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ngdawg · 03-07-2005, 06:32 AM

Never had much, Grandma Lucille and Grandpa Walt. What they did have was kids, 9 of'em, my daddy being #4. He'd tell stories of Grandpa Walt sometimes disappearing for a few weeks and Grandma left to feed 9 hungry mouths with little more than eggs and lard. "Daddy's off to do some work" was all she'd say. And Grandpa would come home, cash in his pocket, smile on his face and there'd be food again til the next time.
Daddy says they were poor in things, but rich in family. At first I thought that meant just having lots of kids, but I was wrong. His siblings were his best friends and not many people are lucky enough to have 8 best friends. They learned things you can't learn in a school-like how to get the most out of a chicken. How to share very little. How to wait your turn. And how to be a part of something bigger than yourself.
Of the nine, only one ever got into any trouble and that was Uncle Robby. Jailed at 18 for robbing a gas station. Daddy says Robby just lost his way for a while. Now Uncle Robby is a preacher, going to jails and spreading the gospel, so I guess he found his way again.
The closest brother to daddy when they were growing up was Uncle Ed. Grandma Lucille used to say they were two peas in a pod, even though there was 4 years between them. When Ed was 17, he enlisted into the Army and after a year, got sent to Vietnam. He died there, only 19 years old. Daddy says the whole town came to their house, like a parade, almost. He said Grandpa Walt never cried, but he changed after that. Daddy says Grandpa would not talk for days sometimes and to this day he hardly ever smiles.
Of the eight living siblings, only two didn't go to college, which I think is pretty good. Aunt Bernice started having babies soon as she got married at 18. I got 5 cousins just from her. And Uncle Matt is a missionary somewhere in South America. Never met him but daddy reads me letters Uncle Matt sends once or twice a year. He sounds like a nice man.
Now everyone's grown, got their own families. Most are doing pretty well and Grandma and Grandpa are pleased. I know everyone has offered to help them out, but daddy says Grandpa's got too much pride to take help, so they stay in their rundown farmhouse and do the best they can. Grandma's got sugar diabetes and gets sores on her legs, but she can still bake a mean apple pie. I love going to that old house and taking in the smells of it. It's like sniffing 50 years of love.

03-07-2005, 06:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	Never had much, Grandma Lucille and Grandpa Walt. What they did have was kids, 9 of'em, my daddy being #4. He'd tell stories of Grandpa Walt sometimes disappearing for a few weeks and Grandma left to feed 9 hungry mouths with little more than eggs and lard. "Daddy's off to do some work" was all she'd say. And Grandpa would come home, cash in his pocket, smile on his face and there'd be food again til the next time. Daddy says they were poor in things, but rich in family. At first I thought that meant just having lots of kids, but I was wrong. His siblings were his best friends and not many people are lucky enough to have 8 best friends. They learned things you can't learn in a school-like how to get the most out of a chicken. How to share very little. How to wait your turn. And how to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Of the nine, only one ever got into any trouble and that was Uncle Robby. Jailed at 18 for robbing a gas station. Daddy says Robby just lost his way for a while. Now Uncle Robby is a preacher, going to jails and spreading the gospel, so I guess he found his way again. The closest brother to daddy when they were growing up was Uncle Ed. Grandma Lucille used to say they were two peas in a pod, even though there was 4 years between them. When Ed was 17, he enlisted into the Army and after a year, got sent to Vietnam. He died there, only 19 years old. Daddy says the whole town came to their house, like a parade, almost. He said Grandpa Walt never cried, but he changed after that. Daddy says Grandpa would not talk for days sometimes and to this day he hardly ever smiles. Of the eight living siblings, only two didn't go to college, which I think is pretty good. Aunt Bernice started having babies soon as she got married at 18. I got 5 cousins just from her. And Uncle Matt is a missionary somewhere in South America. Never met him but daddy reads me letters Uncle Matt sends once or twice a year. He sounds like a nice man. Now everyone's grown, got their own families. Most are doing pretty well and Grandma and Grandpa are pleased. I know everyone has offered to help them out, but daddy says Grandpa's got too much pride to take help, so they stay in their rundown farmhouse and do the best they can. Grandma's got sugar diabetes and gets sores on her legs, but she can still bake a mean apple pie. I love going to that old house and taking in the smells of it. It's like sniffing 50 years of love.