Recently I stopped by my Grandpa's house to drop off a thank you note I had written to thank him for the Christmas gift he gave me. Normally I would just drop the note off in his mailbox, since he lives 2 minutes away. But this time I decided to stop in and give it to him personally. What I thought would be a short conversation and a hug goodbye turned into two hours of conversation about some of my family history... I am so thankful I decided to walk through his door.
My Grandpa and I at a Tiger's game
My Grandpa Glen is my only living grandparent. He calls me "kenzer puncheon." The day I stopped at his house is a day I will always hold close to my heart. It was nice to sit by his side and hear him recall so many memories from so long ago. He has an impeccable ability to remember things.
He talked a lot about family and how this person is related to that person and talked about them all by name. And I am talking second and third cousins. He cares A LOT about his family.
He was the youngest of three with his two sisters proceeding him in age by many years. I learned that when he was born one of his sisters wouldn't even look at him for the 1st two weeks because she was embarrassed her mom had a child so late in life. There was a period of time when he was very young that he was not able to see his mom because she had TB and was in isolation. His dad would take him to see her so he could wave to her through a window. My Grandpa told me that he wishes he was half the dad his dad was. When he made that comment I tried not to cry because he is one of the most amazing men I have ever met.
My Grandpa has always been a tough guy, a hard worker. He grew up on a farm and then bought that farm from his dad. Nearly his whole life he worked seven days a week farming dairy cows. He is known in our community for his superior work with dairy cows and even judged them at fairs in the US and internationally. After he stopped farming he missed caring for animals so much that he bought two Belgian horses to fill the void. Just before Christmas he had to sell his horses because they were just to much for him to take care of. I know he was heartbroken to let them go.
One of his horses a few years back
As time has passed I have begun to a softer side to this man who has always had such a tough exterior. He loves when the family gathers and he loves when family visits to chat. There is a room at his house that displays all of his trophies he has won for his dairy cows as well as pictures. When I was at his house after our long and beautiful conversation, I went into that room (which I hadn't done in a long time) and displayed throughout was every photograph and collage I had ever taken and given to him. I love my Grandpa and I hope that we can have more days like this one soon. Our lives are woven not only by blood but by moments like this one... Moments that are cherished and are what this life is about.
My grandpa and brother leaving the Tiger's Stadium
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