Today my Grandfather (my mom's dad) turns 91. I know it's not "Today's Show" old or anything, but still impressive. Last year for his 90th Birthday our family put together a list of our 90 favorite things about our favorite 90 year old. Here are a few of my favorites, written by his wife of 58 years, 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren:
2. Conrad and I met in the fall and that winter the country roads were often closed due to bad weather. He would walk the three miles to our house once a week. Before he left he would say "Did you ever have the feeling that you want to stay, but must go?"
8. He wears a bright colored cap on his head so I can always find him.
9. A few years ago Conrad bought a pair of pants at the thrift store, and when I went to wash them, I noticed that I had hemmed that very pair of pants before. He bought them BACK!
9. A few years ago Conrad bought a pair of pants at the thrift store, and when I went to wash them, I noticed that I had hemmed that very pair of pants before. He bought them BACK!
19. I loved all of the wonderful stories you told us at bedtime.
20. I love how you make me smile when I talk to you on the phone.
20. I love how you make me smile when I talk to you on the phone.
21. Dad taught me how to Make and eat lefse.
22. Dad taught me how to fillet a fish.
22. Dad taught me how to fillet a fish.
28. Every year he calls to sing me Happy Birthday.
31. Memories of sitting on Grandpa’s lap as a child at the piano. He taught me my first piano tune-"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
32. Is there any instrument Grandpa can’t or hasn't played with strings or keys? He is the most talented musician that I know. While I can play piano a little by reading music, I credit the ability to play "by ear" a gift from Grandpa.
32. Is there any instrument Grandpa can’t or hasn't played with strings or keys? He is the most talented musician that I know. While I can play piano a little by reading music, I credit the ability to play "by ear" a gift from Grandpa.
36. Grandpa’s laughter is contagious. It will brighten anyone’s day. Perhaps it is part of the secret to a long and blissful marriage with Grandma. His "selective hearing" often gets him in trouble with Grandma , his laughter gets him out.
41. He taught me how to properly unhook a bullhead, because the pelicans need to eat too.
42. He has 2 speeds, the one he’s at now and one slower.
43. We learned everything there is to know about fishing; as long as your trolling a
spinner with a night crawler-you’re in business.
44. A man needs 37 radios in his garden shed and phone in the bathroom.
45. Eating breakfast at Hardee's and McDonald’s for decades is not as unhealthy as people think.
46. The term UFF-DA is a great way to express discontent, disappointment, or exhaustion without swearing.
47. Palmolive soap works great in the shower as a hair and body wash.
42. He has 2 speeds, the one he’s at now and one slower.
43. We learned everything there is to know about fishing; as long as your trolling a
spinner with a night crawler-you’re in business.
44. A man needs 37 radios in his garden shed and phone in the bathroom.
45. Eating breakfast at Hardee's and McDonald’s for decades is not as unhealthy as people think.
46. The term UFF-DA is a great way to express discontent, disappointment, or exhaustion without swearing.
47. Palmolive soap works great in the shower as a hair and body wash.
54. One of my fondest memories of Grandpa is when he sang "Somebody Loves You" at our wedding (and all the grandkids’ weddings since). He was a hit, and all of our friends and family loved it.
59. When I was a small child I didn't have much of an appetite, so Grandpa would always encourage me to be a member of the Clean Plater's Club like him. Now when my kids won’t eat I use the same line.
61. Knee Boarding behind Grandpa’s fishing boat.
62. Taking a pinch of Skoal Key in the boat.
63. Catching my wall mounter at Lee Lake.
64. Driving the truck on the gravel roads at the lake. (Drivers training)
62. Taking a pinch of Skoal Key in the boat.
63. Catching my wall mounter at Lee Lake.
64. Driving the truck on the gravel roads at the lake. (Drivers training)
71. Thank you for taking me fishing. Looking back on it, I’m sure that I wanted to go fishing more than you did, but you never let me know it.
72. Thank you for teaching me the virtue of carrying a pocketknife.
73. Thank you for testing my arithmetic when I was young and for always being willing to tell me a story.
72. Thank you for teaching me the virtue of carrying a pocketknife.
73. Thank you for testing my arithmetic when I was young and for always being willing to tell me a story.
79. Thank you for taking me to Mexico and Canada. Also, thank you for letting me have a cigar in Mexico and for telling Grandma not to get too mad about it.
81. I will never forget that grandpa was standing by my side on my wedding day. It was an honor to have him as my best man. It would not have been the same without him.
83. When I was younger I never missed a summer at Lee Lake. Grandpa would take me fishing and if I didn't catch a fish and it was getting toward the end he would give me his rod if he had a bite.
85. I love grandpa’s laugh. He and I call it the horse laugh. It will put a smile on any ones’ face. It's great! He will throw it into a conversation or just to change the mood.
This year a few of us chipped in and bought him a GPS for the car. He has been wanting one for a while, and we figured he's not getting any younger. I just hope that he can figure out how to use it. It's amazing to think of all of the technological advances that have been made in his lifetime. When he was a kid, he rode his horse to school, now he's got a GPS.
Happy Birthday Gramps!
1 comment:
Aww... what a great life he has had, so far! Happy Birthday to your Grandpa!
Post a Comment