For My Grandfather

Teaching us to tell time by the ring of the church bells

Milk shakes at Minnie’s and ice cream cups at the VFW

Road Runner, Wild Kingdom, Wheel of Fortune and peanuts in the glass dish

The smell of K-1 in the shed and tires in the warehouse

Rainy afternoons on the porch and the Red Sox on the radio

Weekends at Camp and red hot dogs over wood fires

Hours and hours teaching me to tie my own shoes

Telling me swimming lessons would help later in life

Teaching us to row the tin boat and paddle a canoe

Those rocket sleds you gave Georgia and I at Christmas and the rides we had

Showing me where the perch were and how to handle a pickerel

Sharing Dairy-Joy with Pepper in the backseat of that old green car

Discussing who was most underrated; Remy or Burleson

Being there for concerts, races and collecting coins

Paddling the canoe beside me on training swims and saying

“Aren’t you glad you took those swimming lessons now?”

High school and college graduations saying you knew I could do it

Asking to see my badge and gun and putting on my shoulder rig

All quickly done when my mother left the room

Listening to your stories of service at sea and what war really means

Your silent worrying while I was on the street and in the shadows

Late night calls to Mom to make sure I got off the mountain or the water

Explaining to you why baitfish flies don’t look like “flies”

Your words after my first article was published

Watching you hold my daughter for the very first time

Seeing you with her when we visit

Listening to you tell her things you told me

And this past Christmas with the whole family there

Making jokes like you always have and the joy in your eyes

Of having your life in one room, all together…one last time

Much of my life has been spent far away

And though I’ve been gone in my own way I’m still there

For what you gave made me strong and guides me well 

Your words and wisdom from where I began

Shall not be forgotten as I continue on toward the sun

Rest now Grampa and watch from above until that day

I’ll see you on the other side

13 April 2015
North River, MA