October 4, 2006

It would have been my grandfather’s birthday today. He was born in 1898, I believe. I thought of him frequently throughout the day, thoughts that made me smile and miss him. Such a fine gentleman he was, wonderful sense of humor, kind, friendly, loving, and a good example of a hard-working, sensible man who was faithful to his family. I’m glad I had a chance to say, “I love you, Pop,” before he died. He held onto his good humor until the end, sharing a joke with the nurses about them finding him a girlfriend down the hall.

I hope I can have his positive attitude toward life. I think my mother (his daughter) is that type of person. They always knew how to have a good time and laugh a lot, yet serious about serious things. A good balance.

And music! I could never forget their love of music. Pop was always playing the piano and singing. He could play anything, even when arthritis and psoriasis held his hands prisoner, he still managed to play a song. And Mom still has a song for everything. Almost any given word will prompt the line from a song—only old songs, though. I’m proud to say that I’ve inherited this trait. I may not know as many songs as she does, but I know lots of them. Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Pop.