Grandpa

I know that I have inherited a lot from my Grandpa. I know that a great deal of who I am has come from him.

I know that he has bequeathed me his passion. I know that the joy I find in argument comes directly from this man who gave me his name. There is no better way of working out what we think than sharpening ourselves upon each other, and Grandpa has helped to make me sharp.

At his feet I lay the blame for my stubbornness and baldness, and give him his dues for my broad grin.

All those years that I spent growing up, knowing that knowing stuff was important, and I never even realised that some people didn't care about ideas or education, until I started trying to teach other people's grandchildren.

I am most thankful for the legacy of faith that runs through his children, and down into my family, because through this legacy I know that we will meet again. I know that when we meet again he will be able to hear what I say. I know that when we meet again his skin will not be torn, his lungs will not be shallow, and that he won't be sore, or tired or frustrated. I know that we will meet again, and I know this because of the faith that he passed on to his children, which they passed on to me. For all this, I am very thankful.

I hope that I can leave an inheritance like this for my grandchildren.

I hope that I can encourage other people like Grandpa has encouraged me. I hope that when my Grandchildren organise an Eastercamp and want to use up all of the church's electricity I will remind those old biddys who complain that some things are important and some things aren't. I hope that I will still be interested in weird foreign newspapers when I am past 90. I hope that I will leave a legacy like he has left.

I hope I don't fall off of the church roof when I'm 80, though. I think that might hurt.