Grandpa Again!

As some of you may know, my oldest daughter and her husband are expecting their second child in April next year. That means that I will be a grandpa again (grandpa X 2) and Emma gets to be a big sister. It started me thinking about my own Grandpa on my mother’s side of the family. I never knew my other grandpa, as he passed away before I was born and my parents divorced when I was quite young.

There are many things I could say about my Grandpa Hembree, but the one thing that sticks out in my mind is that he was a man of few words. When our families would get together for holidays and other occasions, my grandfather would find a nice quiet corner and fade into the background.
He would take out his pipe and have a smoke. He never liked to be far from home and when he was ready to leave, it was always to check the old potbelly stove back at home. Even when a modern gas heater with a thermostat replaced the old coal-burning monstrosity...he had to go home and check it anyway. I never really felt comfortable trying to talk to my grandfather. He always seemed lost in his own thoughts far away from what was happening.

He liked watching the western, Gun Smoke, on television every Saturday night without fail. Then he listened to boxing on the radio sponsored by Gillette Razors. Grandpa also loved to fish. He and his next-door neighbor often went fishing after work on Friday nights. If I spent the night, I would rush outside the back porch the next morning to see what they had caught. I loved to watch the fish swimming in Grandma’s old washtub. Grandpa was fond of his little dog, Ginger. She slept under the front porch of the house and sometimes I would try to wiggle under there with her, but Grandpa would find a way to coax me out from under there so she could have some peace and quiet.

Once, when I was older, my mom and I stopped by for a visit. I found myself sitting on the front porch alone with my Grandpa Hembree as my mother and grandma talked inside the kitchen. I remember feeling awkward at first, wondering what to talk about with this man who rarely had something to say. I do not remember who started the conversation, but one thing led to another and before long, we were chatting away. Before I knew it, we were in Grandpa’s car going to see the new highway being built just outside of town. I am not sure why, but my grandfather and I really bonded that day. I saw a completely new side of him. He was suddenly this man with plenty to say and to my surprise, I had plenty to talk about as well. I will never forget that day as long as I live.

San Antonio, Texas is a long way from Des Moines, Iowa and the kind of family gatherings I had with my grandparents are not likely. My daughters, brother, sister and I are scattered all over the country these days. There are other grandpas and grandmas who live closer and visit Emma more often. There are times when I worry about being a stranger to my grandchildren, but I have to be content with e-mailed pictures and video clips that my daughter sends me on a regular basis (thank God for the internet) and the occasional phone calls and trips up north. My hope is that someday, I too, can have that wonderful bonding moment that I had with my Grandpa Hembree. I have so much to tell my grandkids.

Being a grandfather is an awesome responsibility. Who else is going to tell them stories, spoil them rotten, forget who broke the lamp when they were jumping on the couch and slip a few “pesos” into their little palms...but grandpa? It is the “Grandpa Code” of the West.

Hang in there, Emma. I’m coming soon with Alamo Crackers and stories about your mom when she was your age. We will also have to go over some things now that you are about to be a big sister, so don’t grow up too fast! I am working on some of my best material.

FOOD for THOUGHT...

Gramps