FAMOUS GRANDFATHERS

1991 - Katie and her Grandpa Say messin' about on the Kinderhook Creek.
Say is now Great-grandpa Say to Katie's children.

As with May’s Grandmothers, famous Grandfathers abound. Just think of the Bush family, the Kennedy family, the Barrymores, the Fondas, and, of course, Prince Phillip.

Grandfathers can be curmudgeons or cream puffs – or a bit of both. Was your grandfather an old curmudgeon? Did you have a stern Grandfather, or a jolly one?  Every once in a while did he drop a question on you: “Ever hear the story pf the dirty shirt? That’s one on you!”  Ha ha ha! Through the years, he probably had several bits of wisdom to pass along to you.

What did you call your Grandfather? A dignified Grandfather, or Grandpa, Gramps, PopPop, Opa, Abuelo, Ojisan, Grand-père, Nonno, maybe Bubby or even Grumpy? Were you allowed to name him, or was it just what everyone else called him?

Grandfathers delight in passing down the things they love to do. Many times they’re the things the parents are just too busy for now, but will probably pass on to their grandchildren when the time comes. Kids love to follow Grandpa into his workshop, be it wood, metal, garage, or even into the kitchen. They especially love to help him in the garden. Many a baby vegetable has been sacrificed in the pursuit of helping to pull weeds.

Children love to go on trips, one-on-one if possible, with their Grandfathers. They love it when he takes them fishing, or sailing, or even to meet up with an old pal. They love to just mess about with him, fix this or that, maybe go down to the stream or go get an ice cream in town.

The majority of us Seniors have grandchildren, and having them, especially if they live nearby, is one of our great delights.

J.V Milne and his Grandson, Christopher Robin. Oh, and Pooh is there too.

Here are several quick quotes by and about grandfathers:

Now that I'm a grandfather myself, I realize that the best thing about having grandkids is that you get the kid for the best part of the ride - kind of like owning a car for only the first 10,000 miles. You can have your grandchildren for a couple of days and then turn them back over to the parents. -- Willard Scott

There are fathers who do not love their children; there is no grandfather who does not adore his grandson. --Victor Hugo

To a small child, the perfect granddad is unafraid of big dogs and fierce storms but absolutely terrified of the word boo.  -- Robert Brault

More and more, when I single out the person out who inspired me most, I go back to my grandfather.  -- James Earl Jones

What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies.  -- Rudolph Giuliani

2009 - Say is known to this granddaughter as PopPop.