For my Grandparents

I swear to live a life that honors and exemplifies the life my grandparents lived.  Hard work, generoisty, respect, dedication, friendship, love, and loyalty.  My grandparents were astounding people that were nothing short of amazing.  They were two loving people that opened up their home and hearts on multiple occasions for those in need, went the extra mile for those they cared about, and were genuine people who never had a bad word to say about anybody.

My grandfather was a cool, calm, friendly, hard working, and fun loving man.  He had very few needs, and rarely complicated his life.  He is the american dream.  A man who worked over 35 years for one company, working his way from the bottom all the way to the top, retired, and spent his remaining years only needing 4 things.  Fishing, golfing, a home cooked meal, and to be surrounded with those he cared about.  He was content with his life, and never passed judgement.  Despite history, fault, and mounting evidence of fault he would take your word for full everytime you gave it.  The only person I can genuinly say was generous to a fault.  Giving money and his home to those who may not of deserved it, but he did nott care he was just glad to help.

My grandparents have set a high bar for what a person should be. A man who even facing his own mortality, remembered to give all his grandkids a birthday card with money in it.  Some don't understand why I took the christmas money my grandpa gave me and spent it on gifts for those I care about, but it was to live by his example.  It was the only thing I could think to do with that money.

Grandma was a happy, loud, and frank woman.  A person at home in the kitchen, in love with the idea of cooking a big dinner for those who graced her home.  She fought even as her health declined to be in that kitchen cooking a big warm hearty meal.  She loved to talk, she was usually the loudest, but also the loudest to laugh in the room.  She was a woman that readily accepted anybody that was introduced.  She never cared about your past, she cared about the person in front of her, not the person who came before.  I think she tried to make a positive impact on everybody she met, showing them that with love, compassion, and treasuring the people in your life you could have more than you could imagine.

These were all lessons I took to heart. 

I am not one for religion, but those two were shining examples of someone who took the lessons of Jesus to heart.  They never cared if you were a christian and they never asked, all they needed was to know you were a neighbor. 

I miss them.  I miss them so much, but I keep them with me.