grandaddy

Me: I'm Me
Grandaddy: No, I'm me and you are you
Me: No, I'm Me and you are You.
Grandaddy: NO, I"m Me and you are You

This is just one of the many, many little jokes that my grandaddy used to say when we were together.  I have always been told that he is a serious guy.  I have occasionally seen him short tempered.  But, towards me, his only grand daughter, this soldier turned FBI agent turned college professor ha always been s a sweet, gentle, guy.  This visit was no different.  He is now 84 years old with dementia.  I'm not sure that he knew who A. and I were the whole time that we were there visiting.  But, he loved on us just the same.

On this trip, I realized so much how the history of our family helps to define who I am and the values of our family as a whole.  It means that even Grandaddy's story impacts who A. and K. will become. It means that his, and all of our grandparents, are stories that I will eventually tell here from my perspective for my children to pass down.

I'll start with Grandaddy-
Grandaddy grew up in Arkansas.  I don't know much about his parents but I do know that he grew up with one brother and one sister.  Both are still living.  Grandaddy dropped out of high school to join the Navy.  He was in WWII for 2 years.  We do have some copies of letters that he sent home to his mother.  In the letters, he shared some vulnerability.  Some fears of war and seeing friends disappear.  Some fears of home moving on with out him.

When he finally came home, some of his friends were going to college.  Well, why not go too.  The way I understand it, he was drove a friend to school and decided to stay.  The GI bill paid for his degree in education.  He met my mom mom in a college dorm.  He first dated her roommate but then moved on to Mom mom.  I'm not sure how that went over at the beginning, but 65 years later, I'd say it was meant to be. They bought their wedding rings for 5 dollars at Sears & Roebuck and lived in married housing.  When they graduated, they became teachers in Arkansas.  My mother and then her brother Michael were born only 13 months apart and Jamie came 9 years later.

Sometime later, he realized that he needed more income and went to work for the FBI.  I remember him telling me that he had to know the make and model of every car.  That way he could locate criminals.  He chased some big time guys in MN, WI, and VA.  Finally, they paid for him to get his EdD.  So, this high school drop out got his doctorate.  I read his dissertation during one visit.  However, I can say that I have no idea what it was on because I wasn't really interested in the topic.

His third career was as a college professor.  He taught business and education and was pretty tough on grades.  My grandmother talks about students calling during dinner and trying to get grades changed.  I"m pretty sure that he never changed a single grade:)

He retired from there in the 80's.  Since then, they have traveled including annual family trips to condos and 2 trips to England and Greece.  They now live in an assisted living where Mom mom has taken on the caretaker role for Grandaddy.
  
Grandaddy,
Thank you for all of the time that you spent with us while we were kids.  Thank you for instilling the love and importance of education into us.  Thank you for being an example of a person that loved God, America, and your family.  Thank you for being rough and tough with a sweet spot for me:)  I'm me and you are you.  But, I'm me because of you.

I love you!