The Kindness of a Grandfather

“More and more, when I single out the person who inspired me most, I go back to my grandfather.”

~ James Earl Jones

Yesterday was my grandfather’s birthday – he would have been 97, but we lost him too many years ago when he was in his early 60s.  December 22^nd always seemed to begin Christmas for us when we were growing up.  Years later when I was in college, I knew I always wanted to be home by then.  One year when my siblings and I were children, my grandfather let us put our fingers in his cake.  My mother was appalled, but we loved it and my grandfather laughed.  My grandfather had a wonderful sense of humor – a dash on the mischievous side.  He reminded me of Ricky Ricardo and my grandmother was a Cuban version of Lucy.  My grandfather played a huge role in our lives.  A doctor, he had Thursday afternoons off, so he would pick us up at school and take us to the convenience store for Icees and candy.  I still remember holding his hand as we walked through a parking lot.  I knew he adored me as he did my brother and sister.  So many kindnesses, so many years ago.  They are always with me.