An 80's Christmas with Grandaddy
I love my Grandaddy. He’s pretty much the only grandparent that was ever truly present in my life and I got lucky because he’s my favorite. He was a wild man growing up and has the stories to prove it. Every time I see him he has a new story. ‘That night I spent in jail’, or ‘When I was driving the car home in reverse’…Â I love a good storyteller, and Grandaddy is a master. He can make driving to the grocery store seem like a grand adventure purely by how he tells it. He takes his time, never rushes, builds up steam, and ends with a loud, drawn out guffaw at the end.
My family usually spends a quiet Christmas just the four of us. But this year, the entire (Auburn) family is heading to Birmingham to spend Christmas with my Grandaddy and Barbara, his wife of 15 years. I’m sure he’ll have some more good stories to tell. And as is tradition each year, he will tell me to find a good man to share my life with. Someone who can tell a good story. He means it in the sweetest way possible. And then he launches into how he and Barbara met, and how waking up with her every morning and spending each day together is such a simple but treasured pleasure. I don’t mind it really. I love that he cares enough to want that for me.
When we were little, on Christmas morning he would take out a small, dark red, velvet bag filled with coins. My brother and I would literally be bouncing off the walls with excitement. He held the bag up high so we couldn’t see. Then, we were allowed one chance to dig each hand in and take out as many coins as we could hold. I don’t really remember what presents we got each year, but I always remember how I felt when I heard that money bag jingle… and how tightly I held onto those coins when I pulled my hand out. Eric and I would always compete to see who got the most coins, sitting by the fire counting our pennies, nickels, dimes and a few Susan B. Anthony dollars. I usually won because I was older and had bigger hands.
I hope you have a happy holiday. I’m going to spend time with my Grandaddy mostly. And try to learn how to tell a good story. Maybe I’ll start with one about those leather pants my mom has on in the photo… :)
Merry Christmas
Love, Leigh
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Merry Christmas to you too Leigh :) And a very happy New Year!!
Loved this, Leigh. What an easy yet compelling writing style you have! Fun to read – brings on smiles, nods of recognition and an occasional teardrop. Have a splendid Christmas and give your Grandaddy a hug from this admirer.
Thanks Dawn. :) I hope you guys have a great holiday up in Pennsylvania. Stay warm!
What a wonderfully told sentiment and special Christmas memory Leigh! Merry Christmas wishes to you and yours!
Love this story and love that you still call him ‘grandaddy’. My husband still refers to his deceased grandfather as ‘pops’. I think it’s adorable.
‘Pops’… that is very cute. :)
What a beautiful story Leigh, thank you for sharing it. Love the photo too – brings back memories of my own 80′s Christmases.
Hope you have a special time with your grandaddy!
I thank you for this lovely blog. You have a kind heart like your Mom and Grandaddy. I had to read it twice as I had tears in my eyes the first try. Your Grandaddy LOVES you more than he can ever say in words. I’m really pumped about all pf the family being togather this Christmas. Love, G.D.
Can’t wait to see you Grandaddy. :)
Leigh recently posted..Merry Christmas
It seems to me that your Grandaddy has already taught you a thing or two about storytelling. I hope that you all have a very happy Christmas together. Reading your blog again (first time since May!) was a wonderful way to start my Christmas day! xo