Today is my cute nephew's birthday - what a handsome little devil he is! Here he is with his Uncle Mikey. Jacob is very creative and has a great imagination. He is turning 7 years old today. Happy birthday Jacob!
Two years ago today is also the day that my Grandpa Amundsen passed away. I don't even know where to begin about him. He used to go bust one of his buddies out of the nursing home and take him to Costco every Wednesday. There they would meet up with some of their other friends, get the $1.50 hot dog/drink deal and "refight the war." He fought in WWII. He told me he remembers lying in bed and listening to the announcement on the radio that Pearl Harbor had been attacked and thinking "Oh crap," because he knew he would be going.
He would take so long preparing his food at dinner that we would all be almost finished by the time he started eating, but he had to have it all perfectly seasoned, buttered, and arranged just so. Some people call that slow, I call it having an appreciation for good food and taking the time to enjoy it - something we don't do enough of these days. He also had an incredible passion for good music. I'll never hear Glenn Miller's "Moonlight Serenade" without thinking of him. He loved to sit down with a good, icy beverage and listen to music. Any song that came on he could tell you a story about - where he was when he heard it or who he used to dance with to that song.
He comes from a day and age where being a gentleman goes beyond opening doors for women. It includes helping them with their coats, stepping to the side so ladies can pass by, walking on the outside when accompanying a woman down the street and rising when a woman comes into the room. At Grandma and Grandpa's house we were taught to wait to eat until everyone had their food, to ask to be excused from the table, and not to do that until the majority of the people were finished (that could have been Grandma's influence...). He used phrases like "Son of a gun!" and "For crying out loud!" He has left an indelible mark on my life and the lives of so many others. We love and miss you Grandpa!
2 comments:
Hey Amanda!
I love your blog and I love what you wrote about your grandpa. That is so sweet. I'm so glad I can keep up with you through your blog. Thanks for checking out mine!
Happy Thanksgiving!
(Heather your cousin)
Love this post! I remember hearing stories about him, and then having them come alive when I finally met him. Remember when he helped us move in to Amy's condo? Yeah, no big deal that he's hauling our stuff up two flights of stairs. :) He was so sweet!
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