The Grands

[CaliforniaNow]

What's something that one (or more) of your grandparents said or did that struck you as funny, interesting, memorable or just plain cool?

[WS]

She was a terrible driver. She had no idea that she was such a bad driver.

[TeeBubbaDee]

One of my favorite memories is of hanging out with grandpa in his blacksmith shop. He had a hand crank device that force fed air to the fire. Cranking that handle was my favorite job.

[flippr 2.0]

i hear ya

[WS]

What a lovely image!  It is so rare to get to see a ferrier at work!

[flippr 2.0]

ferrier than who?

[TeeBubbaDee]

Thanks WS. There aren't a lot of people still doing that type of work. I have always wished that he would have kept the shop open long enough for me to learn some of his craft. (he closed the doors when I was about 8 or 9)

[Kim]

My paternal grandparents were very social, active people their whole lives, until my grandma got Alzheimers. Funny how someone who talked so much and had SO much interesting things to say couldn't find a whole lot of words in the last couple years. She never got so bad she didnt remember all of us but still. It was odd how quiet she became. They travelled across the country (by car ONLY) well into their 80's. MOSTLY with their best friends. They drove from Pittsburgh to Phoenix at least 3 times a year which is where their friends' son lived but they had friends EVERYWHERE and often travelled to see them.

My grandfather lived about 8 years after her, died at 90, almost completely independant with exception my cousin made his meals. She lived with him for a bit but worked 12 hour days so he was mostly doing good on his own. Up until 6 months before he died, he went metal detecting for HOURS, usually with my dad but often by himself. He had a shed that he enjoyed fixing things and building things. He was well known in the neighborhood that he could fix anyones appliances or whatever. He also stripped wire and sold the copper while he watched TRU TV or sports. The money he "MADE" was usually given to some family member. He didnt do it for the money....he just enjoyed doing it.

SOOOO......3 years ago he died when I was living in Tennessee (I DID see him a few weeks before he died though we really had no idea he would. In fact, the day he was buried was the day he was supposed to be moved OUT of a rehab center for his recent pneumonia.) When he died, my family casually mentioned I could move into his mobile home and all I would have to pay was lot rent and electric. I shocked them when I said I WOULD. I moved AWAY 27 years ago and seriously NEVER would have moved back if I could have continued to afford my wonderful $750 apartment. EVERYONE in that neighborhood, young and old KNEW my grandfather and they knew him by his hobbies and the fact that he walked up to get his mail every day (a hill I rarely navigate myself!!)

[LoveLife&Laughter]

Wonderful memories Kim.