Sydney

January 2019

Hi Grandpa,

oh where to begin. I don’t think I’ll ever really know how to put into words how much I love you. My childhood is filled with sweet memories of us together and I am eternally grateful for how special our relationship is.

Some of my earliest memories with you were of you pulling the little red wagon with me in it around Pierpont, down the lane and to the beach. I remember feeling so content sitting in there watching the houses and yards go by. In the car we would do drive bys at the end of Seaward and if we were walking around you’d always remember to tell me say “bread and butter” as our holding hands would go over an electrical box or fire hydrant. We also use to go to the harbor and walk around lots. We would go to one of the restaurants and you would order extra crackers so I could fill up my bowl of clam chowder with them and eat it all.

I loved going to Carrows with you, especially when we sat at the bar/countertop. I would be so entertained by Maureen and all the extra crayons to color with. They were always so great with us and made me feel extra special. It was so nice to see her again a few weeks ago. When I got older, you would watch out for cars while I was on my razor scooter. Racing down that big hill by the gas station over and over again was awesome; I loved speeding down the hill while you were standing there watching the road and laughing with me.

The good old Donut Store was our best hang out spot to me. Getting whatever kind I wanted which was normally something with sprinkles, old fashioned or a maple bar, we would sit outside while you drank your coffee and ate your plain cake. I played on the flowerbed walls right there or just sat and people watched with you. I thought it was super neat how the lady at the counter remembered me when we used to do this, even though she hadn’t seen us together in 10 plus years.

Whenever we would go to the beach it was like time didn’t exist. We would be down there for what felt like hours, searching for sea glass, cool looking rocks, playing in the sand and swimming in the ocean. Honestly looking for sea glass will always be my favorite memory of us together, finding treasure at our own beach and saving it up over the years. When you would let me go in the ocean your biggest rule was, “Don’t go in past your ankles Sydney Rose.”

I believe that you started helping out in my first grade class at Pierpont. It was nice having someone familiar with me a few days a week at school. My friends all loved you and lots of kids after me fell in love with you too. Everyone knew you there, always the cool guy with the ponytail. In class you would sneak lifesaver candies to us and we would try to be so sly to not get caught, feeling guilty and giddy at the same time from breaking the classroom rules. All of the field trips you went on with me, to Catalina Island, pumpkin patches, etc. you were always there. In the early years when you’d pick me up from school and ask how it went or did I learn anything I would just reply with I don’t know and that was good enough for you. When we would get home it was endless games of Candyland, decorating your ponytail with tons of clips and bows, ending the day with Zoro and boxing matches. After school snacks were triscuits with melted ham and cheese on them, or sourdough bread with milk or the Mexican sweet breads you would pick up for us, mine always the bright pink one.

I know you really enjoyed when I was in ballet and you were able to come and be in my recitals with me, whether it was The Nutcracker or Sleeping Beauty, you would be there. And oh my goodness you could do my hair so well! It was a perfect bun every time, just absolutely perfect. You’d always take such great care of me, which I really appreciated.

There have been so many times where I have needed you and you were always right there. Sometimes when I try to explain what my childhood was like, I can’t even begin to describe how awesome it was to always have my grandfather around while being raised right next to a beautiful beach in a wonderful community. Whether it was the rides to and from school, letting me borrow ingredients from downstairs, being my after school care, always slipping me a few dollars just in case or candy to keep my sweet tooth satisfied you were there. I can’t say it enough, but thank you so much for setting up this life for me and being around while I was growing up. I have always had an unwavering love for you and I always will. I love you Grandpa.

Sydney Rose