A Tribute to My Grandpa

My grandpa is an original, one of a kind.  I don't think there was anything he could not fix or do.  He has a love of nature & books that he passed onto me.  He loved to bake sourdough bread.  I will never forget the smell of his "radio room", a mixture of oil, sweat, and dirt!  He led a simple life.  He is devoted to his one wife of over 65 years.  He raised two lovely daughters of which one is my mom.  He likes pie.  If you ask him what his favorite kind of pie is, he will say "hot or cold."  He loves to feed and watch birds.  He used to grow a huge garden.  He used to canoe down White River, camping out on a sand bar when he decided it was time to stop.   He loves chocolate bars.  He served in WWII as a radio operator.  He loves old movies, westerns.  He likes to go for long drives in the country, stopping at an old country-style restaurant.   He used to make lot of things:  a side-car for his bike for us to ride in, wooden bowls, a play kitchen for me for Christmas, so many things.  Like I said before, there was nothing he could not build, fix or do. 

But now the time is coming that we will have to say good-bye.  It is very difficult to watch someone you love suffer.  I really love my grandpa, so many people do.   He is losing the battle with cancer, which is so hard to fight when you are 90.  I am 42 and he is the first "real" grandparent that I have had to face this with.  My paternal grandpa died awhile back, but I did not know him very well.  He chose not to be part of our lives.  I have been very blessed to have my Grandpa to love and be loved by. 

I am going to see him on Monday.  I just want to hug him and tell him I love him.  ♥