Grandpa was a self made man. He kept his own garden, fixed anything within his means. If he couldn’t figure something out he’d ask other people how to fix things. Once he started working on something, he would often be determined to see it through, steadfast in his resolve to fix or complete his project.
He loved puzzles: crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles. He enjoyed sharpening his mind and maintaining a sharp mind.
He would read joke books and tell jokes. Before I would go to work he’d always say “don’t take any wooden nickels.”
He liked to plan. He liked to design. For projects he would mark critical points. Carefully measure each dimension. Upon completing a task he would check it and make sure it was done right, would hold up to its purpose, and if there were ways to double check things he would follow through on that also.
Trips were often stressful endeavors. We would leave with maps marked with our route charted out. Cars were always stocked with maps for each state we would pass through. Also in tow would be tire pressure gauge, pencils, a magnifying glass, and handwritten notes he took down from AAA and past experiences taking the route. We were always relieved to reach our destination.
His shed had a collection of tools, his current projects, storage for his lawn mower, a plow attachment, and a tow behind. You would also find tools he made like oil container tops to use as funnels. There were mechanical books for various cars that he had worked on, notebooks–some would be graph paper to easily draw diagrams for projects, others would have dates of maintenance on various vehicles.
He enjoyed spending time together with family. He enjoyed having company. He showed love both in work and recreation. In the mornings he’d enjoy birdwatching with grandma, one of them would fetch a book to identify new birds that would visit. They enjoyed this together and would share what birds they were able to host. He enjoyed various activities with family like going on vacation, fishing, kayaking, boating, exploring, visits to the beach, appreciating sunsets and nature, crabbing, tending to his garden and plants.
He enjoyed tinkering and enjoyed gadgets. He had a diverse interest in mechanics and electronics. He was able to troubleshoot electrical problems as well as mechanical. We built a white board together when I returned to college–definitely a cost effective solution. He got a computer that I imagined would be used to surf the internet, write emails, and allow him to perform research. Instead, he would find projects to do that were outside of this basic usage.
Together grandma and grandpa enjoyed hosting various parties. In the more favorable months he would take to the grill and get it started and they would cook. They would frequent various places like Presque Isle or there was a phase where they would visit the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, enjoying another ride on maid of the mist, the show of lights projected on the falls at night, or yet another beautiful sunset over lake Erie.
I’m thankful for the time we spent together. I’m blessed to call him my grandpa. He will be missed by many.