2000-08-22

I'm going to my grandfather's funeral today. he will be missed.

We all call him Pop-Pop. He was a mechanic, and worked on planes in the Aluetian Islands during World war II. Near alaska. He was also an accomplished pilot and sailor. He was into all things mechanical, and elemental, you could say. I remember visits to his house on the water in avalon, new jersey. All of the grandkids do. It was like the perfect little get away. You could go swimming, jump off the dock into the bay a few steps away from the backdoor.

We'd bike up to stone harbor, or spend the day body boarding on the beach. and digging for crabs.

He was a very temperate, smiling father. Math was important. He taught all the grandkids the multiplication tables. He gave me a little black book, and wrote lessons and facts and things in it every day. It was like even though it was summer vacation, we were still going to have an hour of study.

He'd take us out boating on the high seas. Showed me how to dip my knees whenever a big wave hit. He let me manuever and steer the boat. And we would stop at some off shore restauraunt on a little island somewhere and feast on the freshest crab and fish. Or we'd lower anchor and just sit and watch a boat parade on the 4th of july.

Pop pop was the most wonderful grandfather to have. the rock and foundation of our family. he raised everyone to take care of themselves, and each other. It really can't be put into words, here, what he meant to us all. I think he was the greatest man i knew, growing up. in the sense of what it means to be a man.

from a different era. he's got a wonderful array of classy felt hats. with feathers in them.

he was the first person who showed me a computer. I would draw all day on his Macintosh from the mid-80's. macdraw. macpaint. all the old goodies.

One day i worked up the nerve to ask him if i could have the old guitar that was sitting in his house, stored away. It was left behind by an old tenant. And pop-pop never used it. (he was a pack-rat). And that was how i began playing. Maybe i would have never started, otherwise.

Now guitar playing is an integral part of me.

A few weeks ago, when i came back to pennsylvania to visit my ailing pop pop, i knew that there wasn't much time left. I decided to spend most of the week just being there for them, staying at his house. It was a blessing. to spend that final bit of time with them. to feel the struggle he was going through, and hear his old stories. I will forever be glad i made that decision to stay.