I have absolutely no memory growing up of feeling like I could just go up and hug my grandpa (my dad's dad). It's not that he didn't love us, but he just wasn't the overly emotional 'touchy feely' kinda guy. And that was fine. He said Prayer at our family dinners, discussed farming, then fell asleep in his chair in the living room after dinner.

After my dad died, my grandpa became a lot more emotional. He had just retired (like DAYS before) and was putting the suitcases into the car to take a trip to visit family in Idaho when my mom called to tell him my dad had a heart attack. By the time they reached the hospital, my dad was gone.

My grandpa came out of that retirement to help continue running the farm and ranch he had helped my dad build. He'd talk about my dad and get choked up. He still didn't really offer much in the way of "I love you's" or what not, but still, we knew.

This past weekend at the reunion, I marveled at my son. He didn't know any of these unspoken rules we have on that side of the family. He walked right up to my grandpa, squeezed his legs and said, "I LOVE YOU!!" and walked off.



And he didn't stop there. He hugged every relative he could his hands on. He was full of love and had plenty to give.

I have another photo of my son hugging my grandpa, right after he'd finished hugging my grandmother. Because faces are involved, I'm not posting it ... but the absolute JOY on my grandparents face just makes me so very happy. They were beaming.

I love that unsolicited love so very much. It was a good reminder to me. And lately, my son's been a pretty good teacher.


"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

Marcel Proust

Labels: family reunion, love thursday, the bug