remember all that as if it were yesterday. He even cheered them on when it seemed no one else would. I am not certain what his addiction to baseball was but during the season, you knew where to find the two of us. I miss that. This year after the Rangers won the World Series, I cried out of sadness that he was not here on earth so we could listen to it together. Even after they televised the games, he would still sit with the radio at the table or out on the back patio and listen to it. Sunday's though during football were left to the men... When I was sick, he would give me coffee and peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Oh looking back I think I faked a few illnesses just to hang out with him.I would follow him like a lost dog round and round the yard while he mowed most times on my bike, but others on foot. I would help him change the sprinklers out when it came time. I know I aggervated him, tell me what other girl had her grandpa to herself 24/7? The coffee was the best part.I remember onetime I had this dreaded stomach thing. Not like the virus we have now, but worse. He went with mom when I dehydrated to the hospital. He even bought me a poo bear and a lenny the lion. I still have both of them.
But Grandpa worked sun up to sun down for the railroad. ( yes there were train rides sometimes when I was sick. That was fun fun in the sun.......I got to blow the whistle...) When he came home the the fall, spring and summer there was always plenty of work that had to be done. That was the best part of my day when he came home. I never realized until I got older that Grandpa working like this was well a health hazard. When you work like he did you learn that there is nothing else you learn to do. Oh he had time but he felt like he did not . I remember that he would work until it was done even though he was flat out exhausted. I watched him work tirelessly. Not just on house chores but me things that I thought I needed done. One year, he built me a chicken coop as I got some baby chicks. He built it as I watched and uh helped. That was the best chicken coop I had ever seen. He made it where the chicks had access to the grass but nothing could get them. A few years later, it was revamped into a rabbit hutch on legs with some stronger wire for the top and sides and a better roof for drainage. He did not want those hoot owls to swoop and get my bunnies. I remember that it sleated one year, and he in the wee hours of the morning, went out there to get Mrs. Bunny and Mr. Wabbit. To his surprise, those bunnies had multiplied and there was more of them. He carried them all in the house his arms full and granny hollering what in the hell is all that and where do you think we are going to put them? He knew. He hooked up a space heater in the garage and brought that bunny hutch in. It was about this time that he decided after 30 years with the rail road, he needed to retire. I noticed a change in him. He began to drink. People knew it but at the time I was too young to realize what was happening. All I knew was suddenly there was no more following him around like a lost dog.
Then tragedy happened. My big lumbering lab, who loathed motorcycles, the ups man, and loud trucks and buses was out in the driveway with him one day. Grandpa had been a part of me getting this one. He even helped teach that dog how to dive in the lake after me. The lumbering doggie of 2 years heard the bus coming down the hill. He also spotted a wild rabbit and even though he slept with 2 rabbits at night, he went after this one BAM! right in front of that bus loaded with 5 year olds. She could not stop no way, and the dog did not know what hit him. Grandpa ran to see about him and it was too late. Gone was he. Grandpa did the only thing he knew to do. He lifted that dog into the back of the pick up and off to the vet they went. The vet said he was sorry but he suffered no pain. Grandpa brought him home and dug a hole and buried him. Gpa then proceed to get drunk and come get me from school 3 hours early. He told them that he thought it was 3 in the afternoon. It was only noon. Things were not as they are now. No way today would they have let me go with him in that condition but the administration let me go. I just remember my 3rd grade teacher telling me she loved me and that if I needed something to call the school. We got home and I laughed all the way home as he swerved and ziged and zaged all over the road. Looking back God is the only thing that saved us that day. He did not tell me until we got home what had happened and I cried. No more Chase. No more fun. The mail man came and Granny had a package to pick up. By this time Granny was home and not saying much to him. I just remember I had gone to sleep and I woke up to her yelling and begging him not to go. He did anyway. He was gone a long time that afternoon. Soon evening came and still no sign of him. About 10 that night, we heard a loud noise outside. It was a tow truck bringing what was left of the old bomb ( the truck) home. Gpa had already been to the hospital and had stitches in his forehead and arm. I just remember Granny and he going at it again. They yelled for what seemed like hours. My mom told me I was no longer allowed to ride with him unless she or Granny was with us. I did not understand at the time why but now I do.
Seasons past and I grew up and was into my sophomore year in high school. He had changed and had begun doing things that were not normal for him. Long story short, he had Alzheimer's. It was about the early fall when my Granny's sister called for help and her to come to Arizona. She went and she told me she was sorry to leave me with all this but she had to go and that she was only a phone call away. We put her on a plane and my life changed as well. Granny had put Gpa in diapers as he would soil himself. It was like raising a kid. I figured at 15 that since he had literally raised me, I could raise him. It was out of respect and dignity that I did. Mom was at work one afternoon and the rangers had an afternoon game. I sat on the couch with the old radio and turned it on. He snapped out of his delusion long enough to listen. He never said a word to me he just acted like he was drinking a beer and smoking the whole time, even though he was not. I just kept talking to him. That would be our last game together. He progressively got worse. One afternoon, something told me I had to leave school early. I managed to go and am glad I did. I came home and opened the door, as he was by himself. I instantly smelled smoke and could see it billowing in the laundry room. I got his attention and told him he had to get out. He just sat there and looked at me and told me to stop playing. I grabbed him and shoved him out onto the porch. The freezer in the laundry room had shorted out and was sparking. If I would have stayed at school I can only imagine. I am not sure to this day why, but I just remember being mad at him for not listening to me. I mean did he not understand and know what was happening? No he did not. The Fire department came and I had him back in the house in his rocker. I waited for them with the front door open as I called mom as well. She threatened me not to call Granny yet but I did. I came in and checked on him and he was squatted down digging in the chair. I asked him what he was doing well not that nice but you understand I was frustrated and scared, and he turned around and told me "I am gettin us worms to go fishing come on jenaroo we gotta go the bass are running." I humored him as the firemen came and we went fishing in the living room off of the coffee table. He even handed the firemen a beer or two and we went on. I do know he told them at one point that they better hush cause they were scaring the fish away. He even had a basket full of bass and a big old catfish. I will never forget this day. it is etched in my brain like a brand on the side of a cow. I did not know what else to do.
Thing go on and he gets worse. I had moved out and gotten married and had Blondie when the call came in that day. Granny was calling and begging me to come out. I told her I did not have the car so could she come get me and she told me no that Gpa was laying in the middle of the living-room floor and was refusing to go to the doctor. I told her to call the ambulance and I would be right there. I got there just as they were putting him in. I went to the hospital with them and the news was not good. He has suffered his first of many strokes. He went on living in a condition I never want to see anyone live in. I felt helpless as there was nothing anybody could do. I prayed for him to not be in pain and to just let go. Finally it happened. He went quietly and without incident. I was alone with him when it happened. I was 21 and had never really experienced death. I just know that the nurse was trying to comfort me and nothing would do.I know more about strokes and alzehimer's then most folks. I read all I could even though he was gone. I wanted to know what killed him and how to stop it. It is like a run away freight train that can not be stopped. Today we know more and I am certain if he would have survived we could have gotten him a lot more help.
See many many moons later, I have discovered that I married in some aspects my Gpa. Honeyboo works sun up to sun down then when he can comes home and works more. I follow him around like a lost dog most times. I look at honeyboo and think what a strong man who loves me no matter what, just like Gpa. Even though I may screw up and do things like running over the mailbox or moving something I should not I know they love me. Honeyboo, you are the second greatest man I know. I hope you live to be 100. Honeyboo does not drink and so far his memory has not slipped well ok but you know what I mean. And just like Gpa you are always building something from nothing for me......
smooches and night yall.......
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