Dear Grandfather

Dear Grandfather,

I hope this letter finds you well. A certain sequence of events has recently brought my attention to details of our relationship that have until now been obfuscated. I would have liked to have seen you more often over the years; it would have brought us closer together. I may have been able to recognize certain things before. I have always felt a certain desire to aspire to great things in life, t rise above any and all roadblocks that stand in my way. I have been inspired by you to succeed despite challenges that stand in my way; I remember hearing stories of how you came to favor one leg over the other. I remember them as thus: You fell out of a truck as a youth and were told you were to never hope to walk again, working against all odds you strengthened your ailing limb by pushing yourself in a wagon, using your bum leg. I always new a walking Grandfather; one who owned a beautiful house in an orange orchard near the Pacific coast.

I remember playing the piano (or rather playing with the piano) in your home; I played songs that made me think of weather, mainly storms. The rumble of that piano, still courses through my bones, the music I hear now, though the same as then, sounds so much more beautiful to my ears. I used to play, back then, with a certain tuning fork. I had no idea what the purpose of this sweet sounding instrument was, but I do know now. The time that we did enjoy together was very special, I remember impatiently awaiting seeing you. I remember a grandfather who always wore a business jacket, I have a certain respect for blazers and often wear one now. I loved the accent that you carried with you from the east coast, the way you said my name will ring forever in my ears when I think of you.

On my last visit with you we had the opportunity to dine together, you were not a nimble young man any more. Your mind often drifted, you would sit and look around as if uncomfortable in the environment. Then the conversation would drift to times gone by, back at the water company with your colleagues. Your face would light up as you remembered great stories of yesterday. This same effect was present when you talked of family history, like when you showed me a painting of a ship in your living room, this was a painting of a ship that one of our ancestors sailed on. We had a terrific conversation on the way to dinner, just the two of us for the drive. I described to you all of the adventures and activities related to the raising of my children, you were very eager to hear all that I could tell.

When I remember you I will always think of certain things:

- Red Wine, “89 years old and this is my only medicine” you would say (thought the year would change).
- The Piano in your house, and the tuning fork as well, I played as much as I could when I was there.
- Your smile, the one you would give me when you said hello after a long absence.
- Your voice, the sound of your accented words ring like music in my heart.
- The way you addressed letters to me, Master John Stuart and the thought that they conveyed.
- The orange orchard, what a beautiful view.
- Walking around you neighborhood, I think there are houses where we used to walk, I remember looking for fossils.
- I remember getting a tour of the data center where you worked, this was likely my start to my career today.

Granddad, you are someone very special and influential in my life, I will hold you in my heart forever.

STU - 2004