Territorial Bloggings

Even though it’s a “Hallmark Holiday”, today being Grandparents Day hit me a little bit harder than the norm today. Why?

Because it’s my first one without any grandparents.

Over the past 13.5 years, bigsis and I have lost all of our grandparents. First Papa, then Grandpa, then Grandma, and finally this past July, Nana. Bigsis and I were luckier than most – we lived a good chunk of our lives with all four grandparents as active forces in our lives. They were quite young when bigsis was born and just young-ish when I was born. I was 28 when Papa died (he was 83), and I’m 40 now. Discretion prevents me from saying what bigsis was/is.

My point is, we have been tremendously blessed. My grandparents were all good people. I didn’t always appreciate them properly, but I always loved them. I didn’t always agree with what they did or how they treated my parents, but I always respected them (something for which I give full credit to my parents, for they always made sure that we children knew to love, honor, and respect our grandparents, no matter what!).

My grandparents were, taken as couples, very different personalities. One trait and behavior they had in common, however, was this — they always made me feel safe and loved. Grandma & Grandpa were the more stereotypically “traditional” grandparents – doting, baking, cooking, playing games. For a small child, time spent with them was Nirvana, and they had the ability to make each and every one of their six grandchildren feel like he or she was the favorite. (even though I know I really was! ) Nana & Papa were more “modern” and had more of an “edge” to them. But, even though they might not have been as cuddly (well, Nana anyway – Papa was as cuddly as you could get!) in the traditional sense, they were every bit as loving and caring. I didn’t begin to appreciate them until I got older. That’s ok, I think, because sometimes time brings with it perspective, and perspective, wisdom.

I’m also thankful for the blessing of my grandparents because I see them in my parents. Without my grandparents I wouldn’t have my parents. As my parents formed & raised me & bigsis, so were they formed & raised by my grandparents. I am (proudly) a mama’s boy, just as she is (proudly) a daddy’s girl. And I know my Papa loved and was proud of me. I feel a very strong connection to both my grandfathers. I spent a lot of time with them, particularly Grandpa when I was in grades K-2.

I’m not blind to their failings, as I’m blind to neither my own, nor my parents’. All three generations share many of the same, and I can safely say that I think they’ve been passed down to the next generation in my kids (with a few quirks thrown in from my wife’s side of the family…). But that’s ok, that’s how it works…

Because faith is another thing that gets passed along in our family. My parents got taken to church. Bigsis and I got taken to church, and we’ve both made sure that our kids are getting properly brought up in the One True Faith.

Just one more thing to be thankful for on this Grandparents Day…

-ghp