Days of Wine and Roses
One day, as a young child, I was visiting my cousins when I discovered that I had a grandpa I knew nothing about.
When she was 17, my mom got pregnant with my oldest sister Pam. Mom’s disengaged, neglectful father disowned her. Being that he rarely talked with her anyways, I don’t know that it broke her heart, but she’s no longer with us so I can’t say for sure. My mother and my grandmother would get together, secretly, fairly often. I loved my happy, fun loving grandma Ruth.
We met grandpa Virge for the first time somewhere around my eighth birthday. That would’ve made my sister Pam around 19! Talk about holding a grudge.
Anyhoo, my grandparents eventually moved to a town called Yucca Valley, which is about an hour from Palm Springs, California. We would visit often, and although an introvert, Virge took a liking to me. He gave me a nickname and would allow me to sit in his studio while he worked on his art. All the years he made his wood enlay pictures, he never gave a single one away except to me. I loved him and liked spending time in his studio. While he worked, he played a radio station out of Palm Springs that was oldies. It was there I learned to love Dino, Perry Como, Eddy Arnold and Andy Williams. Moon River was the first dance at my wedding but this was probably the one I liked the best as a child.....
Virge died when I was 18. I wish I could have shared my new found love of golf with him. That would have been a treat. He wasted a lot of years being angry. Such a shame.
When he died, we each got to pick pieces of his art for our own. They started with the oldest, my mom, and worked their way down. Mom and her two siblings, then each of the 12 grandchildren until the youngest, my brother Tommy got his, then they started over again. As he had been prolific, everyone got at least two, quite a few got three. Mostly western scenes, cowboys, horses, and wildlife. I got a Native American on horseback, a cocker spaniel and a cross. On the back of the Cocker was an engraving, “to my Little Bit, with love”.
When she was 17, my mom got pregnant with my oldest sister Pam. Mom’s disengaged, neglectful father disowned her. Being that he rarely talked with her anyways, I don’t know that it broke her heart, but she’s no longer with us so I can’t say for sure. My mother and my grandmother would get together, secretly, fairly often. I loved my happy, fun loving grandma Ruth.
We met grandpa Virge for the first time somewhere around my eighth birthday. That would’ve made my sister Pam around 19! Talk about holding a grudge.
Anyhoo, my grandparents eventually moved to a town called Yucca Valley, which is about an hour from Palm Springs, California. We would visit often, and although an introvert, Virge took a liking to me. He gave me a nickname and would allow me to sit in his studio while he worked on his art. All the years he made his wood enlay pictures, he never gave a single one away except to me. I loved him and liked spending time in his studio. While he worked, he played a radio station out of Palm Springs that was oldies. It was there I learned to love Dino, Perry Como, Eddy Arnold and Andy Williams. Moon River was the first dance at my wedding but this was probably the one I liked the best as a child.....
Virge died when I was 18. I wish I could have shared my new found love of golf with him. That would have been a treat. He wasted a lot of years being angry. Such a shame.
When he died, we each got to pick pieces of his art for our own. They started with the oldest, my mom, and worked their way down. Mom and her two siblings, then each of the 12 grandchildren until the youngest, my brother Tommy got his, then they started over again. As he had been prolific, everyone got at least two, quite a few got three. Mostly western scenes, cowboys, horses, and wildlife. I got a Native American on horseback, a cocker spaniel and a cross. On the back of the Cocker was an engraving, “to my Little Bit, with love”.
that IS an unforgettable andy williams tune! blood families are weird; I have one too.
ReplyDeleteClearly you had a special place in his heart.
ReplyDeletePeople waste so much time being angry, including me. Thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteThe grandfather I knew was very different from the father he had been to my father. They came to an understanding and my brother and I benefitted from it. I was always so grateful for it.
ReplyDeleteYou have great memories of your grandfather. Something wonderful to hold on to.
Great post! This music reminds me of my mom, although Dino was the top of her list.😊 Your poor grandfather missed a lot with his bitterness. But I'm glad you got to know him and he you. knowing that generation well, you know he knew this but couldn't change or verbalize his apology.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a beautiful memory. I am so very glad you have some of your grandfather's art and that he and your mother were able to reconcile. Makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteAre there any FUNCTIONAL families around or are they all weird in some way. I guess I have met a few where everyone likes each other, but there is usually some rift between people. It's too bad as life is so short.
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