Watching Miss Vivi bond with Grandpa Gold (her Great Grandpa Gold) was one of the highlights of my trip to Bear Lake this summer. She seemed to instinctively sense just how special a person he is and instantly became his four-wheeling buddy, walking companion, lap warmer, and nap pal.
For his birthday this year, each family member was asked to write about a memory of Grandpa Gold. This is the Grandpa Gold that I know . . .
I have so many fond memories of Grandpa that it’s hard to just choose one. Perhaps I should write about the sound of Grandpa–the jingle jangle of change in his pocket as he walked; the quick, solid thump of his shoes; his whistle (Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho) as we bounced around Disneyland. Or the smell of Grandpa when he’d come home for lunch—a distinct, pleasant mix of Irish Spring (green) soap and earthy greenhouse potting soil. Or the sight of Grandpa—always a twinkle in his eye, a smile on his face, and his straight, strong posture. And what grandchild will ever forget the taste of Grandpa’s ice cream store; I credit Grandpa for my love of premium ice cream—burnt almond fudge is the best!
But more than anything, the one impression that keeps surfacing in my mind is his tender touch and treatment of Grandma over the years. Even as a young child, I realized that their relationship was special. I loved how they would hold hands . . . how he would call her “sweetheart” . . . how they would kneel down together at the dinner table, grasping hands throughout the prayer and kissing after “amen.” I admired how he would open doors for her . . . and how she allowed him to open doors for her. But more than anything, I will never ever forget his sweet and gentle care of Grandma when she was sick. He was there for her until the very end, doing everything he could to help make her comfortable, to share the burden of her illness, to leave her no doubt about how much he adored her.
But, of course, that’s not really the very end. It’s only the first chapter of their eternal romance. I hope to live worthy of witnessing the unfolding of future chapters when they are reunited again.
I love you, Grandpa!
