Stories of Old
Wednesday, August 25th, 2004
Since UltraMom is derelict in her posting duties, I guess it is up to me to hold down the fort for one more day.
I remember that I used to love to listen to my Grandpa’s stories of when he was young. What life was like then: the characters that lived then, in as yet untamed, Idaho; his misadventures; the stories of his Father coming to America by way of 7 trips around the world; and his pet bat, Useless. Many of the stories were well-worn yarns that I had heard many times and wanted to hear many more, and frequently the right question would launch him into telling a tale I’d never heard before. The men in my family are known for spinning tall tales, and I’m sure that Grandpa’s stories were embellished, but really, what story isn’t better with a bit of embellishment?
My Grandpa died of cancer when I was a Freshman away at college, and I have missed him everyday since then. I have missed all the things I could have shared with him: he never met UltraGirl and I never got to tell him of my time in Japan or starting my new business. I miss all the time we could have spent together and we never got to go up to Alaska, catch some Squaws, and be hermit heroes (my Grandpa was many things, politically correct was not among them). I can’t work with him in his shop on whatever project he has going on, and I can’t listen to his wonderful stories of old.
Stories like these give us, I think, a lot of insight into life today. Maybe not in directly applicable ways all the time, but that extra knowledge gives us extra tools to deal with life. Besides that they are nearly always incredibly interesting. I bring this up because recently I have been blessed with the opportunity to hear more of these stories of the past, but this time from a completely different background. UltraGirl’s grandfather died the week before last, and her Grandmother has come to live with UltraGirl’s parents. Before the Grandfather died, they were one of 4 married couples in Yokosuka over the age of 90. UltraGrandma is 94 years old and is extremely spry. She was born in the last years of the reign of the Meiji Emperor (born in 1910), and has lived through tremendous changes in Japan. I love to hear her stories and have tons of questions, and she loves to tell them. We make a great team. I’m extremely lucky to have met UltraGrandma and I feel extremely blessed to be able to hear her stories. I hope to get some of her stories on tape … something I have always regretted not doing with Grandpa.
If you still have living grandparents, appreciate them, they are truly a treasure!
Great Post. I’d love to hear some of the Japanese Grandmother stories. I remember some of the Grandpa (on UDad’s side) stories, some truer than others. I’m sorry you didn’t get to know better Grandpa on UltraMom’s side; he was truly a great man, and , of course, was named after you..........or maybe the other way around!