Happy New Year, Grandpa
Fishing with Grandpa (1981)
From the time I was old enough to play chess, my maternal grandfather played a major role in my life. Hank was one of a kind. A retired Navy commander far before I was born, he was best recognizable by his lifelong haircut, a high and tight with one soft grey peaking tuft in the front. It was fascinating to be around him, mostly just to hear his vocabulary. Grandpa had his own language, blessing our sneezes in German and baking bread while singing in Italian. He loved to flog (golf backwards in case you wondered) and called the T.V., Stupid-vision. Grandma was never grandma, but “Butch” and a common response to something inconsiderate was ”How woo-ude!”
It wasn’t his mannerisms that won my heart, but the way he cared for me. He lived only a few miles from ten other grand-kids and numerous great-grandchildren, but never neglected our family a few states away. Every military milestone I reached, he acknowledged with encouraging letters and my favorite chocolates (I could live on Ferrero Rocher chocolates alone). The letters weren’t a quick “Congrats,” but instead flowed with prose like this written in June 2001, ”You are just beginning a wonderful voyage into the future. Carpe Diem, enjoy, and if the success you have encountered in the last few years is any indicator, all you have to do is work as valiantly as you have in the past, and happiness is the rainbow at the end.”
After his death, I learned about his impressive military career, taking over a ship when sailors staged a mutiny and developing the fuel propulsion mechanics in torpedoes. He was never one to brag or even complain, which is hard to believe for someone that survived over four major heart surgeries. It’s no mistake that I named our first born after him and I can’t wait for the day I get to tell Bubba about his great-grandfather.
It’s been three years, but I still miss his Old Spicey smell, crude jokes, and rendition of “Mele Kalikimaka” every Christmas. Mostly, I just miss him. I want to live this new year like he would, pressing forward, learning, and laughing. I can only hope that I will make an impression on someone as he did on me. I guess all I can do now is say, Happy New Year, Grandpa. I’ll always miss you. Love, your Schmoe-moe.
Me and Grandpa (Dec 1980)
Birthday with Grandpa and Dad (Aug 1982)
© 2010, FROM MILITARY TO MOM. All rights reserved.
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Hi Alyssa,
This is your cousin Megan. Thanks so much for writing this about Grandpa. I love seeing the pictures too. I miss him a lot. He has a very special place in my heart. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful grandpa. I look forward to seeing him again one day!
Much love,
Megan
Thanks, Megan. I miss him so much and still laugh thinking about his antics. Tell the other cousins hi!