Pockets

My Grandfather is definately one of a kind. I can see quite a bit of my mother in him. If you know my mother then you know what im talking about... Yes the Toilet paper, taking home leftoevers, and Waiting for things to go on sale is hereditary.

While in Prince Edward Island, I did quite a bit of the cooking. I can honestly say although she is getting better, my mother is not the greatest cook in the world. It just is not her thing. And my grandmother relished the thought of someone else in the kitchen so that she didnt have to cook... My grandfather was slightly wary because when your wife cooks the same assortment of dishes, and youve been married for 60 years, change in food, especially me doing the cooking. Me who likes to break out the curry, ginger, or add any odd assortment of things to my cooking (the recepie is more of a guideline lets say...)

Whenever I cooked my Grandfather usually found his way into the kitchen, and would clean the pot out after I had scraped it. And i mean he would clean it out. My mom and i kept teasing him bout how we wernt sure if there was any finish left on the pot! He would also sit and sharpen the knives for me so that they were always nice and sharp, or peel things for me. He was quite handy that way and I enjoyed his company quite muchly. Although by the time I was there for about a week I had been banned from making any more sweets... By my dear grandfather himself... He had gained 5 pounds from my cooking!

But I digress...

When we go to visit them, my mom in particular because shes there twice a year, we always bring presents. My mom always tries to bring clothes or lotion or just something they will like and use (like slippers... you think my moms bad for not throwing things out... phew shes tame compared to my grandfather!) In particular my grandfather always likes it when she brings home pants.

It sounds really weird, but beacause they are old, and dont get around as much any more, they are slowing down and their shape is changing . Its hard for them to go shopping so sometimes my mom does it for them and brings it with her. My grandfather always likes the pants she brings him because they have what he likes.

There are specifics. For winter they usually have to be lined some how. Either lined, or very thick fleece. And even then he will wear long underwear underneath.

For summer they need to be quite thin, with usually no lining. fabric wise hes quite similar for shirts as well.

But one thing that all of his pants have to have is pockets. They are not considered pants unless they have at LEAST 4 pockets. Your usual side pockets, hopefully the back pockets over the bottom. And his FAVORITE, cargo pockets. In his eyes ALL pants should have cargo pockets.

Whenever he gets a new pair of pants the first thing he does is sits there and examines all of the pockets. He will unzip, or unsnap, or unvelcro them all, and stick his hands in, feel around, get the size of the pocket, sometimes he will pull out the pocket innard and inspect it... But all of the pockets must be checked.

And do not doubt, ALL of the pockets will be used. Some will hold Kleenex, another his jacknife, peppermints, some type of paper, possibly a peice of string, and any other numerous assortments of objects.

My Grandfather is certainly one of a kind, he is a man that I look up to for his strength, perserverance, and his faithfulness to, as well as his walk with God... He is a man that I love, and miss dearly everysingle day.

I cherish the time that I get to spend with my aging grandparents because I know that any day they could go. They are blessed, to be 88 and 95, and still live by themselves, in their own home.

I love them to pieces and will always remember their little quirks...

Tired of Nothing

I wrote this while on my trip but couldnt add it because I had no internet... for two whole weeks... now THAT was an experience!! lol

On my recent trip to visit my dear elderly grandparents in Prince Edward Island on the eastcoast of Canada; I found myself following a very different routine.
At home I am usually quite fast paced, usually busy running hither and thither throughout the city, to work, church, picking someone up dropping someone off. And as much as I often take the time to smell the roses and read my library books, this was quite the experience.

My grandparents are both quite elderly. My Grandfather will be 96 this July, and my Grandmother will be 89 two days later. They live together alone with no help coming inexcept a housekeeper once every 2 weeks to help with vaccuming and dusting, and the healthnurse to come in and take blood every once and a while. Grammie still cooks breakfast and it is a sit down meal complete with placemats, bowl of porridge, and toast plate, whetheror not you are having toast. Early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wiseis not just a saying here, but also put into practice.

The first few nights we were here, by ten things were quickly winding down and we were gettting into bed if not there already. Usually by around 9 the gravitational pull was toomuch for my grandparents and We would all end upstairs getting ready for bed.
The nights that we went upstairs early without a doubt someone would call, it would be Bo, or Uncle David, or who knows else.
Meals here are quite square, and if not served by the usual time, you could find a slightlybewildered Grandfather in his kitchen chair looking around for his lunch. And if not served shortly after well goodness me he would have a knife and SOMETHING in his hand to cut up. Weather it be an apple, some cheese, a tomato, or even munching on something by his lazy boy.
Immediately after lunch is nap time, and everyone can be found dozing quite nicely in their usual spot. Grampy in his Lazy boy, Grammie on the bed upstairs, Mom in the other chair downhere, and myself on the couch, or upstairs in the "pink" room, my designated spot whenever Istay here, unless someone else is here too.
Then supper is usually wrapped up by 530, and then we agian find our spots, and mom and I fightover the laptop to see who will play solitare,If mom wins I usually findmyself in the kitchen Cooking SOMTHING (I was evenutally banned by my grandfather from making anything sweet because in the first week ish he gained 5 pounds from my cooking...) , and grammie reads the paper, and grampie sits in his chair and looks out the window to see which dog is walking the owner tonight.
The odd thing is though, that even though we kept slightly busy, doing light chores around the house all day, or running errands through Charlottetown, by around 6pm we were all tired, and STRUGGLING to stay up....
I missed my faster pace of life, but I must say that it was quite nice to be able to sit and contemplate things, and come up with WONDERFUL ideas, that will fly like lead balloons. But it was nice to have a break from the rush and bubble of regular society.
The only realy rush and bubble that we had the whole trip was Easter Monday. One of grandfatherssisters (my Great Aunt Hazel), her husband, their son and his two children came along with one of my other great aunts (Helen now deceised) Daughter and her husband came as well.
That made life interesting... trying to fit 11 in the kitchen was quite interesting. And cooking in that small kitchen was like trying to swim in a teacup, but we made due.
All in all it was wonderufly to see a totally different way of life, and to slow down and take a very large WHIFF of the flowers standing by the side of the road. Just watch for the mud round here. Theres an AWFUL lot of water!