we lost the old buzzard tonight.we called him Grandpa Grumps.
but he wasn't all grumps.
if he liked you. . .you were "a keeper".
bryce.
buzz.
grumpy.
dad.
he had many names,
and twinkly eyes.
he used to stand on the porch and watch the thunderstorms roll in.
he believed in Murphy's Law.
he liked having his back scratched.
he used to take us out on his boat.
Tugboat Annie was one of my favorite places to play, when i was little.
he hollered at the newscasters on television.
he loved to watch football.
he talked politics with anyone who would listen.
he did crossword puzzles every day.
he always raised a glass, when his picture was taken.
he started a little fire in the fireplace every night, no matter the weather.
his walks around the block were like clockwork.
some of his quirks were his own.
some of them were because of Alzheimers.
(like meeting my bryce a dozen times over the course of an evening.)
"Oh, a great grandson?" he'd say, "I didn't realize I had any of those!" and he would tell us again about how the kids used to tease him because of his name. ("Not to worry, the kids don't know who Fannie Brice is, these days.")
he met tanner (a few times) on Thanksgiving.
Tanner won't remember.
(Grumpy didn't either.)
But I do. I will always remember.
I will remember how pleased he was to see a smiling baby on his back porch.
I will remember his kiss on my cheek.
and I will remember him.
