Wednesday, August 20, 2008

My Grandpa Sterling

My Dad's Dad, passed away on Tuesday. He was such a good Grandpa. He was an artist, he used mostly oil on canvass, he made jewelry, he survived a war, he loved his wife and kids and grandkids. My memory assosiations are alway triggerd by, planters peanuts and cheese balls, pretzel sticks, art, especially desert scenes, Royal Copenhagen, turqoise, my cleft palate he has one too. He donated his body to science. He was always telling jokes. He said I was beautiful. He made us jewelry. He was unbiased. He was brave and quietly endured a bunch of pain from jungle rot, they didn't have a cure for it for over 30 years, he treated that leg for that long before a cure came. He was in the hopital with Mallaria, the hospital got bombed and the guy next to him got hit and part of that guys body became shrapnel and landed in my Grandpa's leg. He loved to fish and I am pretty sure all of his kids and lots of his grandkids inherited that, when I was kid I used to fantasize about the sweet rig I would have for fishin, of my very own, and my rad gator's that I would wear, I still think about that. I miss him, but he was ready, and I know he is up there talking to Tchaichovski and Bach and Joseph Smith and President Hinckley and Bill Ross and maybe my sister's kid, and my future offspring. He was always so good to me as a kid and feel blessed to have had such a cool Grampa. As a kid he and my Grandma Mi Mi really helped me to keep it together when I felt like giving up, they alway told me I was a "smart cookie or carrot." I love gardens too because of them, they are both avid gardeners. And he is one of the many hard workers in our family. I know he will continue to work hard. I love him, I wish I had the ability to write well, so I could really write how I feel. I love him, that's what I want to say, I love my Grampa.

7 comments:

Kelli said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Eric said...

I'm speechless. What a well written tribute. Please write something like this for me when I pass on...even if it means making stuff up to make my life more colorful.

kristine N said...

Nicely said. I miss him too, but you're right--he was ready to go. I'm glad he's free of pain, and glad he gets to hang out with other cool dead people.

erica e said...

elisa! i'm so glad to see you are back at blogging! what a nice tribute to your grampa. sounds like he passed so much on to you. i'm so sorry you are going through a hard time. i'm glad you've been able to do a little sewing again and maybe relieve a little stress that way. thanks for sharing your testimony through this blog. you are a rock. what a good example you are. i hope to see you at the end of the month! love you.

Kelli said...

I am sorry about your Grandpa passing away! I did not know him, but it was so neat to read about him! What a beautiful tribute! Thanks for sharing. He sounded like an amazing guy!

Elisa said...

Thanks you guys. I love you too. Except Eric.

Anonymous said...

I think you are a great writer!