Grandpa Taylor

A man of age sits in an old rocking chair holding a small child on his knee. His hair changing white with wisdom is growing thinner. His eyes show years of hard work, but somehow the happiness and joy looking at this child on his lap shines through. This is where he is the happiest. The young child responds in return her blond ponytails moving side to side as she throws her head back and giggles. Her grandpa is the best. He sings a song to her, “de da la de la de la de” and bounces her on his knee. She’s a special one to him and a real keeper, she knows because he tells her so.

As time goes on, so the child grows. Her time spent with her grandpa, although different in spirit, is still filled with the sincere love and attention that can never be doubted. The grandpa is a hard worker who spends hours each day tending to the horses, making deer jerky, and working in some time to make horseshoe rings for the kids that he loves so much. Through all of the hard work and time, Grandpa’s sometimes tend to break down, and this grandpa did too; but you would never know because when asked, he would always respond that he was still “ornery as ever”, but the young girl just thought that was funny.

One day Grandpa had to get some work done on his hip. The young girl went to visit him after he came home from the hospital and saw him sitting on the front porch with a silver walker in front of him. The young girl thought this would be the perfect moment to tease her grandpa so she took full advantage of the situation. Grandpa laughed at the little girl as she was dancing and making jokes in front of him saying, “you can’t catch me now grandpa” as she kicked her legs in the air; but she underestimated her grandpa, who while laughing wide eyed had other ideas working in his mind. The young girl turned to do a little run and grandpa stood up and took off after her. He caught her on the sidewalk at the bottom of the stairs, wrapped her up tight, gave her a big hug, and told her never to underestimate her grandpa. She laughed and never did again!

Grandpa used to tell great stories, but some of the ones that the young girl liked best were the ones about him. She’s older now, but she still tells people that she meets about her grandpa and how fast he could run, “like the wind” she would say. She would tell them about how he could be even faster when he was in a chariot being pulled by horses, and how fast his hands were too, like when he was boxing or scooping ice cream.

Grandpa always had little white mints if you ever needed one, and he always had a hand to hold. The little girl remembers his hand being rough and calloused, but it felt so tough and strong; like it would never let you down, and he never did. Even when at the family reunion in the talent show the little girl would play her violin and it would sound more like fingernails on a chalkboard, you can bet grandpa’s brown boots were tapping to a beat and he clapped louder than anyone at the end, giving her a kiss, and telling her she really was special.

He never missed a game of basketball or volleyball; if the little girl was playing he was sure to be there with grandma at his side, smiling and proud. He came to graduations, plays, and anything else she was in, because he loved her, and she sure loved him.

He tried to make her tough too. He taught her how to work, to help with the chores, and to help grandma around the house. He also tried to show her that a cut is a long ways from your heart, and he seemed to think that salt would make it feel better, but it never did. Grandpa also showed her how much fun camping could be, from whistles and dinner, to play huts and stories, the camp trips were always fun.

The best times the little girl ever had with her grandpa was when they would go shooting. The little girl, now old enough to drive, would go to Loa to pick up her grandpa after school. He would load the guns in the truck with plenty of ammo and they would drive to Big Rocks to practice their aim. The background of graffiti painted rocks, wouldn’t be your typical background for a “best memory” but for the little girl and Grandpa it fit just fine. Grandpa even shared with the little girl the opportunity to shoot his special gun, and she thinks about that still.

Sometimes in life, little girls mess up, and they get a little lost along the way, but Grandpa always believed in this little girl and was there for her no matter what, because she was special you see, and her grandpa told her so. The little girl will never be able to give back to her grandpa what he has given to her, but she loves him, she is proud of him, and she hopes he knows that’s so. He’s special you see, a real keeper!

Grandpa, I hope you know how much I love you and appreciate all that you do for me. You have been such an important person in my life, not only my grandpa but my friend. I love you! I am so glad that my little Grace got to meet you-even if you just took a little nap together! We will miss you! Grace also got to meet her Grandma Great Taylor. And Grandma and Grandpa Great Ellett.