In Memory of Grandpa

Isn't it funny how sometime so simple can trigger a rapid fire of childhood memories that are etched into your mind?  It happened to me today.  In the kitchen.  At lunch time.  While holding a box of Velveeta Cheese.

Images and memories of my Grandfather came racing through my head.  Leaving me happy.  Leaving me sad.  Leaving me reminiscing.  And leaving me with the great feeling of how things used to be, a long time ago when I was a kid, before a husband, before children, before bills and everyday stresses of maintaining a household.  Leaving me wondering, if I too am leaving memories like the ones I have in the minds of my own children.

Funny how a single box of Velveeta Cheese can bring all these emotions and memories to the surface.

• It made me remember waking up at Grandma & Grandpa's house by the sounds of extreme "yawning" coming from Grandpa's room, which is then followed by extreme "yawning" coming from the spare bedroom.
• Makes me sing the song: "Doodle, Doodle, Doodle, Doodle, Doodle, Doodle, Do, Doodle, Doodle, Doodle, Doodle, Doodle, WOAH!!"  :o)
• Makes me want to drive down the road to where the corn is tall, swaying in the field. . . Of course, it's the wrong season for corn but I'd HONK the horn and and WAVE anyways!  Leaving my children wondering in the backseat. . . "Who are you waving at Mom?"
• Makes me want to go into the kitchen and make old fashioned "pudge". . . the kind where I sit for what seems like hours with a towel and potholders stirring a large sauce pan of chocolate.
• I suddenly have a craving for Buttered Toast dunked in a tall glass of cold Chocolate Milk.  Honestly, the best breakfast ever!!
• Makes me want to go set a ladder up in the yard, next to an apple tree. . . forget something inside. . . threaten my children NOT to climb it while I'm gone. . . disappear around the corner and watch them fight over who's climbing it first.  Then once the "climber" is finally chosen and steps up the ladder, come SCREAMING and RUNNING out from beside the house with a large pole!  Laughing hysterically as the kids run fleeing for their lives!  :o)
• Makes me want to go to the Dollar Store in the mall, with exactly $1.05 in my pocket. . . I'd still buy a Where's Waldo Puzzle if they had one.  I'm not sure what Amanda would buy now.

I could go on and on.  There are so many memories that I have from the years that we spent together.  Memories, I thank the Lord above that I have.  But with all the happy memories that I do have, I sit here wishing I had more.  I wish my Grandpa got to attend my High School and College Graduations.  He would have been so proud.  I wish my Grandpa got to meet my Husband, been there at my Wedding, seen how wonderful this man treats me and accepted him as part of his family.  I know they would have gotten along great.  I wish my Grandpa got to be there for the birth of my children.  He would have loved every hair on their heads, spoiled them absolutely rotten, and created wonderful memories with them.  But now, the only memories that Jerry and the kids have are the stories.  The stories that make me laugh so hard - I cry!

Chloe and Jacob are so lucky to have such a wonderful Angel watching over them.  I see a lot of him in these two. 

Chloe and Jacob at Grandpa's grave site. . . they were so happy that day, they played with their reflections in the headstone.

I mostly miss the new memories that we would have made had he still been here.  I have the old memories tucked away in the depths of my heart. . . no one can take them away.  Looking back at the BIG moments in my life that stand out. . . seeing in pictures that he's missing.  Wishing there was a way to have him back.



Great Grandma & Chloe playing with Peter



Chloe & Great Grandma with Baby Jacob



I know Grandpa's in Heaven, watching over us.  He walks with me in my everyday life. . . I feel his presence in the simple things like making a Velveeta Grilled Cheese for lunch.  I can't believe it all started because of this simple sandwich. . .

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Kenny Chesney - Grandpa Told Me So