Today is my grandpa’s 94^th birthday.  If you met him, you would be shocked by what a healthy, energetic 70 year old he is.  Then you’d find out he’s 94 and you’d fall out of your seat.

I live far away from Grampa, but I still feel extremely close to him and always have.  Growing up, he was always there for me and I was always, “Grampa’s Girl.”  He told me stories, took me places and just generally hung out with little ol’ me for much of my childhood and even into my adulthood. 

I love all the things that Grampa has done with his world and I even more so love that he shared a lot of his stories with me.  As I wrote them down for the family book, I realized that he carried on his ancestors’ American Dream.  He moved and settled and moved and settled, always having his family foremost in his thoughts and always reflected in his actions.  He worked hard his whole life (and continues do to so- he only stopped his work a couple of years ago).  I take after my grandfather in my pride in the work I do and so I think I can speak for him and say that I don’t think he would have that any other way. 

I love that I know so much about Grampa.  When we were with him before Dad’s death, my brother was asking him questions and I realized that I knew most of the answers he would give.  I’m proud that he honored me with those stories of himself and his life and I treasure them so very much.  My life has been greatly enriched by having my grandfather in mine.

I called him Bumpa when I was little and now he’s Grampa, but he will forever be my hero.

Happy birthday, Grampa!