Grandpa George passed away yesterday morning 12/29/11.Grandpa George has always been very special to me. I grew up with Grandpa living right next to us just up the hill. I would ride my bike to his house frequently. He would come down to our house nearly every morning. He would be there while I was getting ready for school and loved playing tricks on me like putting rocks in my lunch box. Now I don't mean pebbles, I mean large stones. Grandpa had the best sense of humor. He would play along to tease me even when my brothers turned me invisible.
I learned so many things from Grandpa. I love his calm demeanor and his great perspective on life. He knew what wasn't a big deal and was very easy going. My favorite story of Grandpa happened when I was about seven. He was babysitting me at his house. He was relaxing in his recliner and I was farting around looking at Grandma Jo's "knick knacks". Now you have to know my Grandma to appreciate this story, but her house is loaded head to toe with knick knack and decorations. I was studying her knick knacks on their fire mantle when one of them fell and shattered. I was terrified that I was going to be in so much trouble. I turned around to Grandpa anticipating a yelling. He had barely flinched and calmly said, "Clean it up, I won't tell." Grandpa was so forgiving and knew that something broken wasn't a good reason to yell at a child and I love him for that. We told Grandma I broke something but we never told her what it was. It was our little secret. She eventually figured it out, but it took her years.
We could call Grandpa for anything. My brother Andy was constantly using Grandpa as his attorney in high school to get him out of things and to calm my mom down. I have called Grandpa multiple times to help me find my dad's dog Gilligan. I thought my dad would kill me if I lost his dog. Gilligan like everyone else loves Grandpa George. He would come running when he was Grandpa's little truck putting along even if Gilligan was far up on the hill. I have so many sweet memories of Grandpa and funny stories that I will always cherish.
I love my Grandpa and I will always be his baby girl. This past month he hasn't been totally coherent all the time but one of the last things he told me is, "Now my baby girl has her own baby girl." Grandpa George you will be greatly missed. You were loved so deeply by many.
