Memories of Grandpa

Sometimes when I sit down to type I have way too many ideas. But nothing gels. I fly at the keyboard with my scatter shot of ideas. Today I will pull back and talk about simple pleasures. On CBS Sunday Morning, they had a 'article' on how some of our strongest memories are tied to smells. This is so true. During the spring the smell of lilacs always takes me back. I can close my eyes and remember the pleasure of sitting on Gpa Lackey's front porch. I'm with him on his swing and he picks up his newspaper and places the rubber band around the arm of the swing. What a collection he had. He had giant lilac bushes and plenty of shade and even in the heat of the summer his front porch felt cool. It brings tears to my eyes to think of this. I was so lucky to live in the same small town as my grandparents. I associate many of my simple pleasures with grandpa. Going with him to his garden at the Fox place. When I got bored I'd go lay in the car, hope for a breeze and watch the clouds float by. I think that is why I love floating in the pool so much, it reminds me of this. The smell of dirt I can also associate to these days. Many days we would dig potatoes. It was on a day like this that I first realized that Gpa was old. He tripped and fell and it scared me so much. My first inkling that he wouldn't always be there. If only I knew then that I should have been soaking up as much of his presence as possible. Gpa was the source of so many other pleasures. Being pulled in a sled behind his car on a snowy road. (Something I would never let my kids do today. Too dangerous!) Playing in a truck full of freshly harvested wheat. Chewing it to make 'gum'. Sucking on the Luden's cherry cough drops he always carried in his overalls. It never dawned on me until much later that my cousins didn't necessarily have this relationship with gpa. He was a rock in my world. I was devastated when he was gone. But I'm so lucky that a smell of lilacs and a cool breeze can take me back.