I remember a certain Saturday morning after sleeping over at grandpa's, I put on my dark purple leggings and my hot pink long sleeve shirt and headed out of my room, not knowing how much criticism this grandpa of mine was going to give me. Here I was in my two favorite colors at the time with my hot mess of a hair do and I was feelin' great! My Grandpa's first words to me that morning were "Did you dress yourself this morning?!" coughing out giggles while he said it. My 7-year-old self confidently replied with a "Yes!!". That whole day was filled with "Did you even brush your hair?" "How can you see through that messy hair do?" and "I'm going to call you Hair-in-the-eyes". Slightly offended, I kept going through the day, but every time Grandpa wanted to speak to me he said "Hey hair-in-the-eyes, are you going to brush your hair yet?" "Hey hair-in-the-eyes go grab me a brush and I'll brush it!" "Hey hair-in-the-eyes ..." . He thought he was too funny!
Down the street from grandpa's house was this really old movie/candy shop. Although I was always freaked out to go buy some candy from this store, grandpa always gave us a few bucks and encouraged us to go get some candy. He always waited for us to show him what we got. Sometimes even making us share.
One time, I brought my boyfriend, at the time, to a family party and I hugged and kissed my Grandpa and sat next to him, when all of a sudden I hear him whispering to Presten, "What's her name again?" My jaw dropped as I turned and said "Grandpa!" All the mean while Presten whispered "Aubrey" and grandpa started laughing saying "Aubrey Aubrey Aubrey!" and gave me another big hug and kiss.
Grandpa had fairly long finger nails and we all knew not to sit next to him because he would "tickle" the side of your arm, trying to be soothing, but he would do it in the same spot for so long that that spot on your arm would start to go numb.
He honestly had the best advice of how to live our lives and that is "to eat more chocolate". Our last few weeks with him he was very sure to let us all know to EAT CHOCOLATE. Thanks grandpa, your wish is my command.
At grandma's funeral, me and my closest cousins got to sing and I remember grandpa's sweet smile through his tears. Even after the funeral grandpa was still crackin' jokes and smiling. He's such a cute grandpa really.
Grandpa's house was the best for family gatherings. My cousin and I would always go downstairs and let our love for dance free. We would make up a dance and go show it to all of our cousins! They all praised us for how well we did! We were the real deal. Costumes and all. His house was also best for "Red Light Green Light". We always played that, whether it was with cousins or neighborhood friends, we always had fun!
This past Valentine's day, I was able to spend with my grandpa. Knowing that it may be the last time I would ever get to see my sweet grandpa, it was filled with family, cousins, aunt's and uncles. Even though his oxygen tank was mumbling in the background and grandpa kept falling asleep in the middle of conversation, he still complimented me on my outfit and told me how beautiful I was. He shook my hand hard enough that the rest of my arm was wiggling back and forth and he said "I sure love ya sweetheart!"
Well gramps, I sure love you.
