“A grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart.”
I tried to convince my son to dress as DooDaddy for Halloween. All you need is a cardigan sweater and a walker to pull off the look. And reading glasses perched precariously on the tip of your nose and an honest-to-goodness cotton handkerchief in your pocket at all times. Maybe a crisply folded newspaper with the crossword puzzle halfway filled in.
DooDaddy: “What word would you use for ‘nemesis’?”
Me: “How many letters?”
DooDaddy: “Oh, a whole bunch of letters …”
Mac Bower: “Archenemy!”
DooDaddy: “That’s exactly what I put!”
My son and my father are kindred spirits, you see. Mac has always had a special connection with his grandfather, whom he dubbed, “DooDaddy” long ago.
They would play with Matchbox cars when Mac was little. DooDaddy once asked where the cars were going, and my tiny son answered without hesitation, “opportunity.” They were going to Opportunity.
So now, as Mac is finishing school and preparing to make his own way in the world, I hope and pray he is indeed headed to Opportunity and that he will follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and work hard. DooDaddy’s work ethic is legend.
And that Mac will keep reading and stay informed about the world and politics and issues, which he and DooDaddy love to discuss and debate. DooDaddy is forever curious about everything and articulate in stating his views, while respecting those that differ from his.
I hope Mac finds a lifelong companion like my parents found each other. Saturday would have been Gmamma and DooDaddy’s 60th wedding anniversary. They were like two sides of the same coin. And I want that for my son, though I’ve never managed to find it for myself.
I pray my son chooses to see the glass as half full instead of half empty, another trait of my father’s. Because happiness is a choice. And sometimes it’s a difficult one.
And most of all, I hope my son remembers the bond he shares with DooDaddy and that he cultivates that same bond with his own children and grandchildren. Love. Acceptance. Accountability.
Because being a grandfather is a responsibility. And having a grandfather is a joy. Both of mine died before I was born, but I take great delight in watching my father be a grandfather to my son. The cardigan sweater and pocket handkerchief are just part of the costume. It’s what’s on the inside that counts.
DooDaddy and Mac
Beautiful
Mac is a lucky boy to have DooDaddy in his life. I think often of your beautiful boy, Henry, who would be just a little older than Mac. Boys are fragile creatures. I cherish every moment.
#knockout!!!!!
I know you know exactly what I mean, because your boys had a grandfather just like mine does. #RIPGB
Just lovely.
Their relationship makes my heart glad.
How fortunate you are to have both wonderful men in your life!
Indeed I am, Catherine. And grateful too.
Love this.
Beautiful. Will share with my sons. Their Grampus and Poppa Dub were treasures also
Grampus and Poppa Dub – LOVE those sweet monikers. So glad your boys have treasured memories of their grandfathers.
One of the saddest days of my life was the day I lost my maternal grandfather. Because my mother never found that person she could share her whole life with, I had no father in my life, and my grandfather happily took on the role. He and my grandmother were my foundation for most of my childhood as my mother worked to support four deserted children. Salt of the earth seemed a term coined for them. Solid work ethic, strong values by which they lived their lives. I am forever grateful for both of them. My grandmother lived until I was almost 51 years old; he left me 10 years earlier. There is nothing better than grandparents and I hope to live long enough for all of mine to have strong and happy memories of me.
Ugh. Should’ve have proofread. Meant to say, all of my grandchildren, not all of mine.
That was beautiful …
Oh, Laura, just perfect!! My Grandmother, Dede, was my rock and foundation, and now with fear, trembling, and great pride I have taken her nickname as mine for all of my Godchildren and Grand-godchildren!
Diana
What a wonderful way to honor Dede! XXOOO
Love this one!!
Love you, Elizabeth. So nice to see you in Knoxville. Hope you’ll come back under happier circumstances. BIG LOVE! XXOOO