Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Happy Birthday, Grumps.

Today, my dears, is a red-letter day. Some of you may remember how much I love my Granddad. He's the bee's knees, and today is his 81st birthday. Happy birthday, Granddad!

There are about a million things I really love about Granddad, and today I'm going to tell you about a few of them. Gotta leave 'em wanting more, as my mama always said. Wait. Did my mama always say that? It might have been somebody else, come to think of it. Well, whatever. Story still applies. Here's a little picture of Granddad and his Julie. Isn't Julie cute? I love Julie, too, just so you know.



They're sitting here on the tailgate of their pickup truck. Look inside. See all those crates and cleverly organized shelves and stuff? See the padding and carpet on the floor? Granddad and Julie go on long, long, LONG roadtrips, and rather than stay at hotels, they just pull into a KOA campground, lay out their blankies in the back of the truck, and go to sleep. That's right. They live out of a truck bed. How do you say "kick-ass" in every language in the world? They were my inspiration when, for my first job out of college I worked as a backpacking guide in Utah. I worked an 8-day-on-6-day-off schedule, so I didn't bother renting an apartment. I just tricked out my truck like my grandfather's, and took off to the four corners every chance I got. What a time, man. That was great, and I owe it all to my granddad, without whom I never would have thought to do that.

What else is cool about Granddad, you ask? Why, I'll be happy to tell you. First off, he's handy as hell. I think I got my handy-ness from him, too. Every time I call up there, he's over to the Home Depot or the Lowe's getting stuff for some home renovation (winter) or garden work (summer). And when he's not remodeling and fixing things up, he's tending to his beehives. Granddad, just like my dad, is a beekeeper. His honey would bring you to your knees, and the jams he and Julie make every summer are ambrosial. Granddad and Julie eat like kings.

But above all, I love two things about Granddad. First, I love what a trickster he is. Once a long time ago he bet my little sister Crasey $10 that she couldn't catch a fish in the ocean with her bare hands. Well, first of all, he should have known better than to bet Crasey anything. That kid is more stubborn than... I don't know. Than the most stubborn thing in the world? Anyway, Crasey spent all damn day splashing around in tidal pools, belly flopping on fishy-looking shadows, trying to hustle minnows up on shore. And don't you know it, after 5 or 6 hours (I told you she was stubborn), Crasey actually managed to catch a decent-sized little fish WITH HER BARE HANDS. So she's crazy excited, right? She holds this little fish up in her hand, squealing and bouncing around, screaming "Granddad, Granddad, I did it! I caught a fish with my bare hands!! Look look look!" And Granddad, without batting an eyelash, looked at Crasey, looked at the fish in her hand, and said, "Aw, you cheated."

In all fairness, that story is just as much about how cheap Granddad is (tighter than a bull's ass at fly time, as he'd say) than what a trickster he is, but like I said before, the story still applies. So let me tell you about the second thing I love most about Granddad. I love how much he loves his Julie. Peas and carrots, those two, and every time I start to get to feeling bad about being THIRTY AND SINGLE, and start wondering if my standards are too high, I look at them and think to myself, just relax, you've got time.

As Granddad tells me all the time, I'll know when it's right.

Happy birthday, you old fart. Keep rockin' out.  I love you.

10 comments:

Matter Of Fact Mommy said...

happy birthday, granddad!

btw, my granddad is also one of my most favorite-est people on the planet.

Anonymous said...

My dad lived out of his van in Utah, too, when he was a white water river guide. I always wanted to go back in time to the 70's and be a vehicle-liver.
Happy Birthday, Granddad!

Captain Judy said...

awww how incredibly sweet! I want to meet the Amazing Cheasty Granddad. Happy Birthday to him!!!

Mimi said...

Ah, gramps is a stud, look at the full head of dark hair! Happy birthday!

Anonymous said...

You made me cry again dammit! Oh well.

Happy Birthday Granddad!

Cheasty said...

Yeah, he's quite a stud -- full head of hair, twinkly blue eyes. It's where I get my stunning good looks from.

That is, if you don't count the rapidly growing colony of gray hairs on my head... ;)

Sam Marie said...

Happy birthday super cheasty grandad!!!!

tracey said...

I think we're all a little in love with your Grandpa. Happy Birthday Cheasty's Grandpa!

Anonymous said...

happy belated birthday to your granddad. I loved reading how he was the inspiration for your road travels.

Anonymous said...

Granddad rules - you should tell some of the stories off of his birthday cd - those are hilarious :) LOVE YOU GRANDDAD, you are the best in the whole world....BTW, I came downstairs yesterday and found mom with a loaded .22 shooting at squirrels. Yup. Turns out our parents actually have a small armory in their bedroom. For the record, the birdfeeder looks like a colander... Squirrels - 1 Mom - 0
Peace, Em