Grampie on his motorcycle, which he still wishes he could ride today. Over the last month, my grandfather dropped many hints that he didn't want us to do anything special for his 90th birthday. He wanted this to be a "low note" birthday. We didn't listen. Grampie and his favorite car. On Saturday afternoon, we gathered together eighty or so family members, friends, and former customers (he owned an oil company in town for years, which my uncle now owns) together to wish him well. My grandparents with my mom and uncle - I can't tell you how much I love this peek into my grandparents as young parents. In addition to the food, drink, and dessert, we had sprinkled the room with some special items. On the tables were photos from fun moments in his life, chalkboards painted with "1927" prices, news events, births, and technology, and tags naming his favorite things in the world, like trout fishing, Listerine, and York peppermint patties....
Join me on my journey as I work through my thoughts, feelings, and identity at home and school . . . one word at a time.