Talk to the Goat
Two things I loved about this post:
My wife and I sang that Randy Travis song at my parents' second wedding. They re-married after more than 20 years of divorce (neither married in that time).
And, I haven't heard or read the word "budgie" since I had a Japanese pen-pal in college (e-mail and the Internet was limited to military and low-functioning nerds back then). I had to ask her what it meant, and she said I might know them as "love birds." I still didn't know what the hell she was talking about, except that I recognized that term.
I don't think of old men as "cute" because one of my grandfathers was a devout minister and carpenter, and the other was a bit of a pervert. Then again, you might think that's cute.
I would offer to come north and towel you dry after you bathe, but my Lady likes that I'm around to do that for her.
Sorry!
This is a wonderful post, Jay, well-written and so poignant. YAY!
My grandfather also had a penny gumball machine and a free peanut machine!! I remember so feverishly sweating him out for pennies from his little rubber change purse thing (it's weird thinking of grandpa with a "purse" but I have no other term for it.) and upon feeding the change into the gumball machine praying to sweet little 6 lb 8 oz baby Jesus for a red one.
Grandpa knew the red ones were my favorite... He'd open the top and fish out a red one if push came to shove!
God bless him!
It is an absolutely beautiful post, Jay. You are honing your pen wonderfully well.
i long for simpler times.
here's to those days not being behind, cheers.
Very cute post. I was going through similar thoughts this Christmas when I went back to the states to see my family. I was sitting outside on the porch hitting the hard liquor with my granddad while watching the kids playing with their presents through the living room window. And it was a bit freaky because I realized all of a sudden that my granddad was now the great granddad, my dad was the granddad, and heaven forbid, I was the dad now. But everything looked pretty much the same as before. Just cooler toys and me having less interest in them and more in the liquor. It maybe me wonder if my parents were feeling the same thing when they were standing in my shoes, and what on earth I was going to feel like a little later down the road when I'm in theirs yet again.
And why on earth your name showed up in my post is totally beyond me.
Very sweet. You take me back. Thanks.
You ain't old yet.
That's an eye opener talking about the 80's as a simpler time. Sad thing is that it was. I recall the worst thing you had to worry about in high school in the 80's was gettng in a fist fight. If someone pulled a weapon, everyone jumped him since it was unfair. Now a days, that ain't the case.
Cherish every moment with your grandpa, I just lost mine, and all those memories are only that.
There's nothing like a good grandpa.
you know craving caramel is better than carving caramel... the caramel whittling craft business is really not doing well, there are entire caramel craft villages up in nova scotia that are ghost towns due to the kraft fiasco of 86
Family Day got to you, huh?
I remember taking walks with my Pa pere downtown to see "What's Cooking".
Those will always be some of my favorite memories of my life.
Since I am getting close to being one of those old men, it's nice to know I might be cute finally. One advantage that getting into old man status confers is the freedom to say some of the things that twenty years ago would have gotten me into lots of trouble. Now those same things make me appear the lovable curmudgean. Getting old ain't all bad.
And, yes, I do like to talk about the weather.
You are lucky to have a grampa with stories. Great post. I cracked up about the OCD peanut thing. I did stuff like that with smarties.
*heavy sigh*
so nice!
Lovely memories. Thanks for sharing them with us.
You mean jelly bracelets didn't go with everything?
Your grandpa sounds friggin adorable.
Wow, you don't wanna know what I used to think back in the 80s - but I'll tell you anyway:
I could not understand, and asked my dad why they got the actors together and re-acted the same episodes of Family Ties I just saw the week before. "If they're going to all that effort of re-shooting" I said, "you'd think they could at least do a new story."
That would be cute if I were 4 or 5 right?
I used to believe that when we were having thunder storms, that god and the angels were bowling ... I always wondered why god didn't bowl so much in the winter time ...
I blew it! out of the top 20. forgive me.
I didn't meet my grampa until I was 40. He's a hip dude. I wish I'd known him when I was a kid. Of course, I wouldn't have understood a word he said back then
Amazing post. I dont have my grandparents to remember all this anymore. but I can just remember what I have been told about things in life.
Posts like this make me treasure the time I have left with my grandpa & makes me really miss my grandma.
i enjoyed the randy travis quote at the end 
Cute post!
My paternal grandfather died before I was born. My maternal grandfather died when I was 22. It would be nice to have a grandpa again.
God - I love sappy Jay
You have that in common with my wife. She thinks old men are cute too. I think I'm not aging fast enough for her. 
You know who doesn't find old people cute? Hoop. My grandma took a bite of his sandwich the other day and he couldn't bring himself to eat the rest of it. LOL.
Gosh, I can lick this post. It's so sweet.
A delightful read .. every detail had a portentous feel .. and each line was suffused with warmth .. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post. I wish I could meet your granpa - :>)
The last comment was from me. I forgot I had to type my name here though I'm signed in .. on blogger .. do keep writing more such posts ..
Could you be any more of a better writer?
xoxoxox
never really thought about it, but I'm pretty sure jesus is the anti-boner!
Tee-hee.
Very sweet! ^_^
I remember those weekday panties. I remember purposely wearing them on the wrong days. It made me feel so mischievous.
How lucky you are to still have your Grandpa. I lost my Grandma last summer and that was it. No more Grandparents. It's an odd feeling, like now I have to concentrate on watching my parents grow old. And then when they are gone, it's me.
If I had to be young again though, I think I'd rather be someone else! *L*
A wonderful post, it totally made up for the sports one.
I don't think anyone is in charge of boners, or if some higher power is, that higher power has a twisted sense of humor because sometimes it's almost embarrassing.
Cake Lady, you're right, we probably are long lost sisters!
J, thanks for the hugs and kisses. If I was a blusher, I totally would.
Aria, thank you. Lovely of you really.
Tink....and that's why we all love Hoop.
Mark, was that sappy? Oh Gawd!
Mark, you sure have funny budgie stories.
Travis, whoa!
Lizzle, really? Another peanut machine! That's crazy.
FB, you always get right to the heart of the matter, don't you?
Bravo! I used to think if you flushed the toilet you would rocket into space.
and that dolls would come to life at night while I was sleeping.
I'll be 51 in April.
Take me baby!!!!!....but please....
be gentle!!!!!LOL!!!!
51 is NOT old.
Sorry to disappoint.
awww I love this post!!!!! I love little old men too!!! My favorite times were the 70s when I was little
I thought there were maybe monkeys in the traffic lights or small people!!
...and someone else does the toweling when you step out of the bath!
Love it!
I remember dancing like that with my grandma...and try to do it with my grandkids when they let me. Thankssomuch for the wonderful memories Jay!
Jesus is in charge of everything.
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