When I think about my Grandfather when I was young I remember bike rides, tennis, gardening, and how he ran Bloomsday every year. I'll never forget the year that it occured to me I should ask to go play tennis because I hadn't been interested in so long. I went to ask him to play and he told me he hadn't played tennis in a long time. I'm a little sad about it. I guess I'll just have to come to terms with the fact that I didn't want to play tennis as a teen (I wasn't good at many sports, so I avoided them) and I can't blame myself for "being me." But today, I really wish I had taken to time to learn to play tennis from him. I wish I had gone on more bike rides, helped in the garden more and run Bloomsday with him! Now he's into golf. I really am not interested in golf...but if the previous story is any kind of lesson, I should probably try to learn to golf! We used to play ping pong down int he basement. Now he's got a pool table, and, AGAIN - next time I am visiting, I need to go play pool...no matter how BAD I am at it.
I remember him making pancake breakfasts, feeding me prunes, grapefruit, V8 and sherbet. (Those memories go with my grandma too). Not those together mind you.
Both of my grandparents have taught me a lot about working hard and serving others, being involved in your community and your faith. My relationship with my grandfather went through a rough patch around the time I was 19 (imagine that) but since we came out of it I am very thankful for the chances I've had to see his strong faith.
The older I get the more I realize I don't know about my grandparents. I only saw their wedding album a few years before their 50th wedding anniversary (2005) when my cousin was looking at it. A few years ago, I asked him about being in the Army and only then did I learn that he expected to go to Korea, but was sent to Alaska instead!
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