My Grandpa

March 12 was my Grandpa Matson's birthday. I have it written on my calendar. We had his viewing on his 80th birthday. We even had birthday cake for him.

The point isn't his death, though. The point is his life, and all the wonderful memories I have of him. It seems like I see him everywhere I go, now. I see these cute, little, old rotund men who have "farmer" written all over them, with their tanned, weather-worn skin, and still-calloused hands. I miss my Grandpa.

One of my favorite pictures with him is when I was very young. I had on my farmer overalls, and we were in the barn, and he is leaned over me helping me stir milk replacer for the calves. I remember picking rocks with Grandpa (one of the chores all of us grandkids hated), and going fishing with him and my dad. I remember going on vacation with him and my grandma up north. They would sit together on the porch of their cabin or on the beach and watch the rest of the family play.

At their own house, it seemed like people would wander in and out all day. When my mom started working and I started going to school I would have to go over to Grandma and Grandpa's and ride the bus from their house. My dad would come in before work and have a cup of coffee and yak with them before he went off to work. In the summer after work dad and grandpa would head out to the fields to cut hay or plow, or just piddle around the farm yard "fixing." Grandpa was busy all day except when he came back home for his noon meal and nap. That man could suck the roof in with his snoring...

I remember when Grandpa's truck rolled down the hill because he forgot to put the brake on because he had to go to the bathroom. It hit a tree at the bottom but not before it killed some of his ducks. Grandpa had an amazing sense of humor. He was always teasing, and he had nicknames for all of his children and grandchildren--I'm Skeeter, by the way. Nice to meet you.

I just...I feel so blessed. I don't remember much of my mom's parents--I didn't spend that much time with them, and I was fairly young when they passed. But my dad's parents--man alive. I practically grew up in their home. And it was a home filled with laughter, and love, and fun. How many kids have what I did? Not very many kids these days, and THOSE days had that. So, my grandpa, he's got a special piece of my heart. I loved that man, and I still do, and I miss him daily.