Even though my Grandpa hasn’t been 100% for a few years saying good-bye still isn’t easy. I will miss him. I am sad that Grandpa won’t meet great grandbaby number three and four, but I look forward to tell these stories to the twins so that they will know how much I loved and looked up to my grandfather and what kind of person he was.
Among the many things I will tell my own children, these are just a few of the memories I have of Grandpa that I would like to share with you. I can remember my grandfather playing an important role in my life from the time I was a very little girl. I remember being very proud as a little girl that I knew how to spell my Grandpa’s name WES, “W” “E” “S.” It was one of the first words I learned how to spell.
One of Grandpa’s defining characteristics was that he was a huge tease and always enjoyed getting a rise out of us. He was a dedicated jogger his whole life and would arrive home after a long jog all sweaty and stinky. I remember him chasing us granddaughters around the house teasing us with a sweaty hug. We would squeal and run for cover. There were also ways that he found to tease me individually. He enjoyed tossing my favorite blue blanket onto the ceiling fan and watch it spin around, as I begged him to get it down. I also remember Grandpa singing, “Whitney Bitney puddin’ in pie kissed the boys and made them cry. When the boys came out to play. Whitney Bitney ran away.”
One of his favorite ways to tease the entire family was to call us from Hawaii and play the song “Waikiki” over the phone to make us jealous. And while this was a fun source of joy for him, he actually just wanted to share the things he loved the most with us. Grandpa had a passion for many things, and among them he will be remembered most for his love of Hawaii, golf, food, travel, baseball, and family. Everyone will remember Grandpa for his love of golf, but I will always remember that we especially loved it when he would take us on a ride in the golf cart in Hawaii or Palm Springs.
I have been to many restaurants and sat at many tables with Grandpa, and while he enjoyed food of all kinds, he loved his butter. I was the only one in the family, though, that could compete with him for number one butter lover. I remember many a meals fight with him over the butter dish and who got to keep it closer. Dinner with Grandpa was also a special occasion because it was when he would most likely tell stories about his past. He had one of the best memories of anyone I knew, and I always loved hearing him talk about his baseball career, his life in Cuba, trips he had been on, the early years spent with Grandma, and other funny stories from his past.
We also shared many special occasions and holidays as well as time on trips together, and we did many fun things together but I especially loved getting to dance with my Grandpa on New Years Eve and cruises. And even though I did not get to dance with him, and it was a busy day and difficult for him to get around, I will always be grateful the he was at my wedding. It was these kinds of special events that Grandpa always attended even when we were little. Grandpa was the one who gave me a name and a blessing and I remember that after I was baptized he was the one who he confirmed me a member of the church and conferred upon me the Gift of the Holy Ghost when I was 8.
Finally, Grandpa was a very generous man. From helping all 6 granddaughters graduate college to early morning Christmases, he always enjoyed spoiling his granddaughters. Often he was more excited to give us our presents on Christmas morning than we were to get them.
I am sad that I can’t be there to celebrate my Grandpa’s life, but I will always be thankful for the memories I have of him. I am grateful that I had such a close relationship with my Grandfather and that he played such an important role in my life. I love you Grandpa.
I took this picture of UCSB's awesome campus flying home from my baby shower in Reno (more pictures of that to come soon.).
