an unintentional day with grandpa

So today I some how managed to TRIPLE book myself. Remember before when I said I suddenly had a lot going on and was distracted? Yeah. 


In the end, Frandz's Grandpa won out, big time. I think part of the appeal is that anyone from his generation in my family is gone now. No more Pappy, Granny or Geegee. All my amazing great aunts are gone too. Spending the day with someone in their late 80's is actually really fun. Especially when they call you pahd'nah. I have the presence of mind to ask him about his past, something I was little too young to realize I needed to do with my own grandparents. I'm a much better listener now too. 


Frandz and his dad were driving tractors around the yard so I went inside with Grandpa.  I asked him if he wanted to play cards. He said he didn't know where any were. Then he shared that when he was growing up that he and his brothers played cards almost every night. Straight Pitch. He said they had no TV, no radio. Just each other and cards.


Grandpa grew up on a huge farm in OK. This makes him the perfect informal interview candidate for someone wanting to live closer to the earth. He told me that every farm needs a steady, reliable stream of income. Sage advice. His family relied on a handful of dairy cows and sold the cream for this steady $. He said they gave the milk to the pigs, and man did they taste good! He told me that he was a skinny kid but that milking the cows all the time gave him strong hands and arms. He later went on to be a surgeon at Grady, so I guess that early dexterity and muscle building really paid off. 


I would like to take this opportunity to point out that no one showed this man baby einstein videos as a baby, in hopes that he would grow up to be a doctor. I feel fairy confident assuming his childhood was a mix of  farm work, school and play. Real play, imagination and outdoorsy goodness. No private preschool, no learn-with-me flashing talking games from playskool. Not even any Barney or Sesame St. And he became a surgeon...


Frandz and I ended up sharing two meals with Grandpa today. Golden Corral and Waffle House. I know you're jealous of all the golden fried food I gorged on enjoyed. I was actually really proud of myself for not going full binge and ordering the pecan waffle for dessert. I could have easy rationalized it as food my body needs to keep me warm this winter. But I didn't. Self high five!


One of the best things about a day with Grandpa is that he is hilarious. One of the first times I met him he looked at Frandz and said "Where did you find her? Metro Goldwyn Mayer?" I swear I will remember that until they day I die. I don't care if he has used that line 1,000,000 times before on 1,000 other girls. It melted my heart and I've been kissing the man on the cheek ever since. 


Every time we visit we say we will be back soon. We will visit more often. No one has to say out loud that these visits are numbered and no one knows how many or how few remain. Which is why I am so grateful to my friends who I had plans with today who got bumped by Grandpa, and were so tremendously understanding about it. I'm sure Grandpa would thank you too, and tell you you look like Vivienne Leigh or Greta Garbo.