Happy Birthday!

If you suppress grief too much, it can well redouble. 

 ~Moliere

So this is me not suppressing my grief.

My Grandpa died only a few weeks after my father left last year.  It was to much to grieve over all at once, and the stuff with my dad was more salient for some reason.  I felt really guilty that I wasn't grieving for my Grandpa like I should have.  But now, on his birthday I want to celebrate him!

I get annoyed when we idealize those who have passed on.  That should make it mean more when I say that my Grandpa was a really great guy.  He wasn't perfect, but he was genuinely good.  Here are my 10 favorite things about Grandpa:

10.  He always supported me in my education.  He wanted me to keep going to school, and always asked about how things were going.

9.  He was funny...his jokes were usually on the corny side, but funny none the less.

8.  Even though he wasn't the most patient of people, he tried.  And he knew his limits.

7.  He had really good taste in music.

6.  I loved talking to him about our family history.  He was so knowledgeable (he was a professional genealogist and was well respected in his field), and he could make names on a page seem like real people.

5.  He took time to talk to me, and he really listened most of the time.  Sometimes this was easier said than done because of how big our family is, but he made time for all of us.

4.  He loved ice cream almost as much as I do!

3.  He made time to come to my choir performances and piano recitals.

2.  He was tolerant of all kinds of people, and was empathetic to their shortcomings. 

1.  Even when he messed up, he kept trying to be better.  That is an example that I hope I can always follow.

Love you, Grandpa!