S/O Grandparents

[wanderingenough]

Any great stories or anecdotes about your grandparents?

My paternal grandfather was my favorite person. He was an Air Force general (with the best stories), only drank water my entire life (literally, nothing else--he was a picture of good health), had gigantic jars of coins and jelly bellys in his home office (fascinating to a child), and had a heart of gold. When he was gone, I was convinced I'd never be the same.

We found out he was dying at the same time my grandmother started deteriorating with Alzheimer's disease. As the youngest adult in the family (i.e the college student without a real job), I became their primary caregiver. I ended up caring for my grandmother for another couple years before she finally had to be moved onto a secured AD unit. It was a humbling, patience teaching, incredible experience and the last great lesson they ever taught me.

[Deleted]

wanderingenough, your story brought tears to my eyes. That was really touching to read. Your grandparents sound like amazing people.

I never knew my grandparents. My parents are from another country, and the grandparents never came to visit or vice versa. They all died when I was small. Sometimes I wish I had the kind of relationship I hear other people have with their grandparents. When I have kids one day, I do get excited knowing that they will have both my parents and my in-laws in their lives.

[MrsMB]

wanderingenough What a wonderful gift to be able to take care of them They sounded wonderful!

My Grandfather was known all across the state for his generosity and kindness. They had a family business that started with my Great-Grandfather and he was well known. He was a former golden gloves boxer and accomplished musician. He was not of this world. I am convinced he was an angel sent down to spend time with us. When people heard he died, we got calls from all over. He used to tell people, "Be good" as they left the store. He was the best person I ever knew. Shortly before he passed away, he had been in the hospital. He remembered his nurse from the previous day was out sick. He asked the other nurses how she was doing. Very fitting for his last days.

His wife was something else as well. She was a publisher author and song-writer. I loved them both tremendously.

The center stone in my engagement ring was my Grandfather's Mom's engagement stone. I always think of them when I look at it.

[wanderingenough]

@moonshine - Thanks, they were incredible. I lucked out all over in the grandparent dept. My mother's parents are incredible as well. I really hope I get to have a child while they are still alive.

MrsMB - Your grandparents sound amazing. I especially love the part about the kindness your grandpa showed everyone. That's what people remember--how someone made them feel.

[awick14]

@wamderingenough- they sound like great grandparents.

MrsMB- I love your ring, that is such a neat heirloom.

It's funny how people say kids pick up on so much. All my life my papa (grandpa) was an alcoholic, a very high functioning one. Us kids never knew he was until we were older. We went camping with my grandparents all the time. We would go fishing with my papa, go on nature walks etc.

My papa was diagnosed with cancer 2 years before I got married. Around the January before I got married he took a turn for the worst. His doctor gave him 2-3 months, he turned around and told his doctor that he needed 8 months instead, and if he couldn't have 8 he needed at least 5 because his oldest granddaughter (me) was getting married and he was unable to miss it.

If he lived 8 months then he would make it to his and my grandmas 50th wedding anniversary. If he lived 6 he could make it to his 70th birthday.

He made it to both my wedding and his 70th birthday. He passed away on his 70th birthday around 4pm.

Because I love posting pics. Here is my papa, grandma, (moms parents)DH, me, and my grandpa (dad's mom)

[MrsMB]

These stories are making me tear up!

[awick14]

Jul 28, 2014 13:36:53 GMT -5 MrsMB said:

These stories are making me tear up!

I cried while typing mine out! It seems like I cry over everything lately

[megkat]

My grandpa had a long white beard- one time when he was in the hospital, a little girl saw him and asked her mom why Santa Claus was in the hospital

He was very tickled when I was born because I had a dimple in the middle of my chin, just like he did. He was so excited that "she had her grandpa's chin". He died when I was 17, so my DD will never get to meet him- but I was so happy when she was born, because she has that same dimple in her chin

[katiek]

These stories are lovely!

My grandparents are awesome. I never knew my mom's dad, because he died when she was 9. My mom's mom is so strong. She got married at 18, had my mom at 19, and moved away from her alcoholic husband when my mom was 3. They never had any money, but she did everything she could to get a job. She's been a prison guard (she's 5' and maybe 100 lbs) and worked for Bell climbing electrical poles, among many other things. She got married two other times to questionable people, but came out stronger and protected my mom and aunt. When she was 40, she went to school to become a nurse. She's only 62 now, and still working as a nurse and taking care of her father.

My dad's parents have the weirdest relationship, with lots of arguing, but I never doubted they were very in love. My grandpa had a heart attack a few years ago, and my grandma has had a few surgeries, and through everything they take care of each other. They've been married for almost 50 years, and you can tell that they still love being around each other.

[Deleted]

My grandpapa had a heart of gold. He was a WW2 veteran and before he died when I was 18 he finally started to tell me stories from the war. There is actually a documentary out there where you can see my grandfather getting shot the first time. Not a thing you want to see in history class. He always was loving and just wonderful. He used to make crafts and chocolates to sell but I would always get the "test" product. He was more of a father to me then my father was. I always knew I had a shoulder to cry on.

He never told us he had a cardiac condition. I will never forget. My mom and I lived with them at the time until we could get back on our feet. I was 18 and just graduated high school. We went to leave for work and he was watching us from the window, something I thought was weird. We came home that evening and my grandmother told us he died that afternoon. That was one of the worst days of my life.

[tacocat]

I'm very thankful to still have my 3 other grandparents. My mom's parents, which is the grandma that has passed away, were always in love. My grandpa was always walking around pinching or slapping her butt, lol. She pretended like it bothered her, but you could always tell it didn't make her mad. I've hate seeing my grandpa so sad after she's passed. At least my mom's sisters are in the same town, but I know he's lonely.

My dad's parents are the quirky old couple and they crack me up. They used to get the old styrofoam cups from McDonald's when they'd get their coffee and shrink them in the oven and hang them from their rear view mirror. They've had different license plates with their names on them, but my grandma religously shreds anything with their name on it. Nothing really out there, just sweet old people stuff. My grandpa turned 85 in April and my grandma will be 85 in November. They still drive the 400+ miles down to visit at least twice a year, and it's starting to make me nervous because my grandpa's driving is not the best.

[cactuscookie]

For my bridal shower, my mom bought a bunch of dishtowels and permanent markers, and everyone drew and wrote stuff on the towels. I still use them all the time. On one, my grandmother wrote, "Have a happy marriage." On another, "May the bluebird of happiness take a crap on your wedding cake." My mom says she wrote the same thing on a towel at her bridal shower.

[HoneySpider]

I never knew my dad's parents, they died before I was born.

My mom's parents were retired in Florida so I remember our trips every year to go visit them - we always drove so it was 2 days each way. While we were there we would play cards, dominos, and other games and they would always give us snacks - I specifically remember them always having Dad's root beer. My grandma pass away when I was in HS and a few years later my grandpa came to live with my family. I am so glad he did because I lived at home for part of that time (after grad school) and I really got to know him and spend time with him.

Grandpa loved snacks - we would go grocery shopping and it would make his day if I brought him home a box of Cheez Its. He drank cheap beer (Milwaukee's Best) and cheap wine (the kind in a jug). He would tell us stories about being a coal miner, about being a minor league baseball player, about living through the depression. He would talk to me in Polish sometimes and I was amazed at how much he remembered. I taught him how to play Texas Hold Em and I had made a little cheat sheet for him. Well that cheat sheet got stuck in a pack of cards and every time I pull out those cards, I look at that sheet and it reminds me of him.

He was unbelievably corny but you couldn't help but laugh. He was one of those people that everyone loved. I miss him a lot and I really wish DH had gotten a chance to meet him.

[estrellita]

My grandparents are all pretty awesome. I have 3 left. My mom's dad died when I was 2. I have very vague memories, but I do remember him. I love watching old home movies with him in them. I also love hearing stories about why some of us are double jointed (apparently from him squeezing fruit in the Army, can't remember what the specific fruit was now!) and how he would yell at me for the amount of things I used to carry on my keychain. I wish I would have gotten to know him better! My mom's mom is funny. She's super stubborn, which totally doesn't run in the family...

My dad's parents are great. I don't agree with a lot of their super conservative views and don't enjoy my grandma pushing them on me, but other than that I just love them! They have been married now for over 60 years and they really remind me of H and I. My grandpa likes to joke around with my grandma and she just gives him this look that I think got passed down to me, haha. They are definitely some of the sweetest and kindest people I know. They also have so many great stories from growing up in NJ, from their childhoods and my dads. My grandpa is a great story teller and he has a great sense of humor. He's also the only 82 year old man I know that uses Facebook as well as he does!

I also have to mention that one of H's grandmas is turning 100 in September. Just the fact that she's still fairly independent and "with it" at that age amazes me. I've only met her once and we're planning to go up for her 100th birthday party in Sept!

[wanderingenough]

HoneySpider - your story reminded me of another thing with my dad's parents and I got such a smile on my face. We would always play family games of Gin and they would make my brothers and I root beer or coke floats! My H makes fun of me now because if we are anywhere with floats I want one.