Wednesday, November 27, 2024
I can hear you whistling The Rooster Song in perfect pitch, and I see myself watching in awe, perched on my tippy toes, as you sketch your intricate doodles on the back of an envelope. I can smell the fresh yet warm scent of your aftershave, and I feel your big, soft hand wrapped around mine, your other arm around my back, swaying in Grandma’s kitchen to Mickey Blue Eyes playing from somewhere in the other room. Your deep, encouraging chuckle fills my chest as you mark a little red line on the measuring stick to delineate the tiniest bit of growth in your tiniest granddaughter…I strain to see my progress, but you insist it’s there.
Your crooning voice, your kind & encouraging smile, and that silly, infectious laugh where your lips curl in...there’s so much of you entwined in my memories, and boy, I’m so lucky there is.
I loved hearing your stories, and you shared them so freely, especially in the last handful of years… All the jobs you took as a kid to help support your family: your paper route; the auto parts depot; and cleaning & parking city buses at night with your friend Dick Labosh, praying to not scrape the bus against the wall…like Dick Labosh did. Of course, you were a model employee.
You had such ingenuity in getting what you needed with so little — like when you rebuilt that 1941 Ford you bought for next to nothing, body and engine…only to give it to your brother, who promptly crashed it while you were overseas. You were always so generous, especially when it came to those you loved.
…Stories of your time in the service — an admittedly subpar stenographer, but a loyal, devoted, and steadfast staff sergeant.
…Meeting Grandma as a teenager, shyly accepting the Prom King crown — though no one doubted how deserving you were of the title — falling in love, building our family, creating our story, enveloping us all in your and Grandma’s love that spanned 8 decades, and teaching us how to receive love and give it ourselves.
You were so proud of your family. You loved sharing your passions and interests with us, seeing your quirks in us but also recognizing our own individuality. You loved us so much, and we loved you so deeply right back.
Grandpa John: our steady and strong, yet soft and sweet patriarch. I already miss you so so much.
But, when I close my eyes and still smell your aftershave and hear your voice, I’ll be sure to give you a smile, wave a ‘seeya later’ hankie your way, and send you one of our long, tight, snuggly hugs you loved so much.
❤️ With all my love,
Your littlest Shaebear
