I have to say happy 83rd to my Grandpa Wilde. The title of this post is slightly off since I don't think I ever would have called him Gramps. Although I always knew he loved us, he is not generally a cuddly bear kind of grandpa. More like a sandpaper-cheek-rub-your-face-raw kind of grandpa.
My grandpa sent me a homemade leather bill fold for Christmas with a bit of cash stuck inside. It definitely isn't fancy, but I'll have it tucked away forever because it's just a reminder of everything I did with him and learned from him too. So here's to you Grandpa!
My grandpa taught me:
- you don't have to say much of anything to have presence
- stick to your principles, no matter what
- money definitely is not everything, even when you have it
- the importance of learning who your ancestors are and the history of where you live
- work hard
- find something you love and do it, because one day you won't get to work anymore and there will be a lot of hours to fill
I lived a mile from my grandparents my whole life before leaving home. Grandpa was a fixture in my growing up. He worked alongside us in so many different capacities, but I have a few memories that will always stand out about him:
1. Making a side for the silage truck with netting and a "homemaker's welder" (the glue gun)
2. Putting out a fire at the greenhouse passing buckets of water from the pond
3. Going to see him for Bishop's interviews, which consisted of, mainly, "You're not doing anything I should know about? Making good choices? Okay, tell me about your [fill in the blank with whatever I was doing at the time]".
4. Him taking me out to teach me how to drive stick so I could drive the farm trucks
5. "Play us a song..." ( I should have done that more often. Too bad I was so shy and self-conscious then)
6. One time when I was being a royal teen pain to my parents, he took me out to move a pipe and proceeded to remind me of the wonderful people my parents are and all they were doing for me. Then he basically told me in not so many words to get over myself and be grateful for what I had. I didn't feel targeted and I wasn't upset he had. I tried to follow his advice. I still do when I find myself having a pity party.
7. Travelling. I went lots of places with my grandparents, but the best was the NWT. It was so interesting to see where he had surveyed the Great Slave Lake and hear his memories of his time there.
In the card that came with the bill fold, my mom said he was looking forward to seeing my kids again. I am looking forward to them seeing him too and getting to know him a little more.
Happy [late] Birthday Grandpa! 83 years of memories and still going strong! Love you.
Reading the title made me laugh because he definitely does not seem like someone to call Gramps! You sure made me think of some great memories about Grandpa as well. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI miss my grandpa. He died when I was a teenager. My other grandpa I didn't really spend a whole lot of time with. You were very blessed.
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