We all have those special people in our lives. They come into our lives for a reason, whether we know it or not. Sometimes, these special people are just part of our family, and they become someone who you cherish and are grateful for each day. I consider myself lucky to have a grandpa like I do.
My grandpa Jerry is my only grandparent left. My grandpa Dwight on my dad's side passed away when I was around 3 years old. I don't remember much of him, sadly. My grandma Fran on my dad's side recently passed away back in March. On my mom's side, my grandma Eulalia passed away almost four years ago, so I only have my grandpa Jerry left. I may not have been too close to my grandma Fran and Grandpa Dwight, but I cherish them both.
Ever since I was little, my grandpa Jerry always made me laugh. I remember I would sit on his lap, and he would grab my toes and pull them so they cracked. Every time I would scream and laugh because I didn't want him to do that, but it was so funny that I couldn't stop him. And if I did try to stop him, he would just hold me down so I couldn't do anything.
My twin Haley and I got to spend a lot of time with my grandpa Jerry and grandma Eulalia. Haley and I were the first-born grandchildren so grandpa and grandma loved being around us, and they spoiled us like crazy. Being that our parents got a divorce, Haley and I spent a lot of our time with grandma and grandpa. Their home in New Ulm, MN started to feel like our home also after how much time we spent with them. Haley and I loved being with our grandparents. They provided us with so many laughs and memories.
I remember when Haley and I were 7 years old, and the movie "Meet The Fockers" came to the movie theater. Our grandpa Jerry decided it would be appropriate to take his young grandchildren to the movie with him and grandma Eulalia. Haley and I were still so young that we really did not understand anything in the movie. We just thought it was funny how our grandpa was laughing so hard he was in tears. When this story got brought back to our mom, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. She wasn't upset at grandpa and grandma, but instead she laughed and didn't know why the movie theater cashier allowed two young children into a PG-13 movie.
As my grandma became sick with her disease, Haley and I would spent most of our summers down in New Ulm to help out my grandpa while he took care of her. We provided grandma many laughs and smiles. If we did something she didn't like, she would scowl at us and curl up her nose. Every Wednesday when Haley and I stayed with grandma and took care of her for the day while grandpa was out on a motorcycle ride, Haley and I would take grandma outside onto the porch and the three of us would sit there until grandpa got home. We would purposely do this so we could ask grandpa to take us to Dairy Queen, and he couldn't use the excuse that grandma wasn't ready to go.
After my grandma had passed away, Haley and I became even closer to our grandpa. We started to spend more and more time with him, and he became someone who we looked up to. He always provided laughs for us.
Haley and I started our freshman year of college at MSU Mankato, and it seemed as if our grandpa was with us everyday. He would drive over to the Julia Sears dorm building, pull up in his bright red Camaro, and Haley and I would jump in. Of course all the young college boys would admire his car, and little did they know it was just our grandpa taking out his "girls" for lunch. We always ended up never having a plan of what we were going to do after we had lunch, but it was always an adventurous time. We would laugh until our bellies hurt and we made so many fun memories.
Today, I look back and I cherish every memory I have with my grandparents. Along with all the times we have yet to spend with grandpa. Haley and I are so lucky to have the times we did with our grandpa and grandma. Even though our grandma Eulalia passed away, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her. I am thankful for the time and memories I have with my grandma Eulalia.
Grandpa Jerry has such a kind heart. He has such a goofy personality, that sometimes his kind heart isn't always seen. He inspires me to be a better person, and to keep pushing forward when times are tough. He has taught me how to not take life so seriously and have fun.
I love you grandpa, and I love you grandma, I'll see you sometime again in Heaven.
Love,
Your chubby-cheeked redhead granddaughter.
